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.
Over My Shoulder
Mike And The Mechanics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can see that look in your eye
I never dreamed it could be over
I never wanted to say goodbye
Looking back over my shoulder
With an aching deep in my heart
I wish that we were starting over
Everybody told me you were leaving
Funny I should be the last to know
Baby please tell me that I'm dreaming
I just never want to let you go
Looking back over my shoulder
I can see that look in your eye
Turning my heart over and over
I never wanted to say goodbye
I don't mind everybody laughing
But it's enough to make a grown man cry
'Cause I can feel you slipping through my fingers
I don't even know the reason why
Every day it's a losing battle
Just to smile and hold my head up high
Could it be that we belong together
Baby won't you give me one more try
One more try
Looking back over my shoulder
I can see that look in your eye
I never dreamed it could be over
I never wanted to say goodbye
Looking back over my shoulder
Oh with an aching feeling inside
Cutting me up, deeper and deeper
Fills me with a sadness that I can't hide
Looking back over my shoulder
I can see that look in your eye
I never dreamed no no it could be over
I never wanted to say goodbye
Looking back over my shoulder
I can see that look in your eye
The lyrics to Mike And The Mechanics's "Over My Shoulder" tell a story of a person confronting the end of a relationship, looking back over their shoulder at their partner with regret and longing. They can see the look in their ex's eye, revealing that the relationship is truly over. The singer never dreamed the relationship could end, never wanted to say goodbye. They wish they could start over with their partner, instead of drifting apart over time. The singer feels like they were the last to know that their partner was leaving, and they desperately cling to hope, asking their partner to tell them they are dreaming.
The singer is struggling to let go of their partner, feeling like they are slipping through their fingers without any explanation. They are struggling to hold their head up high and pretend like everything is fine, while inside they are falling apart. The singer considers whether they belong together, begging their partner for one more chance. The song's chorus repeats the themes of the singer looking back over their shoulder and seeing the look in their partner's eye, never wanting to say goodbye.
Overall, "Over My Shoulder" is a sad but relatable song about the painful process of ending a relationship and reflecting on what could have been. It captures the longing and regret that many people feel after a breakup, trying to hold onto hope and desperately wishing for things to be different.
Line by Line Meaning
Looking back over my shoulder
Reflecting on my past and the events that led up to the present moment
I can see that look in your eye
I remember the expression that you had on your face, revealing your true feelings
I never dreamed it could be over
I never imagined that our relationship would come to an end
I never wanted to say goodbye
I never intended to end things between us
With an aching deep in my heart
I feel a sharp emotional pain and sadness inside of me
I wish that we were starting over
I wish that we could go back to the beginning and try again
Oh instead of drifting so far apart
Instead of growing farther and farther apart from each other
Everybody told me you were leaving
Many people informed me that you were planning to depart
Funny I should be the last to know
It's ironic that I, your significant other, was the last person to find out
Baby please tell me that I'm dreaming
I hope that what's happening isn't real and that it's just a nightmare
I just never want to let you go
I can't bear the thought of losing you
Turning my heart over and over
Repeatedly causing my heart to feel pain and discomfort
I don't mind everybody laughing
I'm not bothered by others making fun of me
But it's enough to make a grown man cry
Despite this, it's still difficult to keep from crying
I can feel you slipping through my fingers
I can sense that you're slowly slipping away from my grasp
I don't even know the reason why
I don't understand the cause of our distance and separation
Every day it's a losing battle
Every day it feels like I'm fighting a losing war
Just to smile and hold my head up high
It requires a significant effort to keep a happy face and maintain my dignity
Could it be that we belong together
Is it possible that we're meant to be with each other?
Baby won't you give me one more try
Please give me a second chance to make things right
Cutting me up, deeper and deeper
Continuously causing me severe emotional pain and suffering
Fills me with a sadness that I can't hide
The overwhelming sadness is so strong that I can't conceal it
I never dreamed no no it could be over
I never imagined that we would actually come to this point and end our relationship
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHAEL HOLBROOK PENNIMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@albertovasquez1385
Looking back over my shoulder
I can see that look in your eye
I never dreamed it could be over
I never wanted to say goodbye
Looking back over my shoulder
With an aching deep in my heart
I wish that we were starting over
Oh instead of drifting so far apart
Everybody told me you were leaving
Funny I should be the last to know
Baby please tell me that I'm dreaming
I just never want to let you go
Looking back over my shoulder
I can see that look in your eye
Turning my heart over and over
I never wanted to say goodbye
I don't mind everybody laughing
But it's enough to make a grown man cry
Cos I can feel you slipping through my fingers
I don't even know the reason why
Every day it's a losing battle
Just to smile and hold my head up high
Could it be that we belong together
Baby won't you give me one more try
One more try
Looking back over my shoulder
I can see that look in your eye
I never dreamed it could be over
I never wanted to say goodbye
Looking back over my shoulder
Oh with an aching feeling inside
Cutting me up, deeper and deeper
Fills me with a sadness that I can't hide
Looking back over my shoulder
I can see that look in your eye
I never dreamed no no it could be over
I never wanted to say goodbye
Looking back over my shoulder
I can see that look in your eye
@GrafindeKlevemark
I'm 72 and this is still one of my favourite songs - good to know I'm still "high quality vintage" - ha, ha, ha
@fabianheinrich2812
yes mylady u are =))
@davidochieng3197
Lots of love ❤️
@stuckintha90s
❤❤❤
@torfrida6663
And another retired rock chick here still loving the music. Love from remote parts of Lincolnshire.
@GrafindeKlevemark
@@stuckintha90s - never "stuck" anywhere where music is concerned.50's to today, I'm a taker !
@kimberleybrodie8383
I'm here in 2024 .. Will always be one of my favourites ❤
@brandonmoore7497
I’m listening to Mike&The Mechanics Over My Shoulder mid February 2024
2:10
@ratarams
Una Power Ballad🎧🎧🎧
@paularob2829
Yes❤