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.
Nobody Knows
Mike & The Mechanics Lyrics
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There is nothing wrong with me
there's nothing wrong with you
maybe we're just blind to see
each other's point of view.
Nobody knows what we had.
You could do much better,
you could do much worse than me.
I could have walked right out on you
there was nothing stopping me
Nobody knows what we had.
We were running of passion
we were running out of time
there's a face to fit the future
there's a face to fit the crime.
Now the truth is on the table
and the ghost is plain to see
there's nothing wrong with you or me.
I won't live in your world,
you can't live in mine
We don't hate each other darlin'
we just gave up trying.
Nobody knows what we had.
Maybe I'm not crying
maybe I don't mind
But it hurts just knowing
your children won't be mine.
Nobody knows what we had.
The song "Nobody Knows" by Mike & The Mechanics talks about a couple who are going through a rough patch in their relationship. They both acknowledge that nothing is wrong with each other, but they can't seem to see eye to eye. The first verse suggests that there is a miscommunication between the two, as they are unable to perceive each other's viewpoints. The chorus is repeated several times throughout the song, emphasizing the fact that nobody knows what they had once shared. Perhaps their relationship is too complex for outsiders to understand, or maybe it is that the couple themselves don't truly know the depth of the love that they have for one another.
The second verse highlights the insecurity of the relationship, with both partners expressing that the other could do better, or worse, than them. They reflect on the fact that they could have left each other on numerous occasions, but something kept them together. The third verse suggests that the passion in the relationship is dwindling, and that they both realize that they have different futures. The truth is now out in the open and everyone can see the reality of their relationship. The last few lines of the song reveal that although they can't be together, it still hurts to think about what they could have had. Despite everything, nobody knows what they had.
Line by Line Meaning
There is nothing wrong with me
I am not flawed, there is nothing that you can point out to say I am inherently bad
there's nothing wrong with you
You are not inherently flawed or bad
maybe we're just blind to see
Perhaps we are simply not capable of seeing things from each other's point of view
each other's point of view.
The unique set of thoughts and emotions each of us has about the situations, events or issues at hand.
You could do much better,
There are many people out there who would better compliment, support, and meet the needs of the other person in the relationship better than I could.
you could do much worse than me.
There are also people out there who are worse choices for you and less compatible than myself.
I could have walked right out on you
I had the opportunity to leave the relationship entirely
there was nothing stopping me
There was nothing preventing me from making that decision
We were running low on passion
We lacked enthusiasm , excitement, and true emotional and physical connection with one another.
we were running out of time
Our relationship was coming to a natural end, we didn't have much time left together.
there's a face to fit the future
There is a person out there that would be better suited as a long-term partner than either of us.
there's a face to fit the crime.
Just as there is an individual out there that is better suited to be with us, there is someone out there who is a better fit for the experience of breaking up.
Now the truth is on the table
The reality of how things really are is known by both of us
and the ghost is plain to see
There is something no longer present in the relationship, something lacking or absent, that is now clearly visible.
I won't live in your world,
I am unwilling and unable to live in the manner, with the values and expectations of the other person
you can't live in mine
Similarly, the person doesn't understand or agree with how I live or what I value in life
We don't hate each other darlin'
Despite the lonesomeness and sadness that we feel, hatred or malice towards each other don't exist
we just gave up trying.
Ultimately, that's the reason why we must go our separate ways. We both stopped investing effort and diligence to make the relationship work in the end.
Maybe I'm not crying
I may not appear to be sad or show emotional pain, but doesn't mean I'm not hurting inside.
maybe I don't mind
Although the situation is hurting me inside, perhaps there is a part of me that knows it is time to end things and move on.
But it hurts just knowing
While there may be ambivalence and reluctance on the surface, the reality is that the experience is profoundly painful
your children won't be mine.
One of the reasons the relationship can never work is because we can never be a family and have children together.
Nobody knows what we had.
No one else will ever understand what the relationship truly meant to us and how much it hurt to lose it.
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@dej1971
YVONNE MANSER
There is nothing wrong with me
There's nothing wrong with you
Maybe we're just blind to see
Each other's point of view
Nobody knows what we had
Nobody knows what we had
You could do much better
You could do much worse than me
I could have walked right out on you
There was nothing stopping me
Nobody knows what we had
Oh, nobody knows what we had
We were running out of passion
We were running out of time
There's a face to fit the future
There's a face to fit the crime
Now the truth is on the table
And the ghost is plain to see
There's nothing wrong with you or me
Hey
Oh, nobody knows what we had
Nobody knows what we had
I won't live in your world
You can't live in mine
We don't hate each other, darlin'
We just gave up trying
And nobody knows what we had
Nobody knows what we had
And nobody knows
We were running out of passion
We were running out of time
There's a face to fit the future
There's a face to fit the crime
Now the truth is on the table
And the ghost is plain to see
There's nothing wrong with you or me, yeah
Maybe I'm not crying
Maybe I don't mind
But it hurts just knowing
That your children won't be mine
Nobody knows what we had
Nobody knows what we had
Maybe I don't mind
(Nobody knows what we had)
Maybe I'm not crying
(Nobody knows what we had)
'Cause nobody knows what we had
(Nobody knows what we had)
And nothing wrong, wrong with you
Nothing wrong with me
@erickleefeld4883
It's amazing how in Mike's solo band, he had a lead singer who looked kind of like Phil!
@jjlp7587
he does a little.
@marianacaffaro
looked like and sings like Phill
@shaxan
And the drummer is kind of Mark Knopfler look-alike )
@baldassodouniversoparalelo6972
@Mariana Caffaro Wood I'm sorry, but Paul Carrack is a much better singer than Phil Collins, i like Phil, but his whiny voice does not help. I wonder if Genesis replaced Phil with Carrack instead of Ray Wilson.
@carlosrosilesortiz8097
Never looks like him and less hear like Phil, Paul Carrack is an amazed singer
@vernonhill7438
"maybe I'm not crying, and maybe I don't mind, but it hurts just knowing that your children won't be mine" 😭💔
@sarahjoelle4286
One of the most beautiful songs I have ever heard. It’s like someone sat down and designed the perfect song, tailored to me. Paul Carrack is an amazing singer.
@EJVotta
An incredibly beautiful song, both musically and lyrically. Then throw in Paul Carrack's amazing, soulful voice. This song is a classic. I don't understand why it hasn't gotten more air play.
@itsmylife842
Absolutely!!! I agree completely with both of you!!!