Wicked Messenger
Faces Lyrics


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There was a wicked messenger
From Eli he did come
With a mind that multiplied
The smallest matter

When questioned who had sent for him
He answered with his thumb
For his tongue it could not speak
But only flatter

He stayed behind the assembly hall
It was there that he made his bed
Often times he could be seen returning

Until one day he just appeared
With a note in his hand which read
"The soles of my feet, I swear they're burning"

The leaves began to fallin'
And the seas began to part
And the people that confronted him were many

The leaves began to fallin'
And the seas began to part
And the people that confronted him were many
And he was told these last few words
Which opened up his heart
"If ye cannot bring good news, then don't bring any"





"If ye cannot bring good news, then don't bring any"
And opened up his heart

Overall Meaning

The song "Wicked Messenger" by Faces is a cover of Bob Dylan's original piece. The song is about a messenger who is sent on a mission to convey a message from Eli, but instead of faithfully carrying out the task, he ends up distorting the message and causing chaos. The messenger has a twisted mind that multiplies even the smallest of matters, and he flatters people to gain their trust, even though he cannot speak.


The messenger stays hidden behind the assembly hall, and he makes it his home. He keeps returning until one day he suddenly appears with a note in his hand, claiming that the soles of his feet are burning. The people who confront him are many, but he is told that if he cannot bring good news, then he shouldn't bring any.


The song's message is that it is better not to say anything than to spread bad news or to lie. It puts emphasis on the importance of being truthful and reliable when it comes to conveying messages. It is a warning against people who flatter and distort the truth in order to gain power or a personal advantage.


Line by Line Meaning

There was a wicked messenger
There was a messenger who had ill intentions


From Eli he did come
He came from a place called Eli


With a mind that multiplied
He had a cunning and deceptive mind


The smallest matter
And could make a big deal out of the smallest things


When questioned who had sent for him
When asked who sent him, he answered with his thumb


He answered with his thumb
He didn't speak but used gestures to communicate


For his tongue it could not speak
Perhaps he was mute or chose not to speak


But only flatter
He only knew how to flatter or falsely compliment


He stayed behind the assembly hall
He chose to stay behind and not confront people


It was there that he made his bed
He slept and made his home there


Often times he could be seen returning
People saw him often


Until one day he just appeared
One day he suddenly showed up


With a note in his hand which read
He had a note in his hand with a message


"The soles of my feet, I swear they're burning"
The note said he was in pain


The leaves began to fallin'
The season changed


And the seas began to part
Some major event was happening


And the people that confronted him were many
Many people confronted him


And he was told these last few words
Someone told him these words as a warning


Which opened up his heart
They touched his heart and made him realize something


"If ye cannot bring good news, then don't bring any"
If you have nothing good to say, stay quiet




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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