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/
Messiahs Die Young
Men Without Hats Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Well you can take those things and throw them all away, hey hey
Because he who points the finger well only he gets hung
That's why I don't to be a messiah, messiahs die young
All of those things that I wanted to be
Well you can take those things and throw them back at me, he he
Because he is only just as good as he who is the one
That's why I don't to be a messiah, messiahs die young
Messiahs die young
Messiahs die young!
They die young,
Messiahs die young!
Messiahs die young
Messiahs die young!
They die young
Messiahs!
Why get in line if you don't want to wait
They say that time is money, sell your watch today, hey hey
And if you've never been to China well the slow boat leaves at one
That's why I don't want to be a messiah, messiahs die
I don't want to be a messiah, messiahs die
I don't want to be a messiah! I just want to have fun
Not die young
Messiahs die young!
They die young
Messiahs die young!
Messiahs die young
Messiahs die young!
Messiahs die young
Messiahs
The lyrics of "Messiahs Die Young" by Men Without Hats may be interpreted as the artist's reluctance to take on the role of a messiah or leader, as it ultimately leads to death. The song features lines like "All of those things that I wanted to say, well you can take those things and throw them all away" and "All of those things that I wanted to be, well you can take those things and throw them back at me," suggesting a feeling of discouragement and disillusionment. The chorus, "Messiahs die young," serves as a warning about the dangers of becoming a leader, as it implies that those in positions of power are vulnerable and often meet an early demise.
The song also touches on the idea of conformity, with lines such as "Why get in line if you don't want to wait" and "They say that time is money, sell your watch today." These lyrics suggest a questioning of societal norms and expectations, and an urging to break away from these conventions. The line "Not die young, messiahs die young" serves as a kind of mantra for the artist, rejecting the idea of conforming to societal expectations and instead choosing to live life on their own terms.
Line by Line Meaning
All of those things that I wanted to say
Well you can take those things and throw them all away, hey hey
Any thoughts I had to share have no value, they can be disregarded
Because he who points the finger well only he gets hung
That's why I don't to be a messiah, messiahs die young
Those who accuse or judge others will eventually face consequences, so I don't want to be a leader who will likely meet a tragic end
All of those things that I wanted to be
Well you can take those things and throw them back at me, he he
Any aspirations I had are meaningless, they will only end up hurting me
Because he is only just as good as he who is the one
That's why I don't to be a messiah, messiahs die young
A leader is only as successful as those they lead, so I don't want to be a leader who will likely meet a tragic end
Messiahs die young
Messiahs die young!
The chorus reiterates the main message of the song, that leaders often meet an untimely demise
Why get in line if you don't want to wait
They say that time is money, sell your watch today, hey hey
And if you've never been to China well the slow boat leaves at one
That's why I don't want to be a messiah, messiahs die
I don't want to be a messiah, messiahs die
I don't want to be a messiah! I just want to have fun
Why bother trying to be a leader and wait for success when time is fleeting and there are other ways to enjoy life? I don't want to be a leader who will meet a tragic end, I don't want to be a leader at all, I just want to enjoy my life
Not die young
Messiahs die young!
The outro reiterates the message that leaders often meet an untimely demise, while expressing a desire to avoid that fate
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ALLAN JOSEPH MCCARTHY, COLIN JOHN DOROSCHUK, IVAN DOROSCHUK, STEFAN GREGOR DOROSCHUK
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
hortense234
What a brilliant song. Musically, lyrically. Sublime.
Slay1111111
The song name says all of it Too old to rock'n'roll, to young to die. Great band, great music.
89gamerguy
What can I say... I love it!
UKISOCIETY
I forgot how great this song is. Thanks!
Em Grossmith
I think this is the best track of the LP but I like it all. I was travelling to Africa in '83 or '84 and stopped off at a mate's place in Oxford. I saw this LP for sale in the UK. They were a big hit over there.
Mogtepyigsoloth
the 60's and 80's music is best, overall.
Max Mordón
From the 50's to the 90's, reaching the peak of creativity in the late 80's; since the New Millenium, creativity has been hitting bottom...
Driver9
@Mogtepyigsoloth Very little of the popular music recorded during the 70's is disco. And it's safe to say that most of the greatest rock music ever created was recorded during the 70's.
norakat
@Mogtepyigsoloth - Plenty of great non-Disco music in the 70's and the best IMO.. Led Zepplin, Pink Floyd.. the list is massive. And you prob never heard good Disco.
norakat
Wha .. you don't like the 70's ?