The Man Who Knew the Answer
Flash and the Pan Lyrics
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Says: Dreams are not for sale
Took a life to find that out
Lost behind a veil
Born in line of duty
Awakened with a frown
Found it hard to readjust
Closed the old church down
Read a book of fables, of wizards and of gnomes
Reaped the autumn harvest, the seeds already sown
Didn't have a number, didn't have a name
The man that knew the answer, he couldn't play the game
Well he drank the cool clear water
And he breathed the old sunrise
Laughed away the mornings
Didn't hear the sighs
Joined the Manhattan party
Found himself at home
Climbed upon the ladder
Left for lands unknown
Then one autumn evening, as the day was on its last
Came out of the sunset, the legend from the past
Their heads were turned in wonder, in anger and in shame
From the man that knew the answer, that couldn't play the game
The lyrics of Flash and the Pan's song The Man Who Knew the Answer speak of a man who seems to have an almost mythical quality to him. The song begins with a sign that warns that dreams are not for sale, indicating that the man had at one point had dreams but had given them up for some reason. He had been born into a line of duty that he struggled to readjust to, eventually leading him to close down an old church.
The man in the song then turns to reading fables and reaping the autumn harvest, suggesting that he was searching for something more than his current situation could offer. Despite his search, he didn't have a number or a name, making him an outsider. He is described as the man who knew the answer but couldn't play the game, indicating that he had knowledge but didn't fit into the societal norms.
The song then describes how the man drank cool, clear water and laughed away the mornings, indicating that he was content with his simple life. However, he eventually joined the Manhattan party and left for lands unknown, indicating that he continued to search for something more.
One autumn evening, the man returned and was met with wonder, anger, and shame from those who knew him. This suggests that the man may have had some sort of mythical quality or knowledge that others were envious of but couldn't understand.
Overall, the lyrics of The Man Who Knew the Answer speak to the struggles of finding one's place in society and the difficult decision to give up dreams in order to fit in. The man in the song represents an outsider who ultimately continues to search for something more, even if it means leaving everything behind.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a sign down back of main street
In a less-traveled area of town, there exists a sign.
Says: Dreams are not for sale
The sign contains the message that dreams cannot be bought or sold.
Took a life to find that out
It required a tragic experience for the singer to realize the truism of the sign's message.
Lost behind a veil
The artist's discovery of the message is shrouded in some form of obstruction or confusion.
Born in line of duty
The artist was born to fulfill a certain obligation or purpose.
Awakened with a frown
Despite fulfilling duties, the singer woke unhappy with the given task.
Found it hard to readjust
The singer had a difficult time adapting to new circumstances.
Closed the old church down
As a result of this difficulty, the artist was forced to close an important establishment.
Read a book of fables, of wizards and of gnomes
The artist immerses himself in a work of fiction.
Reaped the autumn harvest, the seeds already sown
The artist enjoys the spoils of his previous labor.
Didn't have a number, didn't have a name
The singer is disassociated from any form of identity.
The man that knew the answer, he couldn't play the game
Despite possessing knowledge or insight, the artist is unable to conform to social norms.
Well he drank the cool clear water
The singer consumes refreshing and natural resources.
And he breathed the old sunrise
The singer appreciates the beauty of nature.
Laughed away the mornings
The singer takes pleasure in the joys of the day.
Didn't hear the sighs
The artist is unaware of the negative emotions of others.
Joined the Manhattan party
The artist becomes involved with a popular and exclusive group in New York City.
Found himself at home
The singer feels comfortable and welcomed within this group.
Climbed upon the ladder
The singer begins to climb the ranks of this social hierarchy.
Left for lands unknown
The artist sets off on an unknown journey, leaving behind his established lifestyle.
Then one autumn evening, as the day was on its last
On an autumn evening, during its final hours, something significant occurs.
Came out of the sunset, the legend from the past
From the horizon, a mythical figure from the past emerges.
Their heads were turned in wonder, in anger and in shame
Witnesses exhibit a variety of emotions - including awe, frustration, and disappointment - in response to the legendary figure.
From the man that knew the answer, that couldn't play the game
The legendary figure is revealed to be the artist, someone wise yet unable to conform to societal expectations.
Contributed by Josiah B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.