Career
Mott Lyrics
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There's no such thing as me or you
Just the feeling someone had
When they saw shadows on the wall
There's no such thing as old or new
'cause everything's been said and done before
No such thing as growing old
When the picture starts to fade
You'll hear the clowns and watch them cry
The great mistakes they've made
When the lights have all gone down (down, down, down)
You'll marvel at the speed that things turn round
There's no such thing as rock and roll
No such thing as growing old
Things are way beyond control
I've been told
Try to cut you down
Take your soul away
Cut you down
Try to break your heart
Take your soul away
Break your heart
If you make it to the end
You'll find you didn't try that hard
It wasn't such a strain
And all those death defying deeds
Weren't necessary
It's really such a shame
'cause all I've got is rock and roll
All I'll get is growing old
Things are way beyond control
And I've been told
Try to cut you down (cut you down)
Take your soul away
Cut you down
Try to break your heart (break your heart)
Take your soul away
Break your heart
Try to cut you down (cut you down)
Take your soul away
Cut you down
The song "Career" by Mott explores themes of mortality, the impermanence of life, and the futility of trying to control the future. The opening lines suggest that individual identities are illusory, and that everything we are is just a reflection of other people's perceptions of us. The reference to shadows on the wall implies that our existence is insubstantial, like a projected image rather than a concrete reality.
The following lines suggest that nothing is truly original, and that every idea has been thought before. This could be a commentary on the music industry, which often relies on recycling existing sounds and styles rather than innovating. The chorus declares that there is no such thing as rock and roll or growing old, which could be interpreted as a rejection of the constraints of mainstream society.
The second verse takes a darker turn, discussing the inevitability of decline and decay. The image of clowns crying suggests a loss of innocence or a realization of the emptiness behind the facade of entertainment. The lyrics imply that mistakes will be made, and that the passage of time will ultimately bring about a reckoning.
The final verse seems to be resigned to the fact that all efforts to control one's life are ultimately futile. The lines "if you make it to the end / you'll find you didn't try that hard" suggest that acceptance and surrender are more important than struggling against an unknowable future. The song ends on a note of defiance, with the repeated refrain of "cut you down" suggesting that even in the face of inevitable decline, there is still a desire to stay true to oneself.
Line by Line Meaning
There's no such thing as me or you
Individuality is an illusion; our existence is merely a reaction to external stimuli.
Just the feeling someone had
We are simply products of others' perceptions and emotions, with no inherent identity of our own.
When they saw shadows on the wall
Our identity is based on superficial observations that are only projections of others' interpretations.
There's no such thing as old or new
Time is cyclical, with no true progression or evolution.
'cause everything's been said and done before
History repeats itself, and there is nothing new under the sun.
When the picture starts to fade
When life begins to lose its vibrance and vitality...
You'll hear the clowns and watch them cry
...we will see the folly and suffering that comes from taking life too seriously.
The great mistakes they've made
We will come to realize that the biggest mistakes made in life were often the result of valuing material success over genuine happiness and fulfillment.
When the lights have all gone down (down, down, down)
At the end of life, when everything else seems to disappear...
You'll marvel at the speed that things turn round
...we will be awestruck by the fleeting nature of existence and how quickly it all goes by.
Things are way beyond control
Life is inherently unpredictable and beyond our power to influence or direct.
I've been told
This understanding has been passed down to us from those who have come before us.
Try to cut you down
There will always be those who try to diminish our potential and discourage us from pursuing our dreams...
Take your soul away
...but ultimately, they cannot take away our spirit and sense of self-worth.
Try to break your heart
Despite their efforts, we must remain resilient in the face of adversity and not allow our emotions to be broken or defeated.
If you make it to the end
If we manage to persevere through the challenges and trials of life...
You'll find you didn't try that hard
...we may come to realize that the most important things in life don't require as much effort as we thought.
It wasn't such a strain
Life doesn't have to be an exhausting struggle; in fact, it's often the simple moments that bring us the most joy.
All those death defying deeds weren't necessary
We should not feel compelled to constantly push ourselves to the limit in pursuit of external validation or a sense of accomplishment.
It's really such a shame
It's unfortunate that so many people waste their lives chasing after superficial and ultimately meaningless goals.
'cause all I've got is rock and roll
At the end of the day, the only thing that truly matters is what brings us joy and fulfillment on a personal level.
All I'll get is growing old
As time goes on, our physical bodies will inevitably deteriorate, but our spirit and sense of self will remain.
Try to cut you down (cut you down)
Despite the challenges we will face, we must remain strong and resolute in our pursuit of personal growth and fulfillment.
Take your soul away
We must resist the forces that seek to undermine our sense of self-worth and rob us of our inner strength and determination.
Cut you down
We must be vigilant against those who would seek to limit our potential and discourage us from pursuing our passions and dreams.
Try to break your heart (break your heart)
We must remain emotionally resilient in the face of adversity, and not allow our setbacks or failures to define us.
Take your soul away
Our sense of self and inner strength must be protected and nurtured at all times.
Break your heart
We must be mindful of the emotional toll that life can take on us, and take care to maintain our emotional well-being.
Contributed by Stella K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.