It Must Have Been Years
Gary Numan Lyrics


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A radio plays `White Christmas'
It's been doing that for years
If someone leaves the station
Oh please don't talk to strangers
Can't you see they're not like us

The vacant flesh of U.D.'s
Stand leaning by the walls
You can feel them thinking over
Ways of merging with the thoughts
You never dare to dream

It must have been years
It must have been years

They want to relive all my memories
Give me `the service' daily
Maybe it was mother
I can't seem to remember
Much at all these days

Picture open doorways
No pick-ups by the taxi boys
Just a bed near the window
And an old lamp by my pillow
And the things I have to do

It must have been years
It must have been years

The driver wants to touch me
He mentions all the old cop bullshit
I try to back away
But he's so strong I just can't move
Maybe I don't want to anyway

The time to leave is always `soon'
I wonder if I'm lying
A vague feeling of panic
As a man leaves saying "thank you"
I blame it all on you





It must have been years
It must have been years

Overall Meaning

The song, "It Must Have Been Years" by Gary Numan, is a haunting exploration of memory, loss, and isolation. The first verse begins with the simple image of a radio playing "White Christmas" repeatedly. The repetition of the song suggests the passage of time, but also the way in which memories can become caught in a loop or a cycle. The singer acknowledges that this has been going on for years, further emphasizing the theme of time passing. The line, "If someone leaves the station, oh please don't talk to strangers, can't you see they're not like us" is intriguing. It suggests a fear of the outside world, and a sense of isolation and alienation. The singer seems to feel that they are different from others, and that this difference makes them vulnerable.


The second verse introduces a new image - that of the "vacant flesh" of U.D.'s standing by the wall. It's not clear who or what these U.D.'s are, but they seem to represent a kind of mindless conformity or uniformity. The singer can feel these U.D.'s thinking "over ways of merging with the thoughts you never dare to dream." This suggests a fear of losing individuality, of being absorbed into a collective consciousness. The repetition of the chorus - "It must have been years" - creates a sense of unease and uncertainty. What has been going on for years? Why can't the singer remember? The verse ends with a haunting image of memory and nostalgia - "Maybe it was mother, I can't seem to remember much at all these days."


The final verse returns to the theme of isolation and fear. The singer describes a situation in which they are alone with a driver who wants to touch them. The singer tries to back away, but feels powerless. The final lines of the song - "I blame it all on you / It must have been years" - are mysterious and unsettling. Who is the "you" that the singer is blaming? What has gone wrong? The song ends with a sense of unease and uncertainty, leaving the listener to ponder the themes of memory, isolation, and fear that run throughout the lyrics.


Line by Line Meaning

A radio plays 'White Christmas'
A radio is playing the song 'White Christmas.'


It's been doing that for years
The radio has been playing this song for years.


If someone leaves the station
If someone turns off the radio station.


Oh please don't talk to strangers
Please avoid talking to unfamiliar people.


Can't you see they're not like us
These people are different from us, so be cautious.


The vacant flesh of U.D.'s
The empty bodies of the undeads.


Stand leaning by the walls
They are standing by the walls, leaning over.


You can feel them thinking over
You can sense them contemplating


Ways of merging with the thoughts
Different ways to unify their thoughts.


You never dare to dream
You don't have the courage to dream.


It must have been years
It has been many years.


It must have been years
It has been many years.


They want to relive all my memories
They want to experience all of my memories again.


Give me 'the service' daily
Provide me with the required attention every day.


Maybe it was mother
Perhaps it was my mother.


I can't seem to remember
I am unable to recollect.


Much at all these days
Many things elude my memory these days.


Picture open doorways
Visualize doorways left open.


No pick-ups by the taxi boys
Those men who drive taxis are not there to pick you up.


Just a bed near the window
Only a bed next to the window.


And an old lamp by my pillow
And an old table lamp near my pillow.


And the things I have to do
And the tasks that I need to accomplish.


It must have been years
It has been many years.


It must have been years
It has been many years.


The driver wants to touch me
The driver of the vehicle intends to touch me.


He mentions all the old cop bullshit
He's talking about all the old slang used by police officers.


I try to back away
I attempt to move away.


But he's so strong I just can't move
He is too powerful, and I cannot break free.


Maybe I don't want to anyway
Perhaps I do not want to get away after all.


The time to leave is always 'soon'
The time to depart is still not definite.


I wonder if I'm lying
I am uncertain if I have lied.


A vague feeling of panic
A slight sense of unease.


As a man leaves saying 'thank you'
A man departs while saying 'thank you.'


I blame it all on you
I attribute all of this to you.


It must have been years
It has been many years.


It must have been years
It has been many years.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: GARY ANTHONY JAMES WEBB

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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