The Game
Echo And The Bunnymen Lyrics


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A sense of duty
Was my one intention
And an ugly beauty
Was my own invention
Pride a proud refusal
And I refuse
To need your approval
Too many seekers
Too few beacons
But through the fog
We'll keep on beaming

Through the crying hours
Of your glitter years
All the living out
Of your tinsel tears
And the midnight trains
I never made
'Cause I'd already
Played the game

Everybody's
Got their own good reason
Why their favorite season
Is their favorite season
Winter winners
And those summers sons
Aren't good for everyone
Aren't good for everyone
Spring has sprung
And autumns well done
So well done

And it's a better thing
That we do now
Forgetting everything
The whys and how's
While you reminisce
About the things you miss
You won't be ready
To kiss goodbye

The earth is a world
The world is a ball
A ball in a game
With no rules at all
And just as I wonder
At the beauty of it all
You go and drop it
And it breaks and falls

I'll never understand
Why you thought I would
Need to be reassured
And be understood
When I always knew
That your bad's my good
And I was ready
Ready to be loved

Born under mars
With Jupiter rising
Fallen from stars
That lit my horizon

I'll never understand
Why you thought I would
Need to be reassured
And be understood
When I always knew
That your bad's my good
And I was ready
Ready to be

Through the crying hours
Of your glitter years
All the living out
Of your tinsel tears
And the midnight trains
I never made
'Cause I'd already
Played

It's a better thing
That we do now
Forgetting everything
The whys and how's
While you reminisce
About the things you miss




You won't be ready
To kiss goodbye

Overall Meaning

In the first stanza, the singer talks about their sense of duty, which was their one intention. They also mention an "ugly beauty," which was their own invention. The beauty they're referring to could be interpreted as a metaphor for their own persona or outlook on life. They talk about pride being a proud refusal and that they refuse to need the approval of others. The singer then goes on to talk about how there are too many seekers and too few beacons, but they will continue beam through the fog. This could mean that even though there are a lot of people searching for meaning, there aren't enough people to guide them, but the singer will continue to shine their light.


In the second stanza, the singer talks about everyone having their own good reason why their favorite season is their favorite season. They mention that winter winners and summer sons aren't good for everyone, and that spring has sprung and autumn is well done. This could represent the different seasons of life and how some people thrive in certain seasons while others don't. The singer then talks about forgetting everything, the whys and how's, and reminiscing about things that were missed. They mention that if you do this, you won't be ready to kiss goodbye.


The chorus is repeated twice in the song and talks about the singer playing the game and never understanding why someone thought they needed to be reassured or understood when the singer always knew that the other person's bad was their good. The singer is ready to be loved.


Line by Line Meaning

A sense of duty
I had an obligation to fulfill


Was my one intention
That was my sole purpose


And an ugly beauty
Something unpleasant that had a certain charm


Was my own invention
I created it myself


Pride a proud refusal
I refused because of my stubborn pride


And I refuse
I won't accept it


To need your approval
I don't need your validation


Too many seekers
There are too many people searching


Too few beacons
Not enough guiding lights


But through the fog
Despite the confusion


We'll keep on beaming
We'll keep shining brightly


Of your glitter years
During your youthful, flashy times


All the living out
Experiencing to the fullest


Of your tinsel tears
Crying insincere tears


And the midnight trains
Trains that depart in the middle of the night


I never made
I didn't climb aboard


'Cause I'd already
Because I already


Played the game
I already knew what to expect


Everybody's
Each person has


Got their own good reason
Their own valid rationale


Why their favorite season
For preferring one season over the others


Is their favorite season
Is their favorite season


Winter winners
People who thrive in cold weather


And those summers sons
Those who excel in the hot months


Aren't good for everyone
Not everyone does well in those conditions


Spring has sprung
Spring has arrived


And autumns well done
Fall is appropriately finished


So well done
Well done


And it's a better thing
It's a positive development


That we do now
The actions we're taking currently


Forgetting everything
Erasing all memories


The whys and how's
The reasons and methods


While you reminisce
While you recall the past


About the things you miss
You're thinking about the things you long for


You won't be ready
You won't be prepared


To kiss goodbye
To say farewell


The earth is a world
The planet is home to many places


The world is a ball
The Earth is round


A ball in a game
A sphere in a competition


With no rules at all
Where there are no regulations


And just as I wonder
Just as I ponder


At the beauty of it all
The magnificence of it


You go and drop it
You then ruin it


And it breaks and falls
It shatters and collapses


I'll never understand
I won't comprehend


Why you thought I would
What made you think I would


Need to be reassured
Require further confirmation


And be understood
And be comprehended


When I always knew
When I was already aware


That your bad's my good
That what you consider negative is positive for me


And I was ready
I was well-prepared


Ready to be loved
Ready for someone to cherish me




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LESLIE THOMAS PATTINSON, IAN STEPHEN MCCULLOCH, WILLIAM SERGEANT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Obscured Universe

