They emerged in the early 80s with an EP called 'Folk of the 80s', a work released in 1980 that showed the Doroschuk family's interest in the electronic sounds of the progressive rock scene. After picking up some local success, the group erupted onto the international scene a couple of years later with their hit single "The Safety Dance". Parent album 'Rhythm of Youth' did very well, reaching all the way to the #13 slot on the Billboard 200 chart. Touring showed that they had captured their own distinctive audience.
Still, the band faced a tough time living up the expectations put upon them by the success of "The Safety Dance", which had a popular music video and hit #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. Their follow-up tune "I Like", similar in synthpop spirit, received far less airplay. Their 1984 album 'Folk of the '80s (Part III)' showed the group in flux, the ever shifting 80s music scene seemingly leaving them behind.
Though saddled with the 'one hit wonder' label, Men Without Hats burst back into American and Canadian popular consciousness with their 1987 release 'Pop Goes The World'. The title track reached the #20 slot on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as #2 on the Canadian Singles Chart, and, showing a return to form, the group also devised a compelling music video that had considerable interest. The songs themselves showed a mix of lyrical bite and meta-commentary on the nature of fame as well as understated, even children's music inspired instrumentation and vocals.
"Pop Goes The World" ended up being also featured in the 1987 comedy film 'Date with an Angel', and it became the fifteenth biggest selling single in South Africa for 1988, showing the international appeal of the band. Ivan and Stefan Doroschuk alongside Lenny Pinkas made-up the group at that point. The touring band incorporated Bruce Murphy on keyboards and guitar, Marika Tjelios on bass, Richard Sampson on drums, and Heidi Garcia on vocals and keyboards.
Their next album, 'The Adventures of Women & Men Without Hate in the 21st Century', was released in 1989. Though getting a bit of interest from having featured a cover of ABBA's song "S.O.S.", the commercial failure of the album showed that their audience had significantly dwindled. The musicians on the album were essentially the touring band from 'Pop Goes the World'.
The band lasted as an electronic group as such into the early 90s, but they decided to drastically change their sound for 1991's 'Sideways'. The aptly-tilted album saw them aping contemporary alternative rock. Alienating many fans, the album didn't even relieve an American release. Soon after this deep career setback, the band officially disbanded.
As time went on, the group's iconic international hits "The Safety Dance" and "Pop Goes The World" continued to receive major airplay, leading some to label the group as a 'two hit wonder'. Ivan Doroschuk and keyboardist Bruce Murphy would record several demos in 1993, for a concept album tentatively titled 'UFO's are Real'. Yet it never was released.
After a few more years, Ivan Doroschuk returned to being a solo artist with the album 'The Spell' in 2000. He decided to perform simply as Ivan. In 2003, Men Without Hats partly reformed, and Ivan self-released the album 'No Hats Beyond This Point'.
On September 24, 2010, Ivan Doroschuk reformed Men Without Hats as a full group, with three hired backup musicians, and his band appeared at the Rifflandia Music Festival in Victoria, British Columbia. Performing ten songs from the Men Without Hats back catalog, the Ivan-fronted band (described by the Austin American-Statesman as "simply singer Ivan Doroschuk and some hired guns" and by Stefan as a "tribute band") began the "Dance If You Want Tour 2011" with a well attended and positively received performance at Austin's South by Southwest event in March 2011. At the North by Northeast festival in Toronto on June 18, Ivan announced that Men Without Hats would be releasing a new studio album and that it tentatively would be entitled 'Folk of the 80s: Part IV'.
On June 19, 2011, the group played at the Sound of Music Festival in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. Stefan Doroschuk, though rumored to be returning to his brother's group, announced his intention to continue working separately. On March 6, 2012, Ivan Doroschuk's band announced via Facebook that their upcoming album would be called 'Love in the Age of War'.
On 22 April 2012, Men Without Hats released the new single "Head Above Water" from the aformentioned album. Their line-up at that time was Ivan Doroschuk, Lou Dawson, James Love and Rachel Ashmore. 'Love in the Age of War' finally came out on May 22, 2012 in Canada and on June 5, 2012 in the U.S. Their seventh album, it was also the group's first full studio release after a nine-year hiatus.
