Living Colour rose to fame with their debut album Vivid in 1988. Although the band scored a number of hits, they are best remembered for their signature anthem "Cult of Personality", which won a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance in 1990. They were also named Best New Artist at the 1989 MTV Video Music Awards and won their second Grammy Award for their follow-up album Time's Up. After disbanding in 1995, Living Colour reunited in late 2000.
Desperate People
Living Colour Lyrics
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I hear you laughing in the rain
You say you can't tell any difference
Between the pleasure and the pain
You say you never ever dream at night time
You say you only dream when you're awake
And say that T.V. looks like your life
Desperate People
Desperate People
You get your sunshine from a tab of paper
Then you're sitting in a spinning room
The clock is tocking and it's laughing at you
Your life's a mystery without a clue
The crowd you're in thinks you're so amusing
They're oh so flattering and so sincere
They stand and laugh as they watch you crumble
And when you cry for help they don't hear
Desperate People
Desperate People
You feel the earth revolving
You see the sun dissolving
You hear the night calling out to you
You have no direction and you have no protection
What you gonna do when your trip turns blue?
When you come crashing down and there's no help around
You need friends, you need help
But first you have to help yourself
The music stops and the party's over
The money's gone and your crowd is too
Can't break the chains that have kept you under
Has the monkey got the best of you?
I see you crying in the sunshine
I hear you laughing in the rain
You say you can't tell any difference
Between the pleasure and the pain
Desperate People
Living Colour's song Desperate People touches on themes of addiction and desperation. The first verse juxtaposes crying in the sunshine and laughing in the rain, which emphasizes the confusion and lack of direction the singer feels. They cannot distinguish between pleasure and pain, which suggests they have reached a rock bottom. The reference to dreaming only when awake reinforces how disconnected the singer is from reality. They see their life reflected in the T.V. they watch, suggesting that they have disconnected from their own existence.
The second verse shows how the singer is dependent on a specific drug, in this case, LSD. They are in a dark place and can't find a sense of belonging outside of drug culture. The clock is personified, which emphasizes the paranoia and fear that the singer is experiencing. The singer's lack of direction and protection is highlighted. They have no idea where to go or what to do when they come down from their high. They need friends and help but recognize that before they seek help, they must help themselves.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Desperate People," which emphasizes the desperation and loneliness that the singer feels. The final verse reinforces the idea that the singer is trapped in a cycle of addiction and dependence. The party's over, the money's gone, and the crowd has disappeared. Despite this, the singer cannot break free of the chains that are keeping them under. The song offers a bleak outlook on addiction, emphasizing how alone and desperate one can feel when caught in its cycle.
Line by Line Meaning
I see you crying in the sunshine
Observing you being sad even in the happiest moments.
I hear you laughing in the rain
Witnessing your smiles even during chaotic times.
You say you can't tell any difference Between the pleasure and the pain
Stating that joy and sorrow are indistinguishable.
You say you never ever dream at nighttime
Proclaiming that you only find fantasies when you're conscious.
You say you only dream when you're awake
Imainging the impossible when you're awake instead of when asleep.
And say that T.V. looks like your life
Spotting similarities between your existence and what's shown on screens.
And the life you lead is fake
Acknowledging that the reality around you is false.
You get your sunshine from a tab of paper
Acquiring joy from drugs and not from natural means.
Then you're sitting in a spinning room
Indulging in substances can result in negative physical sensations.
The clock is tocking and it's laughing at you
The ticking of the clock signaling time passing can signify the wasting of one’s life.
Your life's a mystery without a clue
Feeling like you have no understanding of the meaning of your existence.
The crowd you're in thinks you're so amusing
Being surrounded by people that like watching you under the influence.
They're oh so flattering and so sincere
These people appear to be your friends yet they may just like the spectacle you put on.
They stand and laugh as they watch you crumble
Watching you destroy yourself can be entertaining for others.
And when you cry for help they don't hear
Feeling like your calls for assistance go unnoticed by those around you.
You feel the earth revolving
Feeling a sense of being lost and not grounded.
You see the sun dissolving
Feeling like the sources of light and joy around you are vanishing.
You hear the night calling out to you
Feeling a sense of darkness and uncertainty in life.
You have no direction and you have no protection
Feeling lost without any guidance or support.
What you gonna do when your trip turns blue?
What will you do when everything goes wrong?
When you come crashing down and there's no help around
What will happen when you have no cushion when you hit rock bottom?
You need friends, you need help
Acknowledging the importance of having people to turn to and support.
But first you have to help yourself
Recognizing that before getting help from others, you should help yourself first.
The music stops and the party's over
The thrill of the party and momentary feeling of happiness will eventually end.
The money's gone and your crowd is too
The people and things that you found joy in can disappear.
Can't break the chains that have kept you under
Breaking free from addiction and destructive lifestyles can be hard.
Has the monkey got the best of you?
Asking if the addiction has won over and control you.
Desperate People
This repeats like a chorus throughout the song to emphasize the theme.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CALHOUN, GLOVER, REID, SKILLINGS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind