In The Music
Kongos Lyrics


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This is the part where you stand up
Put your hands together and really give it up
Do you know what I'm saying?
Do you know what I mean?

They say we sang
Before we talked
Now we talk so much
But we don't say a thing

The heathen stamped
His foot in time
He got so high
He opened up the heavens

This is the part where you stand up
Put your hands together and really give it up
Do you know what I'm saying?
Do you know what I mean?

Close your eyes
And choose a destination
And try to forget
Everything you thought you knew
'Cause don't you know
There is no church or nation
But you can believe
In the music

History can you
Tell me over this
Broken telephone
Just what they knew

We're going through the motion
Our devotion just a token
For tradition's sake taking our potions
And we're faking our emotions

This is the part where you stand up
Put your hands together and really give it up
Do you know what I'm saying?
Do you know what I mean?

Close your eyes
And choose a destination
And try to forget
Everything you thought you knew
'Cause don't you know
There is no church or nation
But you can believe
In the music


Close your eyes
And choose a destination
And try to forget
Everything you thought you knew
'Cause don't you know
There is no church or nation
But you can believe
In the music

Close your eyes
And choose a destination
And try to forget
Everything you thought you knew
'Cause don't you know
There is no church or nation




But you can believe
In the music

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Kongos's song In The Music are a call to action for listeners to stand up and appreciate the power of music. The singer acknowledges the age-old belief that before we spoke words, we communicated and expressed ourselves through song. He comments on society's current state, where people talk so much, yet little is said. He reaches for a reminder that the music can elevate us beyond these shallow exchanges.


The lyrics also encourage the listener to close their eyes and let the music take them to a new destination. The song urges the forgetting of preconceived ideas about the world and its traditional rituals. The singer notes that there is no need for any church or nation, as believing in music is enough to connect us all. The lyrics encourage the listener to let go of their emotions and to stop pretending to experience something they are not.


The song is a reminder that music is a universal language that transcends beliefs and cultures. The musician points out that the power of music connects people as one, and the message of the song is to unify people through it.


Line by Line Meaning

This is the part where you stand up
It's time to take action and get involved.


Put your hands together and really give it up
Applaud and show appreciation for the music.


Do you know what I'm saying?
Do you understand the message that's being conveyed?


Do you know what I mean?
Do you comprehend the significance of what's happening?


They say we sang / Before we talked
Music existed before language developed.


Now we talk so much / But we don't say a thing
Modern communication lacks the power and emotion of music.


The heathen stamped / His foot in time
Rhythm and movement are integral to music and dance.


He got so high / He opened up the heavens
Music can transcend our earthly limitations and transport us to a higher realm.


Close your eyes / And choose a destination
Allow yourself to be lost in the music, free from the constraints of the physical world.


And try to forget / Everything you thought you knew
Let go of preconceived notions and allow the music to teach you something new.


'Cause don't you know / There is no church or nation
Music unites us across all boundaries and divisions.


But you can believe / In the music
The power of music is a universal truth that can be trusted and relied upon.


History can you / Tell me over this / Broken telephone / Just what they knew
Our understanding of the past is incomplete, obscured by the biases and limitations of human memory and interpretation.


We're going through the motion / Our devotion just a token / For tradition's sake taking our potions / And we're faking our emotions
Our superficial engagement with music reflects a broader trend of performative action and empty gestures in contemporary society.




Contributed by Cole O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Andrea Mathis

music to carry in your head all day long. love it. love the talent of these brothers.

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