Murray McLauchlan (born June 30, 1948 in Paisley, Scotland) is a Canadian … Read Full Bio ↴Murray McLauchlan (born June 30, 1948 in Paisley, Scotland) is a Canadian singer, songwriter, guitarist, pianist, and harmonica player. He is best known in Canada, for his smash hit "Down by the Henry Moore", which was about a sculpture in front of Toronto's city hall, where students met in the 60s and early 70s. McLauchlan has had success in the pop, adult contemporary, country, and folk-music fields, with songs such as the Juno Award-winning "Farmer's Song" (1973), "Hurricane of Change" (also 1973), "Do You Dream of Being Somebody" (1975), and "Whispering Rain" (1979). He holds 11 Juno Awards, is a pilot, a painter and a Member of the Order of Canada, and also plays with Lunch At Allens.

Born Again
Murray McLauchlan Lyrics

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I was closed mouthed
I was closed minded
Bangin' my head on the wall
I was blinded
But you did it
You put the light in my eyes
What's happened to me

I feel born again
Born again to be
Somebody like I wanted to be

I had no satisfaction
I was measuring my cage
I had figured that the natural thing
Was to be enraged
But then you came
I want to be everything I can be

I feel born again
Born again to be
Somebody like I wanted to be

I was a pretender
A cheap lender
Everything I gave was marked
Return to sender
But you started me
Thinkin' that I could unfreeze

I feel born again

Born again to be
Somebody like I wanted to be

Overall Meaning

In "Born Again," Murray McLauchlan describes his journey of transformation from a closed-minded, unhappy person to a free and satisfied individual. At the beginning of the song, he is frustrated and blindly struggling through life, feeling trapped and dissatisfied. He uses vivid, physical language to describe the pain he was in - banging his head against the wall and measuring his cage.

However, everything changes when he meets someone who goes unnamed. This person helps him see the light, providing a new perspective or way of looking at things, and inspires him to change. McLauchlan experiences a rebirth, feeling like he has been born again. He is excited to become a better person, someone he's always wanted to be, and he feels like he's no longer pretending or trying to live up to someone else's standards.

The song is a triumphant, joyous celebration of personal growth, and the message of hope and transformation is universal. The lyrics are simple but powerful, using strong metaphors and imagery to paint a picture of McLauchlan's emotional journey. The chorus is particularly poignant, with the repetition of "born again" emphasizing the transformative nature of his experience.

Line by Line Meaning

I was closed mouthed
I used to not speak freely and openly about my thoughts and feelings.

I was closed minded
I had a narrow-minded perspective and refused to consider other ideas and opinions.

Bangin' my head on the wall
I was frustrated and hitting a mental block, unable to find a way out of my problems.

I was blinded
I couldn't see the potential and opportunities around me due to my closed-mindedness and negative attitude.

But you did it
You helped me change my perspective and way of thinking.

You put the light in my eyes
You gave me a new perspective and helped me see the world in a different, positive way.

What's happened to me
I feel transformed and changed after this awakening.

I feel born again
I feel like I have been given a new lease on life and am starting fresh.

Born again to be
With this second chance, I have the opportunity to be the person I've always wanted to be.

Somebody like I wanted to be
I can now strive for my dreams and goals without feeling trapped in my negative mindset.

I had no satisfaction
I was feeling unfulfilled and unhappy with my life.

I was measuring my cage
I was limiting myself and my potential by staying in my comfort zone.

I had figured that the natural thing
I had resigned myself to the idea that it was normal to feel angry and frustrated with the world.

Was to be enraged
I thought it was normal to feel angry all the time and that it was just the way things were.

But then you came
Your presence in my life helped me see that there was a better way to live.

I want to be everything I can be
I am now motivated to become the best version of myself and realize my full potential.

I was a pretender
I was living a false life, pretending to be someone I wasn't.

A cheap lender
I wasn't truly giving of myself or my resources.

Everything I gave was marked
My actions and gifts weren't genuine or selfless.

Return to sender
I was essentially giving back what I had received, as if it was an unwanted item.

But you started me
You helped me begin to change and become a better person.

Thinkin' that I could unfreeze
You made me realize that I had been frozen in my negative mindset and that I had the power to break free and change my life.

Contributed by Micah G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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