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.
Open Up
Mike & The Mechanics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So hard to let my feelings show
I've thought it over a thousand times
Why you didn't leave, I'll never know
Now I assume you can read my mind
I don't understand why you're confused
I know you're making a big misstake
I've never really let you know just
what you mean to me
But how I wish you'd let me try again
If I could see you now
I'd open up my heart
And tell you everything
I should have all along
If I could see you now
Sometimes I feel I could lose my mind
If you don't believe me when I say
I'll do my best to do right this time
I'm trying to change everyday
I've never really let you know just
what you mean to me
But how I wish you'd let me try again
If I could see you now
I'd open up my heart
And tell you everything
I should have all along
If I could see you now
I'd tell you everything that's in my heart
I only wish that I could see you now
I'd open up my heart
Tell you everything
I should have all along
If I could see you now
I'd open up my heart
If I could see you now
In this song, "Open Up," the singer is expressing regret for not being more forthcoming with his emotions towards a person who means a lot to him. He acknowledges that it's always been difficult for him to show his feelings, but now he wishes he had been more expressive because he realizes that he could be losing this person. He admits that he's never really let them know just what they mean to him, but he's trying to change and do better.
The singer is frustrated that the other person doesn't understand his feelings and is making a mistake by thinking they're being used. He wishes he could see them now so he could open up his heart and tell them everything he should have said all along. The song is an appeal to this person to give him another chance, to allow him to express his feelings openly, and to make things right.
The theme of the song is one that many people can relate to, the fear of vulnerability and the regret that comes with not expressing our feelings to those we care about. The lyrics are a reminder that it's important to be honest about our emotions because we never know when we might lose the chance to say what we feel.
Line by Line Meaning
Don't ask me why should it always be
I'm struggling to understand why expressing myself to you is so difficult
So hard to let my feelings show
I find it challenging to reveal my emotions to you
I've thought it over a thousand times
I've considered this situation thoroughly, repeatedly
Why you didn't leave, I'll never know
I'm grateful that you never left, but I don't know why you stayed
Now I assume you can read my mind
I'm hoping you have an idea of what I'm feeling without me having to say it directly
I don't understand why you're confused
I'm confused as to why you're unsure of what I'm trying to say
I know you're making a big misstake
I believe that you're making a grave error in judgment
If you really believe you're being used
If you truly think that I'm taking advantage of you
I've never really let you know just what you mean to me
I haven't conveyed to you the depth of my feelings towards you
But how I wish you'd let me try again
I hope you give me another chance to express myself better
If I could see you now
If only I could be in your presence currently
I'd open up my heart
I would reveal my innermost feelings to you
And tell you everything
I'd convey all the words that I've been holding back
I should have all along
I needed to express these feelings earlier
Sometimes I feel I could lose my mind
I feel like I might go insane at times
If you don't believe me when I say
If you have doubts about my words
I'll do my best to do right this time
I will make every effort to make things better going forward
I'm trying to change everyday
I'm making an active attempt to improve myself constantly
I'd tell you everything that's in my heart
I'd reveal all the feelings that I have in my heart right now
I only wish that I could see you now
I desire greatly to be in your presence at this moment
Contributed by Eliana C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ciscokmemories9277
The SMOKE ON THE WATER IS FOG
YOUR SMOKE IS HAIR OF THE ODD
DOG'S REVERSE
IS GOD HIS FACILITIES DOMINION
HIS TOOL OF CHOICE THE INVISIBLE TOUCHDOWN HIGH WINDS AND THE BIG BAD 🐺 👈😎☝OF
MOTHER NATURE'S FURY
@panfyre
The entire album was one of my all time favs! Why this one song didn't get better recognition I will never know.
@johncarroll7500
Troy 👈😎✌
@johncarroll7500
6 Yrs🤔
@johncarroll7500
👑🔮🤔👉{🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟}
@kjzimmerman100
I still don't know why Mike and the Mechanics didn't get more airplay. They are such a great group. Mike Rutherford is brilliant and has been a huge influence on many different types of music for decades. You can't forget his contribution to Genesis.
@benpotter572
What about Paul Carrack? He is the main reason they were as successful as they were
@benpotter572
Paul also sang this song, the living years, silent running, and another cup of coffee, so basically all of their most successful songs
@guzuntai
Please never forget the beauty of Paul Young's voice
@RobertMcGovernTarasis
Took me a while to realise that Paul Young != Paul Young. I used to think they where the same singer, oh how I was wrong :)
@ShelltoonTV1
Their early success can be thanked due to being spun-off of Genesis. Mike Rutherford was a talented man indeed, but due to a shift in demographics and NIRVANA, bands like Genesis and Mike and the Mechanics suffered greatly in the US as a result. Don't take my emphasis as anything against Nirvana, but they were the shift that resulted in bands like this falling to the wayside in the US. That, and Word of Mouth was not their best outing.