In the middle of the night
Flash Lyrics


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See the office, see the phone Call the number, no one home
Take a powder, have to think
Now the question, where to drink
He's a number nine man with a price on his head
A smile on his mirror and a sag in his bed

Man in the middle - left right
Man in the middle - that's right
Man in the middle - (ah!)

Take an evening, that's his style
Likes to boogie, style a while
Make it easy, piece of meat
Now the question, got no feet

He's a silicone man with a lump on his face
A stain on his shirt and a rat in the race

Man in the middle - left right
Man in the middle - that's right
Man in the middle - (ah!)

He never thought that he'd be number nine
But now he's in it, he's doing fine
Where he's going he doesn't know
But where it's showing he's never slow

Man in the middle - left right
Man in the middle - that's right
Man in the middle - (ah!)

See the jacket, up for sale
Takes the ante, save the whale
There's a call out, sprung again
Now the question, he don't know who to blame

Man in the middle - left right
Man in the middle - that's right
Man in the middle - (ah!)

Man in the middle - left right
Man in the middle - that's right
Man in the middle - all night
Man in the middle - all (way?)
Man in the middle - left right
Man in the middle - that's right




Man in the middle - all night
Man in the middle - (left right)

Overall Meaning

The song "In The Middle" by Flash & The Five Heartbeats talks about the life of a man who finds himself in the center of everything, constantly in the middle of different circumstances. The lyrics express his confusion and indecisiveness, unsure of where to go and whom to blame. The opening lines talk about the man trying to make a call but unable to get through, leading him to think about where he can drink to clear his mind. The lyrics go on to describe him as a "number nine man with a price on his head," someone who has a smile on his mirror but a sag in his bed. This depicts him as someone with a tough exterior but who may be struggling internally.


The chorus repeats the words "Man in the middle," emphasizing his predicament of being stuck in the middle of everything. The song goes on to describe his preferences, likes to boogie and take things easy. He finds himself in situations where he doesn't know who to blame or where to go. The song symbolizes the concept of being stuck in the middle, being unsure, and having to navigate through life without clarity.


Line by Line Meaning

See the office, see the phone
Looking around, no one is answering the phone


Call the number, no one home
Trying to call someone, but they are not picking up the phone


Take a powder, have to think
Need some time to think things through


Now the question, where to drink
Wondering where to go to grab a drink


He's a number nine man with a price on his head
Refers to someone who is ranked as the top target and has a bounty on their head


A smile on his mirror and a sag in his bed
Someone who appears happy on the outside but is struggling on the inside


Man in the middle - left right
Acknowledging being stuck in the middle, with decisions to make


Take an evening, that's his style
Prefers to spend time partying and having a good time


Likes to boogie, style a while
Enjoys dancing and staying up late


Make it easy, piece of meat
Wanting things to be simple and straightforward


Now the question, got no feet
Uncertainty as to how to proceed forward


He's a silicone man with a lump on his face
A person who appears fake or insincere


A stain on his shirt and a rat in the race
Implies that they have some sort of setback or disadvantage


He never thought that he'd be number nine
Surprised to find himself in a difficult situation


But now he's in it, he's doing fine
Despite being in a tough spot, he is managing to survive


Where he's going he doesn't know
Uncertain about what the future holds for them


But where it's showing he's never slow
However, they are able to adapt and pivot to different challenges they may face


See the jacket, up for sale
A situation where someone is trying to sell something


Takes the ante, save the whale
Got involved in a situation where there is a sense of moral duty


There's a call out, sprung again
Been called in a difficult situation to help out once more


Now the question, he don't know who to blame
Cannot pinpoint who or what caused the current predicament they are in


Man in the middle - left right, Man in the middle - that's right, Man in the middle - (ah!)
Reiterating the feeling of being stuck in the middle with a decision to make


Man in the middle - all night, Man in the middle - (way?), Man in the middle - left right, Man in the middle - that's right
Continuing to express the same feeling of being caught in the middle throughout the night and remaining indecisive




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BARRY GIBB, MAURICE GIBB

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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