Mike Lindup (born Michael Lindup, 17 March 1959, in London, England) is bes… Read Full Bio ↴Mike Lindup (born Michael Lindup, 17 March 1959, in London, England) is best known as the keyboard player and falsetto voiced singer, who joined with Mark King, Phil Gould and others to form the 1980s - 1990s British funk/rock/pop band Level 42.

Since July 2000 he has been part of the live line-up of UK/Brazilian outfit Da Lata, playing keyboards, percussion and providing backing vocals, who have been performing from clubs to festivals in the UK & Europe, USA & Canada, Japan, South Africa and China.

In 2006 he rejoined Level 42, replacing Lyndon Connah, for touring appearances and the recording of the album Retroglide.

JUDGEMENT DAY
Mike Lindup Lyrics

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Tell me how you sleep at night
Tell me how you sleep when all around you
Are counting out the days
Tell me how you sleep at night
Tell me how you sleep when all your kingdom
Is crumbling away

And when you're sleeping

Does guilt come creeping
Shaping your precious dreams
And will the dawn find you lying awake
Coming apart at the seams

Judgement day
Judgement day
Is on its way
Judgement day

How do you get through the day
When all around you people are complaining
They have had enough
How do you get through the day
When all around you ministers are saying
They have had enough

And when you're sleeping
Are all those voices
Invading your precious dreams
Or is your slumber the sleep of the dead
Sustained by your righteous belief

Judgement day
Judgement day
Is on its way
Judgement day

There are those whom great art moves to tears
A touching picture for all to see
But when they're faced by a cry in the street
They will not admit what they've heard

Tell me how you sleep at night
Tell me how you sleep when all around you
Are counting out the days
Tell me how you sleep at night
Tell me how you sleep when all your kingdom
Is crumbling away

Judgement day
Judgement day
Is on its way
Judgement day

Every time I'm turning on the news
Always someone giving me the blues
Lady, can you tell me that you really care
For in your wake there's anger and despair

If you start believing what you say
Reality will soon be far away
Lady, can you tell me that you really care
You leave a trail of anger and despair

She's a legend
She's a legend in her mind
She's a legend
A living legend in her mind

She's a legend
She's a legend in her mind

She's a legend
A living legend in her mind

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Mike Lindup's song "Judgement Day" can be interpreted as a call to accountability for those in positions of power, particularly leaders who have failed their people. The singer questions how these leaders can sleep at night and get through the day knowing that those around them are suffering and counting down to judgement day. The song suggests that guilt is an inevitable consequence of their actions, and even in their sleep, they are haunted by the voices of those they have failed.

The lyrics also draw attention to the disconnect between those in power and the common people. The singer highlights the hypocrisy of those who are moved by great art but cannot acknowledge the cries in the street. They are quick to complain and have had enough, but refuse to take responsibility for their part in it. The song emphasizes the urgency of the situation, with judgement day looming and the kingdom crumbling away.

Overall, "Judgement Day" is a powerful critique of those who abuse their power and neglect their responsibilities. It encourages listeners to challenge those who have failed them and holds them accountable for their actions.

Line by Line Meaning

Tell me how you sleep at night
How do you cope with your conscience at the end of every day?

Tell me how you sleep when all around you Are counting out the days
How do you cope with knowing those around you are unhappy with the current situation?

Tell me how you sleep at night Tell me how you sleep when all your kingdom Is crumbling away
How do you cope with the downfall of your domain at the end of every day?

And when you're sleeping Does guilt come creeping Shaping your precious dreams And will the dawn find you lying awake Coming apart at the seams
Do you ever feel guilty about your actions and have nightmares? Do you wake up in a bad frame of mind because of your actions?

Judgement day Judgement day Is on its way Judgement day
A day of reckoning is coming where you have to answer for your actions.

How do you get through the day When all around you people are complaining They have had enough
How do you cope with people around you being dissatisfied with the current situation?

How do you get through the day When all around you ministers are saying They have had enough
How do you cope with the people in power acknowledging that they're tired of the current situation?

And when you're sleeping Are all those voices Invading your precious dreams Or is your slumber the sleep of the dead Sustained by your righteous belief
Do you ever have nightmares about the people around you and the situation you're in? Or, do you sleep peacefully knowing you're doing the right thing?

There are those whom great art moves to tears A touching picture for all to see But when they're faced by a cry in the street They will not admit what they've heard
Some people are moved by art, but when confronted with someone in need, they ignore their cries for help.

Every time I'm turning on the news Always someone giving me the blues Lady, can you tell me that you really care For in your wake there's anger and despair
Current events always have someone delivering bad news. Do you really care about the effect you have on others?

If you start believing what you say Reality will soon be far away Lady, can you tell me that you really care You leave a trail of anger and despair
If you start to believe your own lies, then you will soon lose touch with reality. Do you really care about the well-being of others when your actions only bring about anger and despair?

She's a legend She's a legend in her mind She's a legend A living legend in her mind
There are people who believe they are legendary, but in reality, they are not.

Contributed by Aubrey M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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