Levellers is a popular English rock band influenced by punk and traditional… Read Full Bio ↴Levellers is a popular English rock band influenced by punk and traditional English music. The band is based in Brighton, England, where they were founded in 1988. There are several stories regarding how they got their name; from the Levellers, a radically democratic faction of Oliver Cromwell's New Model Army; as a reference to "The Level", a flat open space near where members of the band used to live in Brighton; or simply, according to guitarist, Simon Friend, a word they chose from a dictionary.

Strongly interested and outspoken about green anarchism issues the band have built up a strong and devoted fanbase, despite being nearly universally ignored by mainstream critics. The band have been spokespeople for a number of issues including campaigning against the Criminal Justice Act (and its measures against rave parties) and various anti-capitalist and environmental issues. They continue to tour extensively around Britain and Europe but maintain a mutual dislike with the music press which stems from their early days.

Know You
Levellers Lyrics

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Have you seen an ocean
Deep and wide
Have you been an island
Lost inside

Have you ever walked the streets
In black and white
But you're in color

Alienated and afraid

You look in from the outside
As you go through
You keep on walking
But you don't know what to do

But there's plenty of time
In a day
But in a town
Your mind can go away

So I take a walk
Get out of the place
Where all the trees
Have a concrete face

So when the pressure's on
And there's nowhere left to go

You're gonna have to come to terms
To terms of what you know through

Overall Meaning

the lyrics of Levellers' song "What," the singer reflects on feelings of alienation and disconnection from the world around them. The song opens with vivid images of the natural world - an ocean that is both "deep and wide," and an island that leaves one feeling "lost inside." From there, the song shifts to the realm of human experience, with the singer noting the contrast of "walking the streets in black and white" while feeling "in color." It's a poignant metaphor for the sense of disconnection that many people experience as they go about their lives, feeling cut off from the vibrancy and connection that they crave.

The second verse takes a turn toward the existential, with the singer acknowledging that they feel like an outsider looking in on their own life. They keep walking, but don't know where they're headed or what they really want. Yet even in the midst of these feelings of uncertainty and anxiety, the singer finds a source of solace in nature. They take a walk and leave the town behind, seeking out a more natural environment where trees aren't obscured by concrete.

By the end of the song, the singer seems to have come to terms with their feelings of disconnection and uncertainty. They acknowledge that in times of great pressure and stress, we all have to come to terms with what we know and how we feel. It's a message of hope and resilience, and one that speaks to the human need for connection and understanding.

Line by Line Meaning

Have you seen an ocean
Have you ever witnessed something vast and deep?

Deep and wide
A body of water that is expansive and extensive

Have you been an island
Have you ever felt isolated and alone?

Lost inside
Feeling trapped and not knowing the direction to go

Have you ever walked the streets
Have you roamed the city?

In black and white
With no fun or excitement

But you're in color
You don't fit in and feel different

Alienated and afraid
Feeling alone and scared

You look in from the outside
Feeling like an outsider

As you go through
Just going through the motions

You keep on walking
You continue on with your life