Ballad Of Mott The Hoople
Mott the Hoople Lyrics
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To find the midas touch
Oh I wish I'd never wanted then
What I want now twice as much
We crossed the mighty oceans
And we had a few divides
But we never crossed emotion
For we felt too much inside
You know all the tales we tell
You know the band so well
Still I feel, somehow, we let you down
We went off somewhere on the way
And now I see we have to pay
The rock'n'roll circus is in town
Buffin lost his child-like dreams
And mick lost his guitar
And verden grew a line or two
And overend's just a rock'n'roll star
Behind these shades the visions fade
As I learn a thing or two
Oh but if I had my time again
You all know just what I'd do
Rock'n'roll's a loser's game
It mesmerizes and I can't explain
The reasons for the sights and for the sounds
We went off somewhere on the way
And now I see we have to pay
The rock'n'roll circus is in town
So rock'n'roll's a loser's game
It mesmerizes and I can't explain
The reasons for the sights and for the sounds
The greasepaint still sticks to my face
So what the hell, I can't erase
The rock'n'roll feeling from my mind
From my mind, from my mind, from my mind
From my mind, from my mind, from my mind
From my mind
The lyrics to "Ballad of Mott The Hoople" explore the ups and downs of the rock and roll lifestyle, as well as the toll it can take on those who live it. The singer reflects on the band's journey to fame and the sacrifices they made along the way, such as changing his name and crossing oceans. Despite all of this, the band members never lost their emotions or their passion for music. However, as time went on, they faced challenges such as lost dreams, lost instruments, and the toll of aging. The singer acknowledges that rock and roll can be a "loser's game," but he cannot erase the feeling it gives him from his mind.
The song is a reflection on the band's journey to fame and the cost they paid. It touches on the sacrifices that musicians must make to achieve success, as well as the challenges that come with aging in the industry. The lyrics also suggest a sense of regret for some of the choices made along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
I changed my name in search of fame
I altered my name in pursuit of popularity
To find the midas touch
To acquire an ability to achieve wealth and success effortlessly
Oh I wish I'd never wanted then
Oh, how I regret my past desire for it
What I want now twice as much
Now more than ever, I crave it
We crossed the mighty oceans
We traveled across vast waters
And we had a few divides
We experienced some internal conflicts
But we never crossed emotion
We never lost our deep feelings for each other
For we felt too much inside
Because we were too emotional
You know all the tales we tell
You're familiar with all our stories
You know the band so well
You're highly knowledgeable about our band
Still I feel, somehow, we let you down
However, I sense that we've disappointed you in some way
We went off somewhere on the way
We got sidetracked at some point
And now I see we have to pay
And now, consequences must be faced
The rock'n'roll circus is in town
The world of rock and roll is currently active
Buffin lost his child-like dreams
Buffin lost his youthful naivete
And mick lost his guitar
And Mick lost his musical instrument
And verden grew a line or two
And Verden aged a bit
And overend's just a rock'n'roll star
And Overend is simply a legend in rock music
Behind these shades the visions fade
Behind my sunglasses, my thoughts dim
As I learn a thing or two
As I become wiser
Oh but if I had my time again
Oh, If I could start all over again
You all know just what I'd do
You all know exactly what I would do
Rock'n'roll's a loser's game
Rock and roll is a game for those who don't succeed
It mesmerizes and I can't explain
It hypnotizes me and I can't justify it
The reasons for the sights and for the sounds
The motives behind the sights and sounds of rock and roll
So what the hell, I can't erase
So what, I can't forget my love for rock and roll
The rock'n'roll feeling from my mind
My deep emotions for rock and roll remain in my mind
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: IAN HUNTER, MICHAEL GEOFFREY RALPHS, PETER OVEREND WATTS, TERENCE DALE GRIFFIN, VERDEN ALLEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind