Noises
Ian Hunter Lyrics


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Noises are taking away my freedom.
Noises seem to rob me of myself.
Noises are the sound of mediocrity.
Noises ... to take that ... from out of myself.
Noises are taking away my casualness.
Noises are making me scared.
Big noises are made by big shots.
Some noises should never be heard.

Noises,
Noises,
Noises,
Noises,
Give me noises!

Noises are looking over my shoulder.
Noises are the sound of the herd.
Noises make the planet colder.
Noises are noises that should never be heard.

Noises,
Noises,
Noises,
Noises will destroy me.
Noises ...

Why not join some junky jewels, who wreck the clines on canvas fools
Who take the vapours from the mind. Neo nothing. Shallow kind.
A ritzy Nazi owns the game, he plays at God but that was fame
And music masturbates his mind, and stones get rolled up in the slime
A New York butch becomes a blond, while changing gears while from beyond
Agree to consecrate the music makers have gotta take
Owls with trowels as big as spades, dig down among those sequined graves.
Work out their ages, turn the pages, caught in cages, locked in ages
Media momenta, who can prevent her.

Noises, Noises, Noises, Noises
Did you find a certain street, they`re looking for thoughtless thoughts to preach
The street, the street, they`re not your drain, while waiting in the pouring rain
For your old lady out of work, brought the baby, bet your shirt
Waiting for Godot did it, then what`s happening the other end - Rewards
And gallant knights with blunted swords
Locked away in isolation, trying to figure out why they want to die
And that`s the state of the nation.

Noises,
Noises,
Noises,




Noises, oh, oh, oh.
I love noises!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ian Hunter's "Noises" is an anguished expression against conformist ideals and the unreasonable demands on individuals by society. It begins with the statement "Noises are taking away my freedom," implying that the endless, meaningless chatter of society is stifling the individuality and spontaneity of human beings. The lyrics continue with "Noises seem to rob me of myself," indicating that the relentless noise of the mundane world is not just robbing us of our time and energy, but also the essence of our being. Hunter then criticizes the homogeneity of the society, "Noises are the sound of mediocrity," suggesting that the noise is emanating from a crowd that is content with an average life and unwilling to embrace something new, unique, or away from the norm. Hunter also mentions that some noises should never be heard, which points towards the darker side of the society, and sounds that could bring harm rather than good.


The second half of the song continues on this same note, with Hunter implying that the societal values are entirely wrong. He terms the rhythmic chatter as something that breeds conformity and suffocates free thought. The line "Noises make the planet colder" suggests that incessant, meaningless noise has not only dulled the human spirit but also the natural world around us, leading the earth towards a bleak, lonely existence. Hunter talks of "ritzy Nazi[s]" and "music masturbat[ing] his mind," where he critiques the insanity of modern society's values and the hypocrisy of fame and wealth. He also paints a picture of individuals that are locked away in their own heads, trying to make sense of the meaningless world around them, unable to find a way out.


Interestingly, the repeated phrase 'Noises' not only points to the lack of substance in society but also becomes a protest against it. Hunter's chanting "Give me noises!" is a yearning for anything that breaks the drudgery of conformity, of just anything real that can excite us and make us feel alive.


Line by Line Meaning

Noises are taking away my freedom.
The constant sounds around me are limiting me, I don't feel free.


Noises seem to rob me of myself.
The noises are making me lose my identity and sense of self.


Noises are the sound of mediocrity.
The sounds I'm hearing are uninspiring and unoriginal.


Noises ... to take that ... from out of myself.
The noises are taking something away from me, I'm not sure what it is though.


Noises are taking away my casualness.
All the noises are making me more anxious and less relaxed.


Noises are making me scared.
The sounds are making me fearful and nervous.


Big noises are made by big shots.
The most noticeable sounds are often created by powerful and influential people.


Some noises should never be heard.
There are certain sounds that are unpleasant and even harmful to us.


Noises are looking over my shoulder.
I feel like the sounds are always behind me, following me wherever I go.


Noises are the sound of the herd.
The sounds represent the majority, and conforming to the norm.


Noises make the planet colder.
The constant noise pollution is damaging the environment.


Noises are noises that should never be heard.
There are certain sounds that we should not be subjected to, they are unpleasant or harmful.


Noises will destroy me. Noises ...
The sounds are overwhelming and could have a devastating effect on me.


Why not join some junky jewels, who wreck the clines on canvas fools...
Maybe I should join a group of rebels who are shaking up the status quo.


A ritzy Nazi owns the game, he plays at God but that was fame...
There are people in power who abuse their position and play God, but it's all for show.


And music masturbates his mind, and stones get rolled up in the slime...
Music can be a form of self-indulgence and can lead to self-destruction.


A New York butch becomes a blond, while changing gears while from beyond...
People can change their appearance or identity, but it's all superficial.


Agree to consecrate the music makers have gotta take...
We should honor and respect those who create music.


Owls with trowels as big as spades, dig down among those sequined graves...
We need to dig deep to find the true meaning and value of music.


Work out their ages, turn the pages, caught in cages, locked in ages...
We need to understand the history of music to truly appreciate it, rather than being trapped in current trends.


Media momenta, who can prevent her.
The media has such a strong influence on our culture, it's hard to ignore.


Did you find a certain street, they`re looking for thoughtless thoughts to preach...
There are people and organizations looking to manipulate and control us with shallow ideas.


The street, the street, they`re not your drain...
We shouldn't subject ourselves to the influence of the masses.


While waiting in the pouring rain for your old lady out of work...
We experience hardship in our lives while waiting for better circumstances.


Waiting for Godot did it, then what`s happening the other end - Rewards...
There is often no clear meaning or reward for our struggles and uncertainties.


And gallant knights with blunted swords...
Even our heroes can be weakened or discouraged by the difficulties they face.


Locked away in isolation, trying to figure out why they want to die...
We can become trapped in our own thoughts and struggles, without any clear answers.


And that`s the state of the nation.
This is the current reality of our society and culture.


I love noises!
Just kidding, I hate all these sounds around me.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: IAN HUNTER, THOMAS MORRONGIELLO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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