Maybe The People Would Be The Times Or Between Clark And Hilldale
Love Lyrics


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What is happening and how have you been
Gotta go but I'll see you again
And oh, the music is so loud
And then I fade into the

Crowds of people standing everywhere
'Cross the street I'm at this laugh affair
And here they always play my songs
And me, I wonder if it's

Wrong or right they come here just the same
Telling everyone about their games
And if you think it obsolete
Then you go back across the street
Yeah, street, hey hey

When I leave now don't you weep for me
I'll be back, just save a seat for me
But if you just can't make the room
Look up and see me on the

Moon's a common scene around my town
Here where everyone is painted brown
And if we feel that's not the way




Let's go paint everybody gray
Yeah, gray, yeah

Overall Meaning

The first verse of Love's song "Maybe the People Would Be the Times or Between Clark and Hilldale" gives us insight into the social scene depicted in the song. The singer of the song is meeting someone and has to leave but will come back. The music is loud, but the singer fades into the crowds of people that are standing everywhere. The singer then goes to a place where they always play their songs, and the singer wonders if it's wrong or right that people come here just the same to tell everyone about their games. The reference to "games" could be read as people's self-aggrandizement, the use of drugs, alcohol, or sex as escapism, or even a metaphor for the political machinations occurring at the time.


In the second verse of "Maybe the People Would Be the Times or Between Clark and Hilldale," the singer describes the people who come to their shows as "painted brown." This could be a reference to the hippie movement and their embrace of earth tones or a nod to the "painting" of racial identity. The singer then states that they feel that's not the way, and suggest painting everyone gray - this could be a reference to equalizing society or rejecting the superficialities of identity. The song ends with the singer saying that if they leave, the other person should not weep for them because they will come back, and if there's no room, look up and see them on the moon.


Line by Line Meaning

What is happening and how have you been
Hey there, what’s been going on with you lately?


Gotta go but I'll see you again
I have to leave now, but I promise to come back later


And oh, the music is so loud
Wow, the music here is really loud!


And then I fade into the
I get lost in the music and the atmosphere


Crowds of people standing everywhere
There are so many people here, it feels like a crowd


'Cross the street I'm at this laugh affair
Across the street, there’s a party going on and people are having a good time


And here they always play my songs
They always play the songs I’ve written here


And me, I wonder if it's
I wonder whether it’s a good or a bad thing


Wrong or right they come here just the same
Regardless of whether it’s good or bad, people still come here


Telling everyone about their games
They come here and talk about their lives, what they’ve been up to and what they’re playing at


And if you think it obsolete
If you think it’s old-fashioned or outdated


Then you go back across the street
Then you’re welcome to go back to the other side of the street


Yeah, street, hey hey
Yeah, the street, hey hey!


When I leave now don't you weep for me
Don’t be sad when I leave now


I'll be back, just save a seat for me
I promise to come back, so save a seat for me


But if you just can't make the room
If there isn’t enough space in the room


Look up and see me on the
Look up and you might see me in the sky


Moon's a common scene around my town
Seeing the moon in the sky is a common thing where I come from


Here where everyone is painted brown
Everyone here has a similar look or vibe


And if we feel that's not the way
And if we don’t like that, we can change it


Let's go paint everybody gray
Let’s change everyone’s appearance to be more similar or uniform


Yeah, gray, yeah
Yeah, gray, yeah!




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ARTHUR LEE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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