Manchester England
Edmundo Ros & His Orchestra Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Across the Atlantic Sea
And I'm a genius genius
I believe in God
And I believe that God
Believes in Claude
That's me that's me
Finds that it's groovy
To hide in a movie
Pretends he's Fellini
And Antonioni
And also his countryman Roman Polanski
All rolled into one
One Claud Hooper Bukowski
Now that I've dropped out
Why is life dreary dreary
Answer my weary query
Timothy Leary dearie
Oh Manchester England England
Across the Atlantic Sea
And I'm a genius genius
I believe in God
And I believe that God
Believes in Claude
That's me (that's he)
That's me (that's he)
That's me (that's he)
That's me
These lyrics from Edmundo Ros & His Orchestra's song "Manchester England" tell the story of a character named Claude Hooper Bukowski. Claude sees himself as a genius and proudly declares his belief in God, as well as his conviction that God also believes in him. He takes on different personas, pretending to be famous filmmakers Federico Fellini, Michelangelo Antonioni, and Roman Polanski. The lyrics highlight Claude's desire for escapism by hiding in movies and assuming these visionary roles.
The mention of dropping out refers to Claude's decision to detach himself from mainstream society. He expresses his disillusionment with life, describing it as dreary, and poses a question to the influential figure of Timothy Leary, who was known for his advocacy of psychedelic drugs and exploring alternate realities.
Throughout the song, the repetition of "Manchester England" and "genius" serves as a proclamation of Claude's identity and his association with the city of Manchester. These lyrics offer a glimpse into Claude Hooper Bukowski's desire to transcend his ordinary existence and find solace in his own imagination.
Line by Line Meaning
Manchester England England
Referring to the city of Manchester in England
Across the Atlantic Sea
Highlighting the geographical distance between Manchester and America
And I'm a genius genius
Expressing a sense of self-confidence and superiority
I believe in God
Expressing a religious belief in God
And I believe that God
Emphasizing the belief in God's existence
Believes in Claude
Suggesting a personal connection and divine support for the individual named Claude
That's me that's me
Affirming that Claude is the one being referred to
Claude Hooper Bukowski
Introducing the character named Claude Hooper Bukowski
Finds that it's groovy
Enjoying and embracing a trendy and exciting lifestyle
To hide in a movie
Seeking refuge and escape by immersing oneself in the world of films
Pretends he's Fellini
Imitating or fantasizing about being like the renowned Italian filmmaker Federico Fellini
And Antonioni
Referring to Michelangelo Antonioni, another influential Italian filmmaker
And also his countryman Roman Polanski
Acknowledging the Polish filmmaker Roman Polanski as another figure of influence
All rolled into one
Combining the qualities and visions of these filmmakers into a single persona
One Claud Hooper Bukowski
Reiterating the association between the character named Claude Hooper Bukowski and the previously mentioned filmmakers
Now that I've dropped out
Referring to leaving a conventional path or societal expectations
Why is life dreary dreary
Expressing dissatisfaction or boredom with life's monotony
Answer my weary query
Requesting a response to a tired and questioning inquiry
Timothy Leary dearie
Referring to Timothy Leary, a prominent figure associated with the counterculture movement and the exploration of psychedelic experiences
That's me (that's he)
Restating that Claude Hooper Bukowski is the one being referred to
That's me (that's he)
Continuing to affirm the identity of Claude Hooper Bukowski
That's me (that's he)
Reiterating once more the connection to Claude Hooper Bukowski
That's me
Confirming the identification with the mentioned character Claude Hooper Bukowski
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Galt MacDermot, Gerome Ragni, James Rado
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind