Mike & The Mechanics are an English rock/pop supergroup formed in 1985 as a… Read Full Bio ↴Mike & The Mechanics are an English rock/pop supergroup formed in 1985 as a side project of Mike Rutherford, one of the founding members of the band Genesis. The initial line-up for the band was Rutherford on bass, vocalists Paul Carrack and Paul Young, keyboardist Adrian Lee and drummer Peter Van Hooke. Following Young's death in 2000, the band took a break. In 2004, Paul Carrack became the band's sole lead vocalist until the band drifted apart in 2007. The band reformed in 2010 with new vocalists Andrew Roachford and Tim Howar.

Mike & The Mechanics debuted with their stellar eponymous album in 1985 which highlighted Rutherford's innovative guitar work and the vocal talents of the two Pauls, amongst other guest vocalists. Initially, the group's albums were released between Genesis albums, all three Genesis members having solo projects of their own, most notable in the huge chart success of singer/drummer Phil Collins. This ended with the disbanding of Genesis in 1998.

The classic song "The Living Years" from the album of the same name was to be the height of their critical success to date; the #1 single was written by and about the dissension between singer BA Robertson and his father, a situation that was never rectified prior to his father's death, sung with great passion by Carrack. The album also featured the song "Nobody's Perfect" which received considerable airtime as the music to a successful television advertising campaign for Tennants bitter. Their third album "Word of Mouth" followed in 1991 with less commercial and critical success although the lead single, with vocals by Paul Young, reached the Top 20. The fourth album "Beggar On a Beach of Gold" was a high watermark in the quality of their material, with both the album and first single "Over My Shoulder" charting well with many considering the album the band's best work.

After a hiatus following Young's death from a heart attack on July 17, 2000, the band reformed in 2004 as Mike & the Mechanics featuring Paul Carrack releasing the album "Rewired".

A new Mike & the Mechanics album (titled "The Road") was released in the spring of 2011, supported by a 22-date UK tour. Replacing Carrack and Young as vocalists for the group are Andrew Roachford and Canadian actor/singer Tim Hower.

How Can I
Mike & The Mechanics Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

How can I tell you
And sound like I mean what I say?
You turned a light on in me
And it shines to this day

Once it was easy
To open my heart up to you
Now you know the way

That I'm feeling better than I do

Why can't I just say what I mean?
Words don't come easy to me
I think you sometimes
Forget how I feel about you

You come alive every time
That the message gets through
Why can't I just say what I mean?
Words don't come easy to me

You and I we've got something going on
That I know you don't find every day
You and I we belong together
That's the way that I want it to stay

Sooner or later
The penny will drop and you'll see
That I don't want anyone else
And you only need me

Why can't I just say what I mean?
Words don't come easy to me
You and I we've got something going on
That I know you don't find every day

You and I we belong together

That's the way that I want it to stay
How can I tell you and make you believe what I say?

Overall Meaning

The song "How Can I?" by Mike & The Mechanics is an emotional ballad about struggling to express one's feelings. The lyrics are introspective, addressing the difficulty of articulating what we truly mean, especially to those we care about deeply. The song's protagonist expresses how he finds it tough to express his emotions adequately to the person he loves. He turns to them in desperation, wondering how he can make them believe what he is saying.

The lines, "Once it was easy to open my heart up to you, now you know the way that I'm feeling better than I do," capture the essence of this song. The singer explains how, in the past, he had no problem communicating his emotions to his love interest, but now, things have changed, and he has difficulty making them understand. Despite these struggles, he believes that he and his lover share a special connection that is rare and valuable.

Line by Line Meaning

How can I tell you
Expressing the difficulty he feels in telling the person he cares for something important.

And sound like I mean what I say?
Asking how to convey the sincerity of his message when speaking to someone he loves.

You turned a light on in me
Acknowledging the profound effect that a loved one can have on one's life.

And it shines to this day
Recognizing that the positive influence of the person he cares for has persisted over time.

Once it was easy
Reflecting on how expressing his feelings used to be less of a challenge.

To open my heart up to you
Describing how he used to easily share his emotions with this person.

Now you know the way
Acknowledging that the person he cares for is now keenly aware of his feelings.

That I'm feeling better than I do
Admitting that the person he cares for has a better sense of his emotions than he himself does.

Why can't I just say what I mean?
Expressing frustration with his own difficulty in expressing his emotions clearly and concisely.

Words don't come easy to me
Describing his struggles with finding the right words to convey his feelings.

I think you sometimes
Acknowledging a gap in perception between himself and the person he cares for.

Forget how I feel about you
Recognizing a potential misunderstanding on the part of the person he cares for regarding his emotions.

You come alive every time
Observing the positive effect that his messages have on the person he cares for.

That the message gets through
Noticing that his message has a strong impact on this person and is understood.

You and I we've got something going on
Describing the special bond that exists between him and the person he cares for.

That I know you don't find every day
Acknowledging the rarity of the connection he shares with this person.

You and I we belong together
Declaring his belief that they are meant to be together.

That's the way that I want it to stay
Expressing a desire for the status quo to remain so that they can continue to be together.

Sooner or later
Anticipating a time when his actions and feelings will become clearer to the person he cares for.

The penny will drop and you'll see
Suggesting that there will be a moment of clarity for the person he cares for.

That I don't want anyone else
Making clear his commitment to the person he cares for and no one else.

And you only need me
Asserting his belief that this person needs him above all others.

How can I tell you and make you believe what I say?
Reiterating the main question that has vexed him throughout the song: how to best convey his honest feelings to someone he deeply cares for.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PAUL CARRACK, MICHAEL RUTHERFORD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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