From a first single in 1979, the group successfully combined a pop rock and power pop (and sometimes, a blues rock) influenced backing with harmony side-vocals and Lewis' strident voice, and the band had numerous hit songs during the 1980s and early 1990s. These include "The Power of Love" and "Back in Time" (both of which were featured in the film "Back to the Future"), "I Want a New Drug", "Doin' It All (For My Baby)", "Do You Believe in Love?" "Hip to Be Square", "Stuck With You", and "Jacob's Ladder". Huey Lewis shared three Grammy awards, an American Music Award, and a People's Choice Award along with several artists for his role singing the 1985 charity song "We Are the World" as well.
=Albums=
Huey Lewis & the News (1980)
Picture This (1982) [#13 U.S. Gold]
Sports (1983) [#1 U.S. 7x Platinum]
Back to the Future Soundtrack (1985) [Gold]
Fore! (1986) [#1 U.S. 3x Platinum]
Small World (1988) [#11 U.S. Platinum]
Hard at Play (1991) [#27 U.S. Gold]
The Heart of Rock & Roll - The Best of Huey Lewis and The News (1992)
Four Chords & Several Years Ago (1994) [#55 U.S.]
Time Flies: The Best of Huey Lewis and the News (1996) [#185 U.S.]
Plan B (2001) [#165 U.S.]
Live at 25 (2005)
Greatest Hits & Videos (2006) [#70 U.S.]
www.hueylewisandthenews.com
Hip To Be Square
Huey Lewis & The News Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I used to fool around
But I couldn't take the punishment
And had to settle down
Now I'm playing it real straight
And yes, I cut my hair
You might think I'm crazy, but I don't even care
'Cause I can tell what's going on
It's hip to be square
It's hip to be square
I like my bands in business suits
I watch them on TV
I'm workin' out 'most every day
And watchin' what I eat
They tell me that it's good for me
But I don't even care
I know that it's crazy, I know that it's nowhere
But there is no denying that
It's hip to be square
It's hip to be square
It's hip to be square
So hip to be square
It's not too hard to figure out
You see it every day
And those that were the farthest out
Have gone the other way
You see them on the freeway
It don't look like a lot of fun
But don't you try to fight it
And an idea whose time has come
Don't tell me that I'm crazy, don't tell me I'm nowhere
Take it from me
It's hip to be square
It's hip to be square
It's hip to be square
So hip to be square
Tell 'em, boys
Here, there, and everywhere
Hip, hip, so hip to be square
Here, there, and everywhere
Hip, hip
Here, there, and everywhere
Hip, hip, so hip to be square
Here, there, and everywhere
Hip, hip
Here, there, and everywhere
Hip, hip, so hip to be square
Here, there, and everywhere
Hip, hip
Here, there, and everywhere
Hip, hip, so hip to be square
Here, there, and everywhere
So hip to be square
Hip, hip
The lyrics of "Hip to Be Square" by Huey Lewis & The News suggest a transformation that has taken place, where the singer has settled down from their rebellious ways and is now conforming to society's norms. The chorus states that it's "hip to be square," which can be interpreted as a commentary on the mainstream culture's ideal. The lyrics also mention the singer's newfound interest in healthy living and his appreciation for bands that dress professionally, as opposed to the counter-culture rockers of the 60s and 70s. It could be seen as a satire of the pop culture of the 80s that valorized materialism and conformity.