THE GAME----
A sense of duty
Was my one intention
And an ugly beauty
Was my own invention
Pride a proud refusal
And I refuse
To need your approval
Too many seekers
Too few beacons
But through the fog
We'll keep on beaming

Through the crying hours
Of your glitter years
All the living out
Of your tinsel tears
And the midnight trains
I never made
'Cause I'd already
Played... the game

Everybody's
Got their own good reason
Why their favorite season
Is their favorite season
Winter winners
And those summer sons
Aren't good for everyone
Aren't good for everyone
Spring has sprung
And autumn's well done
So well done

And it's a better thing
That we do now
Forgetting everything
The whys and hows
While you reminisce
About the things you miss
You won't be ready
To kiss... goodbye

The earth is a world
The world is a ball
A ball in a game
With no rules at all
And just as I wonder
At the beauty of it all
You go and drop it
And it breaks and falls

I'll never understand
Why you thought I would
Need to be reassured
And be understood
When I always knew
That your bad's my good
And I was ready
Ready... to be loved

Born under Mars
With Jupiter rising
Fallen from stars
That lit my horizon

I'll never understand
Why you thought I would
Need to be reassured
And be understood
When I always knew
That your bad's my good
And I was ready
Ready... to be

Through the crying hours
Of your glitter years
All the living out
Of your tinsel tears
And the midnight trains
I never made
'Cause I'd already
Played

It's a better thing
That we do now
Forgetting everything
The whys and hows
While you reminisce
About the things you miss
You won't be ready
To kiss... goodbye



All comments from YouTube:

Michiel Bester

Hauntingly beautiful song. Masterpiece Ian.

Walace Amaral

The Smiths, Echo & The Bunnymen, The Cure, U2... Soundtracks of my life!

Obscured Universe

THE GAME----
A sense of duty
Was my one intention
And an ugly beauty
Was my own invention
Pride a proud refusal
And I refuse
To need your approval
Too many seekers
Too few beacons
But through the fog
We'll keep on beaming

Through the crying hours
Of your glitter years
All the living out
Of your tinsel tears
And the midnight trains
I never made
'Cause I'd already
Played... the game

Everybody's
Got their own good reason
Why their favorite season
Is their favorite season
Winter winners
And those summer sons
Aren't good for everyone
Aren't good for everyone
Spring has sprung
And autumn's well done
So well done

And it's a better thing
That we do now
Forgetting everything
The whys and hows
While you reminisce
About the things you miss
You won't be ready
To kiss... goodbye

The earth is a world
The world is a ball
A ball in a game
With no rules at all
And just as I wonder
At the beauty of it all
You go and drop it
And it breaks and falls

I'll never understand
Why you thought I would
Need to be reassured
And be understood
When I always knew
That your bad's my good
And I was ready
Ready... to be loved

Born under Mars
With Jupiter rising
Fallen from stars
That lit my horizon

I'll never understand
Why you thought I would
Need to be reassured
And be understood
When I always knew
That your bad's my good
And I was ready
Ready... to be

Through the crying hours
Of your glitter years
All the living out
Of your tinsel tears
And the midnight trains
I never made
'Cause I'd already
Played

It's a better thing
That we do now
Forgetting everything
The whys and hows
While you reminisce
About the things you miss
You won't be ready
To kiss... goodbye

mpreiss

One of the best songs ever written!!!!  "Born under Mar's with Jupiter rising" just fantastic

gonzax

A fantastic and totally underrated album, best Echo & the Bunnymen record after Ocean Rain in my opinion.

Gilberto Antônio Martins

Not underrated 4 me..I bought 3 abums,,,,one 4 me & 2 ......4 my 2 daughters

Nicole Koretsky

It's up there for me, too.

sou viado

evergreen is great too

Victor Cajilog

Agree

Mattie Mclean

Yes I agree that it is very underrated and even Ian Mac doesn't rate it... but I don't think it is better than "Porcupine"...

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