Produced by - Orchestra… Read Full Bio ↴Written by - Paul Humphreys and Andy McCluskey
Produced by - Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark and Chester Valentino, Mike Howlett (Re-recording)
Notes - Several version of Messages have been released:
(1) The original version appears on the debut album Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark.
(2) The most common version of "Messages" is the Mike Howlett produced version (specifically the 10" extended version), which was released as a single and appears on The Best of OMD.
(3) "Taking Sides Again" is a remixed 'dub' version of the original album track which appeared as the B-Side to the Howlett version.
(4) An early version of the song recorded for the John Peel radio show was released on Peel Sessions 1979-1983
Messages
Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How you hope to live alone
And occupy your waking hours
We're taking sides again
I just wept I couldn't understand
Why you started this again
Every day you send me more
What makes it worse is this plan of yours
I'd write and tell you that I've burnt them all
But you never send me your address
And I've kept them anyway
So don't ask me if I think it's true
That communication can bring hope to those
Who have gone their separate ways
It hardly touched me when it should have then
And memories are uncertain friends
When recalled by messages
Coded messages always hurt
Letters
Messages poision
The lyrics to Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's song Messages appear to address a breakdown in communication between two individuals. The singer seems to be receiving messages from someone who they have gone their separate ways from, and they are feeling uneasy about this communication. The opening lines express concern over the idea of living alone and occupying waking hours with messages. The singer is troubled by the fact that the other person seems to be sending these messages with a plan to ensure that the singer does not forget about them.
The song suggests that this kind of communication does not bring hope to those who have gone their separate ways, but rather creates uncertainty and pain. Memories are often unreliable when they are recalled through coded messages, and this can lead to hurt and poison in their relationship. The singer feels unable to understand why the person started messaging them again, and they even admit to weeping over the situation.
Overall, the lyrics convey a sense of frustration and discomfort over the breakdown in communication, the uncertainty of memories, and the impact of messages.
Line by Line Meaning
It worries me this kind of thing
The situation described here troubles me greatly
How you hope to live alone
Your desire to live a solitary life concerns me
And occupy your waking hours
Your plan to occupy your waking hours with solo activities also worries me
We're taking sides again
It seems like we're forming opinions and taking sides against each other yet again
I just wept I couldn't understand
I was overwhelmed with emotions and didn't understand why this conflict was happening once more
Why you started this again
I don't understand why you initiated this conflict anew
Every day you send me more
You keep sending me messages and letters every day
What makes it worse is this plan of yours
The way you're persisting with your plan is making things worse for us
To ensure I don't forget
Your intention seems to be to make sure I don't forget you or our past
I'd write and tell you that I've burnt them all
I wish I could tell you that I've destroyed all your messages
But you never send me your address
Unfortunately, you haven't shared your address with me
And I've kept them anyway
Despite that, I've kept all your messages and letters
So don't ask me if I think it's true
So please don't question my belief that communication alone cannot heal the wounds between us
That communication can bring hope to those
I don't believe that mere communication can bring hope or resolution to people like us
Who have gone their separate ways
People who have gone their separate ways, like we have
It hardly touched me when it should have then
Your messages and letters hardly moved me when they should have
And memories are uncertain friends
Memories can be unreliable companions
When recalled by messages
Especially when they're called forth by messages
Coded messages always hurt
Hidden meanings in messages like yours always hurt
Letters
Your letters and messages
Messages poison
Poison our relationship and make things worse between us
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ANDREW MC CLUSKEY, PAUL DAVID HUMPHREYS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@KiiiickAaass
The four minutes you spend listening to this song is some of the best spent time of your life.
@David-og7di
nice, all the way since I first heard it
@pizzamonster8216
True
@booooo666
Or u could listen to cardi b 😂😂😂...
@stephenmills7061
Absolutely
@petervare
Same
@michaelmcalister6477
A classic - and so emotive. Makes me weep for those days. And I used to dance like that too! Andy’s a hero.
@yogamukta4669
Please. Go to ear the today,s group named Nation of Language. Great music like this is returning.
@paulgrice6682
We can only live in hope
@MsMiguel70
It is very emotive. Good comment.