NW5
Madness Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Oh, I watched you grow up
Only to despise
I seen the madness stack up
Through tarpaulin eyes

I have heard you come up
Believing your own lies
Witnessed the blessing rise up
In a very strange disguise

And though you have become a burden
One thing remains, that's for certain
I will love you all my life
But without you in my life

Yes I watched you climb up
I seen you come alive
From those very humble beginnings
In NW5

And though we face the final curtain
One thing remains, that's for certain
I will love you all my life
But without you in my life

I would give you everything
For just that smile you bring
For just that song to sing
I would give you everything
For just that smile you bring
For just that song to sing, I sing now

Oh I watched you grow up
Only to despise
Witnessed the blessing rise up
In a very strange disguise

Nothing, it seems, lasts forever
People change just like the weather
Some for good and sometimes never
I hope things work out for the better

'Cause I would give you everything
For just that smile you bring
For just that song to sing

I would give you everything
For just that smile you bring
For just that song to sing

I would give you everything
For just that smile you bring
For just that song to sing
I would give you everything
For just that smile you bring
For just that song to sing

I would give you everything




For just the smile you bring
Just to hear that song to sing

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Madness's song NW5 evoke complex emotions of love and disappointment. The first verse contains mixed feelings of resentment and empathy for someone the singer watched grow up. The line "I seen the madness stack up through tarpaulin eyes" suggests that the singer watched the other person struggle with mental health or addiction issues. The next line speaks to the singer's sadness about the other person's tendency to believe their own lies, despite the singer being witness to their ascent.


The second verse speaks to the undeniable bond between the two people, even in the face of an uncertain future. The line "From those very humble beginnings in NW5" refers to the band's hometown of Camden. The final verse reveals both the singer's deep love for the other person, as well as the reality that sometimes people grow apart or change in ways that make it impossible to continue the relationship. The image of the final curtain suggests that the end of the song may be the final goodbye.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh, I watched you grow up
I have observed your growth and development over time


Only to despise
but unfortunately, I have come to strongly dislike you


I seen the madness stack up
I have witnessed madness accumulating in you


Through tarpaulin eyes
due to the barriers between us, I have only been able to view you through a rough material like tarpaulin


I have heard you come up
I have listened to your rise in status or success


Believing your own lies
while you grew, you believed in and continued to tell your own lies


Witnessed the blessing rise up
I have seen you rise as a blessing


In a very strange disguise
but in a way that was not easily recognizable


And though you have become a burden
Despite the fact that you have now caused me trouble


One thing remains, that's for certain
I am still sure about one thing


I will love you all my life
I will love you for the entirety of my life


But without you in my life
However, I cannot continue to have you in my life


Yes I watched you climb up
Indeed, I witnessed you ascend to a higher position


I seen you come alive
I noticed you becoming more energetic or enthusiastic


From those very humble beginnings
Starting from a very modest start


In NW5
In the region of North West 5


And though we face the final curtain
Despite us approaching the end of our journey or partnership


One thing remains, that's for certain
I am still sure about one thing


I will love you all my life
I will love you for the entirety of my life


But without you in my life
However, I cannot continue to have you in my life


I would give you everything
If I could, I would provide you with all of my belongings


For just that smile you bring
Just to have the pleasure of receiving your smile


For just that song to sing
Just to have the chance to listen to you sing


Nothing, it seems, lasts forever
It appears that everything comes to an end eventually


People change just like the weather
Individuals transform in the same way the weather shifts


Some for good and sometimes never
Some transformations are for the better, while others are not


I hope things work out for the better
I desire for everything to turn out more favorably


'Cause I would give you everything
Because I truly feel like giving you everything I have


Just to hear that song to sing
Only to be able to listen to the sound of your voice singing




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: MICHAEL BARSON, LEE JAY THOMPSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@cyderspice

Ooh, I watched you grow up
Only to despise
I seen the madness stack up
Through tarpaulin eyes

I have heard you come up
Believing your own lies
Witnessed the blessing rise up
In a - a very strange disguise

And though you have become a burden
One thing remains, that's for certain
I will love you all my life
But without you in my life

Yes I watched you climb up
I seen you come alive
From those very humble beginnings
In NW5

And though we face the final curtain
One thing remains, that's for certain
I will love you all my life
But without you in my life

I would give you everything
For just that smile you bring
For just that song to sing us

I would give you everything
For just that smile you bring
For just that song to sing, I sing now

Ooh, I watched you grow up
Only to despise
Witnessed the blessing rise up
In a very strange disguise

Nothing, it seems, lasts forever
People change just like the weather
Some for good and sometimes never
I hope things work out for the better

'Cause I would give you everything
For just that smile you bring
For just that song to sing us

I would give you everything
For just that smile you bring
For just that song to sing

I would give you everything
For just that smile you bring
For just that song to sing us



@vivianaviviana8113

Oh, I watched you grow up
Only to despise
I seen the madness stack up
Through tarpaulin eyes
I have heard you come up
Believing your own lies
Witnessed the blessing rise up
In a very strange disguise
And though you have become a burden
One thing remains, that's for certain
I will love you all my life
But without you in my life
Yes I watched you climb up
I seen you come alive
From those very humble beginnings
In NW5
And though we face the final curtain
One thing remains, that's for certain
I will love you all my life
But without you in my life
I would give you everything
For just that smile you bring
For just that song to sing
I would give you everything
For just that smile you bring
For just that song to sing, I sing now
Oh I watched you grow up
Only to despise
Witnessed the blessing rise up
In a very strange disguise
Nothing, it seems, lasts forever
People change just like the weather
Some for good and sometimes never
I hope things work out for the better
'Cause I would give you everything
For just that smile you bring
For just that song to sing
I would give you everything
For just that smile you bring
For just that song to sing
I would give you everything
For just that smile you bring
For just that song to sing
I would give you everything
For just that smile you bring
For just that song to sing
I would give you everything
For just the smile you bring
Just to hear that song to sing



All comments from YouTube:

@haribostarmix8812

Don't u feel like a kid every time u hear a madness song.remembering the eighties...bloody miss them times....

@Tash1969

80's greatest decade :)

@cyderspice

Ooh, I watched you grow up
Only to despise
I seen the madness stack up
Through tarpaulin eyes

I have heard you come up
Believing your own lies
Witnessed the blessing rise up
In a - a very strange disguise

And though you have become a burden
One thing remains, that's for certain
I will love you all my life
But without you in my life

Yes I watched you climb up
I seen you come alive
From those very humble beginnings
In NW5

And though we face the final curtain
One thing remains, that's for certain
I will love you all my life
But without you in my life

I would give you everything
For just that smile you bring
For just that song to sing us

I would give you everything
For just that smile you bring
For just that song to sing, I sing now

Ooh, I watched you grow up
Only to despise
Witnessed the blessing rise up
In a very strange disguise

Nothing, it seems, lasts forever
People change just like the weather
Some for good and sometimes never
I hope things work out for the better

'Cause I would give you everything
For just that smile you bring
For just that song to sing us

I would give you everything
For just that smile you bring
For just that song to sing

I would give you everything
For just that smile you bring
For just that song to sing us

@maudemathildeh335

It was a magical time.

@nottudyug

Spot on. Impossible not to feel nostalgic listening to these awesome tunes!!!

@agelessorca

Not old enough to remember but these songs are great

1 More Replies...

@timharmer191

Absolute legends loved them in 1980 still love them today

@charliez61

Maybe one of the greatest band ever. Love them!

@Greenchrysopsaro

Maybe?

@ignacioperandres

I was singingthe chorus at leedsyorshire chorus grandslam before i been later abuse and enclouser to my dreadfulhouseagain LOVEMADNESSFOREVER🎉❤😮❤

More Comments

More Versions