The song is about an informer during the Troubles, and the lyrics suggest a state of paranoia and mental disintegration. It is named after English actor Michael Caine and includes his vocal samples, recorded specifically for this song. The song's hook, a repetition of Caine introducing himself by name, recalls his role in the 1960s spy film The Ipcress File, in which his character, Harry Palmer, repeats his name while trying to stay sane under torture.
When he was approached to appear on the record, Caine initially turned it down, but his daughter on hearing his decision made him change his mind, telling him how popular they were.
Michael Caine
Madness Lyrics
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He's walking where I'm afraid I don't know
I see the firemen jumping from the windows
There's panic and I hear somebody scream
(aaaah)
He picks up useless paper
And puts it in my pocket
I'm trying very hard to keep my fingers clean
I can't remember tell me what's his name
(My name is Michael Caine)
And all I wanted was a word or photograph to keep at home
And all I wanted was a word or photograph to keep
The sun is laughing its another broken morning
I see a shadow and call out to try and warn him
He didn't seem to hear
Just turned away
The quiet fellow follows and points his fingers
Straight at you
He had to sacrifice his pride yes throw it all away
(I am Michael Caine)
And all I wanted was a word or photograph to keep at home
And all I wanted was a word or photograph to keep
His days are numbered he walks round and round in circles
There is no place he can ever call his own
He seems to jump at the sound of the phone
Staring out the window there's nothing he can now do
All he wanted was to remain sane
He can't remember his own name
(My name is Michael Caine)
And all I wanted was a word or photograph to keep at home
And all I wanted was a word or photograph to keep
And all I wanted was a word or photograph
And all I wanted was a word or photograph to keep
And all I wanted was a word or photograph to keep at home
And all I wanted was a word or photograph to keep
And all I wanted was a word or photograph
And all I wanted was a word or photograph to keep
Madness's song "Michael Caine" is an enigmatic and somewhat haunting piece that tells the story of a man who may or may not be the eponymous actor. The song opens with the singer seeing chaos around him: firemen jumping from windows and people screaming. Michael Caine appears and picks up some paper, placing it in the singer's pocket while he tries to keep his hands clean. When the singer asks for his name, Michael Caine responds, "My name is Michael Caine."
The song then becomes more abstract, with the sun laughing as the singer tries to warn a shadowy figure who doesn't seem to hear. A "quiet fellow" appears, pointing his fingers straight at the singer and following him until he sacrifices his pride and throws it all away. As the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is losing his grip on reality; he can't remember his own name and all he wanted was a word or photograph to keep.
The lyrics of "Michael Caine" are open to interpretation, but they seem to be about the struggle for identity and meaning in a confusing world. The singer's desperate desire for a word or photograph to keep suggests a yearning for a concrete sense of self, but ultimately he is unable to find what he is looking for.
Line by Line Meaning
He's walking where I'm afraid I don't know
The singer is unsure of where the person he is talking about is headed.
I see the firemen jumping from the windows
The singer sees a chaotic scene with people jumping out of windows to escape danger.
There's panic and I hear somebody scream
The chaos is causing fear and someone screams out in terror.
He picks up useless paper
The person picks up something, but it has no value.
And puts it in my pocket
The person puts the useless item in the singer's pocket.
I'm trying very hard to keep my fingers clean
The singer does not want to be associated with any potential crime or wrongdoing connected to the item.
I can't remember tell me what's his name
The singer cannot recall the name of the person he is referring to.
My name is Michael Caine
The person reveals their name, which is Michael Caine.
And all I wanted was a word or photograph to keep at home
Michael Caine wants a memento to remember someone or something by.
The sun is laughing its another broken morning
Despite the chaos earlier, the day has begun just like any other and the sun continues to rise.
I see a shadow and call out to try and warn him
Michael Caine sees someone approaching and tries to warn them of potential danger.
He didn't seem to hear
The person Michael Caine is warning does not seem to acknowledge him.
Just turned away
The person turns away and ignores Michael Caine.
The quiet fellow follows and points his fingers
A silent person follows and accuses someone else of wrongdoing.
Straight at you
The silent person points an accusatory finger at the singer or at the person being accused.
He had to sacrifice his pride yes throw it all away
The person accusing others had to give up their own pride and lose something in order to do so.
His days are numbered he walks round and round in circles
The person Michael Caine is referring to has an uncertain future and goes around in circles without a clear direction.
There is no place he can ever call his own
The person does not have a place they can truly call their own, whether to live or to feel safe.
He seems to jump at the sound of the phone
The person is startled by the sound of a phone ringing, which may be a sign of paranoia or instability.
Staring out the window there's nothing he can now do
The person is helpless and can only gaze out of a window.
All he wanted was to remain sane
The person only wanted to keep their sanity and not succumb to mental illness or instability.
He can't remember his own name
The person feels lost and confused, and cannot even remember their own identity.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CATHAL SMYTH, CATHAL JOSEPH SMYTH, CHRISTOPHER JOHN FOREMAN, DANIEL WOODGATE, DANIEL MARK WOODGATE, GRAHAM MCPHERSON, LEE JAY THOMPSON, MARK WILLIAM BEDFORD, MICHAEL BARSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@loulov
Takes me to 1984 and far happier days.
@cazm9964
1000%
@johnmcgee832
One of the most underrated MADNESS hit singles
@55teebone
Never been underrated.
@yogiaol
This is their best song!
@Coxy_Wrecked
@@55teebone It's rarely mentioned as a top Madness song and Youtube viewing stats suggest it not close to being one of their mot popular songs.
So,yeah it's underrated.
@clairenoon4070
@@Coxy_Wrecked YouTube viewing stats! Forgetting the decades of people appreciating this song before YouTube ever existed. Given that YouTube is used far more by younger people, all it shows is younger people 'underrating' it.
@user36945
I always loved It. Those chorus ....
@thatsmrfuckwit
Best song they ever did, IMO -- chord progression priceless.....
@ajs41
1:43 to 1:59 sounds a bit like David Bowie in my opinion.