The song's lyrics are thought to be ironic in tone. While the song talks about being "hip," the message is that it's okay to conform and be part of the mainstream. The song's upbeat melody and catchy chorus enhance the irony of the lyrics. The song was released in 1986, at the height of the 80s pop culture movement, and was a commercial and critical success. The song's music video, featuring the band wearing business suits and playing their instruments on a stage that resembles a corporate office, captures the song's tongue-in-cheek message.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to be a renegade
I used to be a rebel and do things my own way
I used to fool around
I used to do things just for fun, without really thinking about the consequences
But I couldn't take the punishment
But eventually, the consequences caught up with me and I couldn't handle it anymore
And had to settle down
And so, I had to start taking life more seriously and making responsible choices
Now I'm playing it real straight
Now, I'm living a more conventional life and following the rules
And yes, I cut my hair
And as a symbol of my new way of life, I even got a haircut to look more presentable
You might think I'm crazy, but I don't even care
You might not understand my new lifestyle, but I don't really care what others think about it
'Cause I can tell what's going on
Because I understand what the world expects of me now and I'm willing to change to fit in
It's hip to be square
Living a more conventional life is the fashionable thing to do
I like my bands in business suits
I prefer my music to be more polished and professional
I watch them on TV
I'm a fan of musicians that are more mainstream and popular
I'm workin' out 'most every day
I make sure to exercise regularly to stay healthy and fit
And watchin' what I eat
I'm careful about what I eat to maintain a healthy diet
They tell me that it's good for me
People tell me that living a healthy, conventional lifestyle is good for me
But I don't even care
But again, I don't really care what others think about my choices
I know that it's crazy, I know that it's nowhere
I understand that my choices may seem boring or unexciting to others
But there is no denying that, It's hip to be square
But regardless of what others think, living a conventional lifestyle is trendy and popular
It's not too hard to figure out, You see it every day
This trend of living a conventional lifestyle is something you can observe easily in everyday life
And those that were the farthest out, Have gone the other way
People who used to be rebels or unconventional are now embracing a more mainstream lifestyle
You see them on the freeway, It don't look like a lot of fun
You'll see these people commuting to work on the highway, which might seem boring or unexciting to some
But don't you try to fight it, And an idea whose time has come
But it's not worth fighting against this trend, which has become very popular and mainstream
Don't tell me that I'm crazy, don't tell me I'm nowhere
Don't try to make me feel bad or criticize me for my choices
Take it from me, It's hip to be square
Believe me, living a conventional lifestyle is the popular and fashionable thing to do right now
Tell 'em, boys
Let's spread the word
Here, there, and everywhere
All around us
Hip, hip, so hip to be square
It's really trendy and cool to live a conventional lifestyle
So hip to be square
Living a conventional lifestyle is truly fashionable
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Huey Lewis, Sean Thomas Hopper, William Scott Gibson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dr.bunsenhoneydew4362
Lyrics:
I used to be a renegade
I used to fool around
But I couldn't take the punishment
And had to settle down
Now I'm playing it real straight
And yes, I cut my hair
You might think I'm crazy
But I don't even care
'Cause I can tell what's going on
It's hip to be square
It's hip to be square
I like my bands in business suits
I watch them on TV
I'm working out most every day
And watchin' what I eat
They tell me that it's good for me
But I don't even care
I know that it's crazy
I know that it's nowhere
But there is no denying that
It's hip to be square
It's hip to be square
It's hip to be square
So hip to be square
It's not too hard to figure out
You see it every day
And those that were the farthest out
Have gone the other way
You see them on the freeway
It don't look like a lot of fun
But don't you try to fight it
An idea whose time has come
Don't tell me that I'm crazy
Don't tell me I'm nowhere
Take it from me
It's hip to be square
It's hip to be square
It's hip to be square
So hip to be square
Tell 'em, boys
So hip to be square
@RedstoneRecords
don't just stare at it ... eat it!
@NightSide1349
Don't just stare at it.... dance to it!
@1makalu
Sussussussussussussussussu...........................di...........ohhhhhhhhhhhh😉😉😉
@bonechip01
I work on Wall Street.... for Pierce and Pierce.....
@hithere8753
I did a little cooking...
@thepsychologist8159
It's a dark movie to watch, but it's amazing how every time you hear a song from the movie not only does it remind you of it, but for those tragics who have watched it a million times, we know exactly what part of the movie we're in when we hear it.
@lordkleveland717
A good friend of mine is talking me about this song while wearing a raincoat. I'm pretty drunk, so I'm not sure if I'm understanding everything, but he seems so excited
@banditcod7360
😂
@adranickramirezrojas2026
ok man, rest in peace
@treyebillups8602
Are there copies of the style section all over the floor?