Formed in Dublin in the late 1990's, mrnorth have had quite an odyssey leading up to the release of their debut record Lifesize. The four-piece, made up of two brothers, a first cousin and a next door neighbor, started playing together when they were young teens. After making some noise on the Dublin scene, the boys left Ireland for Vicenza, Italy. The trip was supposed to last for 3 months, just long enough for a producer to put down some tracks for a record. Instead, the band became local favorites and toured all of Italy for the next two years. Then, the band met up with an American manager who brought them to New York City. With constant performances, mrnorth built up a great fan base in New York and eventually all over the Northeast. Next, the band caught the eye of several record executives. mrnorth scored a record deal and went into the studio with Jerry Harrison (Talking Heads, Live, No Doubt). The result was Lifesize, 12 moving tunes of epic proportions. Lifesize allows the listener to feel an enormous lift with each song from start to finish, just as it is delivered by mrnorth in the live performance. The record exhibits an incredible unity and tightness among its four members. Smith delivers the songs with one of the most powerful and original voices in music today and is often compared to Jeff Buckley, Thom Yorke and Freddie Mercury. Audiences are constantly blown away by the charismatic singer's vocals combined with his energetic performances. mrnorth broke out of the Northeast in 2003 with tours in the Southeast, Midwest, West Coast and Hawaii including support shows with Liz Phair, Puddle of Mudd, Sheryl Crow, Evanescence, Bruce Willis and 'Lollapalooza 2003. 2004 saw them taking part in Lollapalooza, Nashville Rivers, Camp Jeep and Music Fest as well as supporting The Who, Van Halen, Live and Brian Adams. The band have spent the last few months writing and recording the follow up to Lifesize.
Speak No Evil
Mr. North Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To use your voice
Not something that I've ever seen enforced
Free to meek
But not to speak
Free to watch all of your rhetoric repeating
Free to decide
I'm free to be
However you want me
Bad news today
Sorry to say
You've been declined an open mind
So you can shut your mouth
Shut it down
Has the point gotten through
Shut your mouth
Keep it down
When you're not here
It would seem so clear
Be what you like, see what you like and have no fear, but like
Big kids at school
Consumed by cool
Trained to spit on all exceptions to the rule
Inside your mind
You feel so confined
It's hard to breathe
You can't get no release
Boxed in and left out
You wanna shout
You wanna rant, you know you can't
So you just shut your mouth
Shut it down
Has the point gotten through
Shut your mouth
You keep it down
Oh boy, there's no tellin' you
Hot today
What you say
Now you got your point made
I think you made a mistake
Leaving this up to fate
For you to say
That ok, ok, ok
Freedom of choice
To use your voice
Not something that I've ever seen enforced
But I'm boxed in and left out
You wanna shout
You wanna rant, you know you can't
So you just shut your mouth
Shut it down
Has the point gotten through
Shut your mouth
Keep it down
Oh boy, there's no tellin' you
Shut your mouth
Shut your mouth now
Do you know who you're talkin' to?
Shut your mouth
You keep it down
In Mr. North's song "Speak No Evil," he delves into the limitations on free speech and expression that exist within our society. The song starts with the idea that while we may have the freedom to choose to use our voice, it is not always enforced or encouraged. We are often free to be silent and submissive, but not free to speak our minds and challenge the status quo. The lyrics speak to the sense of confinement that many people feel, stifled by societal expectations and consumed by the need to be accepted and fit in.
Throughout the song, Mr. North invokes images of childhood and school environments where being "cool" is a top priority and challenging the norm is discouraged. He highlights the difficulty in finding release from these constraints, feeling boxed in and left out, and the desire to shout and rant but ultimately feeling like you can't. The chorus, "Shut your mouth, keep it down" emphasizes the pressure to stay silent and not rock the boat.
The song also touches on the idea of mistaken communication, where assumptions and misinterpretations can lead to misunderstandings and a lack of empathy. Mr. North challenges us to question who we are talking to and consider the impact of our words before we speak.
Line by Line Meaning
Freedom of choice
The ability to make a decision about whether to speak or not
To use your voice
The option to express thoughts, opinions, and ideas
Not something that I've ever seen enforced
The absence of a requirement to speak or express oneself
Free to meek
Allowed to be timid or quiet
But not to speak
Not able to voice an opinion or idea
Free to watch all of your rhetoric repeating
Able to observe others' speeches and repetitive actions
Free to decide
Permitted to make up one's own mind
To just let things slide
The choice to ignore or avoid getting involved in a situation
I'm free to be
Capable of being oneself without restriction
However you want me
Regardless of what someone else would prefer or expect
Bad news today
Information that is negative or unwelcome
Sorry to say
Expressing regret about something that must be revealed
You've been declined an open mind
The offer to consider new or different ideas has been refused
So you can shut your mouth
Stop speaking or expressing oneself
Shut it down
Cease talking or communicating
Has the point gotten through
Did the intended message reach you
Keep it down
Maintain silence or refrain from speaking loudly
When you're not here
In moments where you are absent
It would seem so clear
It appears simple or understandable
Be what you like, see what you like and have no fear, but like
Be yourself and do what you desire without concern or anxiety, however,
Big kids at school
Mature individuals who resemble children in their actions or behavior
Consumed by cool
Obsessed with appearing trendy or fashionable
Trained to spit on all exceptions to the rule
Conditioned to reject anything that deviates from established norms
Inside your mind
Thoughts and emotions occurring within one's consciousness
You feel so confined
Experiencing limitations or restrictions
It's hard to breathe
Feeling suffocated or restricted
You can't get no release
Unable to find a way to express oneself or escape a difficult situation
Boxed in and left out
In a situation where one is limited and isolated
You wanna shout
Feeling the need to yell or speak out
You wanna rant, you know you can't
Feeling the need to express strong feelings or opinions, but recognizing that it is not possible
Oh boy, there's no tellin' you
Expressing uncertainty, surprise, or disbelief
Hot today
Intense or emotional
What you say
Your message or point
Now you got your point made
Your message or opinion has been communicated
I think you made a mistake
I believe you have made an error in expressing yourself
Leaving this up to fate
Allowing chance or destiny to determine the outcome
For you to say
Your message or point of view
That ok, ok, ok
Expressing acceptance or agreement multiple times
Do you know who you're talkin' to?
Asking the person communicating to consider the audience or recipient of their message
Shut your mouth now
Cease speaking or expressing oneself immediately
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ADRIAN JOHN MORDAUNT, COLIN LEO THOMAS SMITH, EMMETT CIARAN O'MALLEY, OISIN SEAN O'MALLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@adorablegs
This is so much better than anything on the charts. Awesome song.
@JACrissGyal
OH SHYT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS SONG FOR 2 AND A HALF YEARS. After I heard it in Fluent Dysphasia I couldn't stop looking for it! Today is a good damn day!
@peterjohntime7645
Love this song. I cannot believe this band somehow went under my radar at the time. How can a band so good not have got more UK air play.
@PhilipJoyceMusician
jesus I love this song!!!
@gayseus
GOD THIS TAKES ME BACK!
@today.is.tomorrow
A very underrated song
@gayseus
Wooow! I used to always litsen to this song everyday back in 07! Good times!
@absjoyeux
I saw them open at a concert and became hooked. This is my favorite song by mr north. They rock!!!
@brutalmajor
Crazy song... I Like...
@Zuzzy63
This is good! That's it!