The band's 2013 tour found them traveling to San Diego, California as well as Mexico City. Going into 2014, the group is still going strong. See: http://safetydance.com/
Intro / Walk on Water
Men Without Hats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The one that rushes
From our hearts into the sea
Endlessly hoping to be
Here is the water
The one that rushes from our
Minds into the street
Endlessly hoping to meet
they said we could walk on water
They said we should knock on wood
We did none of these things and they said we could sing
So we sang about falling in love
They said that we were getting smarter
They said that we were something new
We were none of these things and they said we could sing
So we sang about twenty and two
We done all the wrong things
And all we done good
they said we were the new beginning
They said we were a brand new start
We were none of these thing and they said we could sing
So we sang about the state of the art
They said we were the second coming
They said we were a different breed
We were none of these things and they said we could sing
So we sang about the birds and the bees
Bunch of do nothing that were down on your knees
can you walk on water
But can you walk on - W A T E are (oh no)
Can you walk on - W A T E are
Oh can you walk on water
they said we could walk on water
They said we should knock on wood
We did none of these things and they said we could sing
So we sang about falling in love
They say that we say we say something
They say that we say something new
We say some of these things and they say we can sing
So we sang about a hundred and two
But if nobody listens well nothing comes true
When you walk on water
When you walk on - W A T E are (oh no)
Can you walk on - W A T E are
Oh can you walk on water
Can you walk on - W A T E are (oh no)
Can you walk on - W A T E are
Oh can you walk on water
We never walked on - W A T E are
So tell me something smarter W A T E are
matadors monkeys, a million balloons
As we walk through the sea to the sand
Knowing full well that we're perfectly tuned
As we skip through our hearts hand in hand
well jenny the older
Whose music we heard
Will we all meet again at the end of the world
no sense in fooling
We're covered in dreams
Having too much fun flying to land
Floating waste high in tendrils of green
We're so small but we feel oh so grand
well jenny the older
Whose music we heard
Will we all meet again at the end of the world
end of the world
well jenny the older
Whose music we heard
Will we all meet again at the end of the world
the end of the world
On Tuesday
The end of the world
Pop goes the world
The end of the world
Pop goes the world
on Tuesday
The end of the world
The real world
Pop goes the world
On Tuesday
The song "Intro Walk On Water" by Men Without Hats is a reflection on the power of music to unite people and provide hope. The lyrics reference the idea of walking on water, a feat famously accomplished by Jesus, and asks if we as humans can achieve such a feat, both literally and metaphorically. The water mentioned in the lyrics represents the emotions and thoughts that flow through us, and the hope that something greater than ourselves can come from these experiences. The refrain of the song repeats the phrase "pop goes the world" which can be interpreted as a burst of excitement, a sense of joy or a shift in perspective.
The lyrics of the song also reference the role of music as a medium for change. It suggests that anyone can make a difference through music, regardless of their background, intelligence or skills. The band members themselves are described as "doing all the wrong things" but their music gave them a platform to make a difference in the world. The song also touches on the idea of reincarnation, with the repeated reference to "Jenny the older, whose music we heard" suggesting that music can transcend time and bring us together in unexpected ways.
Line by Line Meaning
Here is the water
The one that rushes
From our hearts into the sea
Endlessly hoping to be
This water represents the feelings of our hearts that we hope will be fulfilled.
Here is the water
The one that rushes from our
Minds into the street
Endlessly hoping to meet
This water represents the thoughts in our minds that we want to share with others.
they said we could walk on water
They said we should knock on wood
We did none of these things and they said we could sing
So we sang about falling in love
People believed in our potential to achieve miraculous things, but instead, we just expressed our love through singing.
They said that we were getting smarter
They said that we were something new
We were none of these things and they said we could sing
So we sang about twenty and two
We done all the wrong things
And all we done good
People thought we were evolving and changing, but really, we just sang about random things, and sometimes we made mistakes despite our best intentions.
they said we were the new beginning
They said we were a brand new start
We were none of these thing and they said we could sing
So we sang about the state of the art
People thought we represented a fresh start, but actually, we just sang about modern trends and innovations.
They said we were the second coming
They said we were a different breed
We were none of these things and they said we could sing
So we sang about the birds and the bees
Bunch of do nothing that were down on your knees
People believed we were unique and special, but we just sang about basic, natural things like sex and love, without actually doing anything impactful.
can you walk on water
But can you walk on - W A T E are (oh no)
Can you walk on - W A T E are
Oh can you walk on water
We question if anyone can truly walk on water, both literally and metaphorically, while also playing with the word 'water' through spelling it out loud.
They say that we say we say something
They say that we say something new
We say some of these things and they say we can sing
So we sang about a hundred and two
But if nobody listens well nothing comes true
When you walk on water
When you walk on - W A T E are (oh no)
Can you walk on - W A T E are
Oh can you walk on water
Can you walk on - W A T E are (oh no)
Can you walk on - W A T E are
Oh can you walk on water
We never walked on - W A T E are
So tell me something smarter W A T E are
People hear our songs and think we mean something, but if nobody pays attention, our ideas won't come to fruition. We also continue to use the word 'water' in different ways, not just referring to the liquid itself.
matadors monkeys, a million balloons
As we walk through the sea to the sand
Knowing full well that we're perfectly tuned
As we skip through our hearts hand in hand
We imagine surreal things like bullfighters and monkeys while enjoying a beach walk with a loved one, feeling perfectly content and in sync with each other's hearts.
well jenny the older
Whose music we heard
Will we all meet again at the end of the world
We think of a musician named Jenny who we once listened to, wondering if we'll ever see her again when the world ends.
no sense in fooling
We're covered in dreams
Having too much fun flying to land
Floating waste high in tendrils of green
We're so small but we feel oh so grand
There's no point in pretending we have everything figured out when our heads are full of imaginative dreams that make us feel elated and free. We feel small but amazing, surrounded by nature's beauty.
the end of the world
On Tuesday
The end of the world
Pop goes the world
The end of the world
Pop goes the world
on Tuesday
We mention the end of the world, as though it's happening soon and ties in with the phrase 'Pop goes the world', repeated three times with Tuesday mentioned once.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind