The Ubiquitous Mr Lovegrove
Dead Can Dance Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I thought that you knew it all
Well you've seen it ten times before.
I thought that you had it down
With both your feet on the ground.
I love slow ... slow but deep.
Feigned affections wash over me.
Dream on my dear
And renounce temporal obligations.
Dream on my dear
It's a sleep from which you may not awaken.

You build me up then you knock me down.
You play the fool while I play the clown.
We keep time to the beat of an old slave drum.
You raise my hopes then you raise the odds
You tell me that I dream too much
Now I'm serving time in disillusionment.

I don't believe you anymore ... I don't believe you.

I thought that I knew it all
I'd seen all the signs before.
I thought that you were the one
In darkness my heart was won.

You build me up then you knock me down.
You play the fool while I play the clown.
We keep time to the beat of an old slave drum.
You raise my hopes then you raise the odds
You tell me that I dream too much
Now I'm serving time in a domestic graveyard.

I don't believe you anymore ... I don't believe you.

Never let it be said I was untrue
I never found a home inside of you.




Never let it be said I was untrue
I gave you all my time.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Dead Can Dance's song The Ubiquitous Mr Lovegrove seem to be a reflection on a relationship that has gone sour. The singer seems to have thought that they knew everything about their partner, as if they had seen this situation before. They had believed that they had the situation under control, with both feet on the ground. However, their partner's feigned affections have washed over them and left them with a feeling of disillusionment. The singer tells their partner to dream and renounce their temporal obligations, as it is a sleep from which they may not awaken. It seems as though the singer has lost faith in their partner and the relationship.


The lyrics describe the cycle of the partner building the singer up, then knocking them down again. They play the fool while the singer plays the clown, keeping time to the beat of an old slave drum. The partner tells the singer that they dream too much and raises their hopes only to raise the odds against them. The singer is left serving time in a domestic graveyard, trapped and disillusioned. They no longer believe their partner and never found a home inside of them. The singer gave their partner all their time but in the end, it seems as though it was all for nothing.


Line by Line Meaning

I thought that you knew it all
I believed that you had all the knowledge and experience.


Well you've seen it ten times before.
You have already witnessed this same issue multiple times.


I thought that you had it down
I assumed you had the situation under control.


With both your feet on the ground.
You are firmly grounded and can handle everything.


I love slow ... slow but deep.
I prefer intimacy that unfolds gradually and purposefully.


Feigned affections wash over me.
Your insincere displays of affection have no impact on me.


Dream on my dear
Keep dreaming, my love,


And renounce temporal obligations.
And release yourself from mundane responsibilities.


It's a sleep from which you may not awaken.
This could lead to an eternal dreamlike state.


You build me up then you knock me down.
You increase my expectations before dashing them to the ground.


You play the fool while I play the clown.
You act foolish while I am the one that looks ridiculous.


We keep time to the beat of an old slave drum.
Our actions are dictated by old habits and societal expectations.


You raise my hopes then you raise the odds.
You create false hope before increasing the amount of difficulty.


You tell me that I dream too much.
You criticize me for having ambitious goals.


Now I'm serving time in disillusionment.
Now I am stuck feeling disappointed and let down.


I don't believe you anymore ... I don't believe you.
I no longer have faith in you.


I thought that I knew it all.
I believed that I had everything figured out.


I'd seen all the signs before.
I had already noticed all of the warning signs.


I thought that you were the one.
I believed that you were the right person for me.


In darkness my heart was won.
I fell in love with you during a difficult time in my life.


Now I'm serving time in a domestic graveyard.
Now I feel trapped and stuck in a boring domestic life.


Never let it be said I was untrue.
Do not accuse me of being dishonest.


I never found a home inside of you.
I never felt like I belonged with you.


I gave you all my time.
I dedicated all of my time to you.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRENDAN MICHAEL PERRY, LISA GERMAINE GERRARD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions