Games People Play
Jools Holland Lyrics
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Never meanin' what they say now never sayin' what they mean
They just wile away the hours in their ivory towers
Till they're covered up with flowers in the back of a black limousine
Lotten da la da da da lotten da la a dee de dee
I'm a talkin' bout you and me and the games people play
Oh we make one another cry break a heart then we say goodbye
Neither one'll ever give in so we gaze at an eight by ten
A thinkin' bout the things that might have been
And it's a dirty dirty dirty rotten shame
Lotten da la da da da
Now people walkin' up to ya singing glory hallelujah
And they're tryin' to sock it to ya in the name of the Lord
They're gonna teach you how to meditate read your horoscope and cheat your fate
And furthermore to hell with hate come on and get on board
Lotten da la da da da
Look around and tell me what you see what's happened to you and me
God grand me the serenity to remember who I am
Cause you've given up your sanity for your pride and your vanity
Turn your back on humanity and you don't give a da da da
Lotten da la da da da
The lyrics to Jools Holland's "Games People Play" speak to the deceptive nature of people and how they become consumed in their own pursuits and desires, ultimately leading to a cycle of heartache and disappointment. The song opens with the singer describing how people constantly engage in games, never really meaning what they say and failing to communicate honestly with one another. They act on their impulses, climb the social ladder, and ultimately end up in their graves, surrounded by flowers in the back of a black limousine. The singer then goes on to address his own failures in relationships, acknowledging how he and others make each other cry, break each other's hearts, and assign blame rather than taking responsibility.
In the second verse, the singer turns his attention to the broader society, observing how people have become increasingly polarized and divided. He highlights the irony of those who claim to be acting in the name of God while trying to impose their beliefs on others. Some preach meditation and horoscopes as if they hold the key to happiness, while others stoke the fires of hatred and intolerance. In the final verse, the singer implores people to look beyond their own self-interest and recognize their shared humanity. He acknowledges the temptation to seek validation in pride and vanity but ultimately sees these as empty pursuits that lead to a loss of sanity and a lack of concern for others.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh the games people now every night and every day now
People play games constantly, day and night
Never meanin' what they say now never sayin' what they mean
They never say what they truly feel or mean
They just wile away the hours in their ivory towers
They waste time in their own little worlds
Till they're covered up with flowers in the back of a black limousine
Until they're dead and gone, celebrated with a funeral procession
Lotten da la da da da lotten da la a dee de dee
N/A
I'm a talkin' bout you and me and the games people play
The games we play affect us personally
Oh we make one another cry break a heart then we say goodbye
We hurt each other's feelings and then walk away
Cross our hearts and we hope to die that the other one's to blame
We try to shift the blame onto each other
Neither one'll ever give in so we gaze at an eight by ten
Neither of us will compromise, and we stare at old photos
A thinkin' bout the things that might have been
Reflecting on the past and what could have been
And it's a dirty dirty dirty rotten shame
It's tragic and regrettable
Now people walkin' up to ya singing glory hallelujah
People try to sell us on empty promises with their words
And they're tryin' to sock it to ya in the name of the Lord
They're using religion as a tool to manipulate us
They're gonna teach you how to meditate read your horoscope and cheat your fate
They offer us shallow ways to supposedly improve our lives
And furthermore to hell with hate come on and get on board
They urge us to reject hate and join their movement
Look around and tell me what you see what's happened to you and me
Reflecting on the changes in ourselves and society
God grand me the serenity to remember who I am
Asking for help to stay grounded and true to oneself
Cause you've given up your sanity for your pride and your vanity
We've sacrificed our mental peace and happiness for ego and self-importance
Turn your back on humanity and you don't give a da da da
People who disregard others and lack empathy
Lotten da la da da da
N/A
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: Joe South
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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