The Man
Pearls Before Swine Lyrics
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I started out on the Captain's trip so many years ago
He was looking for something more than what he had.
He said : 'I want to see his face, I want to touch his hand'
'I want to see his face and then I'll know that he's the man'
'And then I'll know that he's the man'.
He had 2,000 years head start but the Captain would not yield
Then he would stop that far morning star just a century gone.
He said : 'I want to see his face, I want to touch his hand'
'I want to see his face and then I'll know that he's the man'
'And then I'll know that he's the man'.
The years they passed us by but we got near him closer by the hour
On a hazy planet on the edge of space, we landed one more time
They said he'd gone away just half a day before we came.
He said : 'I want to see his face, I want to touch his hand'
'I want to see his face and then I'll know that he's the man'
'And then I'll know that he's the man'.
We left Earth when I was a boy, now I was a man approaching thirty
The Captain went up searching still but me I stayed behind
Then they brought me near, they said : 'He's here, he waits inside'.
He said : 'I want to see his face, I want to touch his hand'
'I want to see his face and then I'll know that he's the man'
'And then I'll know that he's the man'.
'I want to see his face, I want to touch his hand'
'I want to see his face and then I'll know that he's the man'
'And then I'll know that he's the man'
'And then I'll know that he's the man'.
The song "The Man" by Pearls Before Swine seems to be a story of a crewman who is narrating his adventurous journey with the Captain in search of "the man." The journey is not just a physical one, but also a spiritual one, as they are in search of something more meaningful and profound than what they already had. The Captain seems to be seeking enlightenment, and he believes that he can achieve it by seeing the face and touching the hand of the man they are searching for. The lyrics convey a sense of longing, wonder, and awe as they journey through space searching for this elusive figure.
The journey they embark on is not an easy one. They miss him twice, and he has a 2,000 years head start. They are determined to find him, even though it seems impossible. The Captain refuses to give up, and they keep moving closer to him hour by hour. Along the way, they stop at a hazy planet on the edge of space, where they are told that the man has left just half a day before they arrived.
As the crewman grows older, he realizes that his journey with the Captain has brought him closer to the truth. He has become a man, and he no longer needs to search for the man they were seeking. However, the Captain continues his search, and eventually, they find him. The song ends with the Captain finally getting to see the face and touch the hand of "the man" after years of searching.
Overall, the song appears to be about the human quest for enlightenment, and the journey towards that goal. The Captain's journey represents the human desire to know and experience something beyond the mundane, while the crewman's journey represents the growth and change that can occur through that quest. The song is beautifully written, with deep meaning and heartfelt emotions that are conveyed through the lyrics and the music.
Line by Line Meaning
I am just a crewman, you can listen to my story if you want to
I am merely a member of the ship's crew, but if you're interested, I can tell you my tale
I started out on the Captain's trip so many years ago
I joined the Captain's journey a long time ago
He was looking for something more than what he had.
The Captain was searching for something beyond what he already possessed.
He said : 'I want to see his face, I want to touch his hand'
The Captain expressed his desire to see and touch someone's face and hand.
'I want to see his face and then I'll know that he's the man'
He believed that seeing the person's face would confirm that he was, indeed, 'the man' he was looking for.
'And then I'll know that he's the man'.
By confirming that the person was 'the man,' the Captain believed he would have found what he was looking for.
We missed him once at Betelgeuse, then again at Proxima Centauri
We failed to locate the person at two different locations: Betelgeuse and Proxima Centauri.
He had 2,000 years head start but the Captain would not yield
Despite the person having a 2,000-year advantage, the Captain refused to give up the search.
Then he would stop that far morning star just a century gone.
The Captain planned to intercept the person at a distant location, a century after he had already left.
The years they passed us by but we got near him closer by the hour
Although time passed, we were getting progressively closer to the person.
On a hazy planet on the edge of space, we landed one more time
We touched down on a remote and obscure planet on the edge of the universe.
They said he'd gone away just half a day before we came.
We were informed that the person had left the area just several hours before our arrival.
We left Earth when I was a boy, now I was a man approaching thirty
I left Earth as a child and had grown into a young adult nearing thirty years old.
The Captain went up searching still but me I stayed behind
The Captain continued his quest, but I remained behind.
Then they brought me near, they said : 'He's here, he waits inside'.
Eventually, I was brought close to the person and informed that he was inside.
'And then I'll know that he's the man'
Once again, the Captain expressed that verifying the person's identity was crucial to his mission.
'And then I'll know that he's the man'
The repetition of the Captain's desire to confirm the person's identity emphasizes its importance to the story's plot.
'And then I'll know that he's the man'
The final repetition of the line highlights the ultimate goal of the Captain's journey.
Contributed by Xavier W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@mayadyghe9362
There was a man came to our town
He wore a suit of red
He memorized with secret eyes
That he hid away in his head
He had a scar upon his head
Where there used to be a crown
But he sold his robes at the five and ten
And lived on the edge of town
That fall he showed us a magic leaf
That he could change to snow
He bought it partly with his grief
And partly with his soul
He scattered seeds in the alley way
He never seemed to rest
And when you went to ask him why
All he ever said was yes
He made a swan from waving grass
Beside a crystal shore
And a sunrise spun from broken glass
And many things wondrous more
But then his hands began to burn
When he heard the news from the war
When we cannot find each other he said
Then we can't run away any more
Next day with tears along his face
He passed us on the hill
No one thought to ask him to stay
And he knows that we never will
There was a man came to our town
He wore a suit of red
He memorized with secret eyes
That he hid away in his head
@tokyohalogen
I love this song. I just played a rendition of this for my girlfriend, drunk, in the middle of a hurricane.
@Bataviapam
It is amazing. I woke up with the song in my head this morning. It has been many years since I have even thought of 'Pears Before Swine". Thank you so much for posting this. A real flash from the past!
@charlesburns3946
In the late 60s this song was on a jukebox in a bar in Cambridge, MA, and after all that time I have finally found it. A special time
@WocklessGamingforAnimeMoms
Based
@verbaud
"When we cannot find each other, he said, well we can't run away anymore".
@jaimiegordon2538
💔💔💔💔 tom rapp..genuis of hearts
@mayadyghe9362
There was a man came to our town
He wore a suit of red
He memorized with secret eyes
That he hid away in his head
He had a scar upon his head
Where there used to be a crown
But he sold his robes at the five and ten
And lived on the edge of town
That fall he showed us a magic leaf
That he could change to snow
He bought it partly with his grief
And partly with his soul
He scattered seeds in the alley way
He never seemed to rest
And when you went to ask him why
All he ever said was yes
He made a swan from waving grass
Beside a crystal shore
And a sunrise spun from broken glass
And many things wondrous more
But then his hands began to burn
When he heard the news from the war
When we cannot find each other he said
Then we can't run away any more
Next day with tears along his face
He passed us on the hill
No one thought to ask him to stay
And he knows that we never will
There was a man came to our town
He wore a suit of red
He memorized with secret eyes
That he hid away in his head
@dzeni4679
Catherine - the Jeweller from album the Use of Ashes
@margaretchabaud5152
Its The Jeweller from The Use of Ashes...all time fave.
@michrigan
The comparisons with Dylan are interesting. This is, indeed, an album more than genius and I could see that when I heard it when it first came out. I understand the comments on Dylan because he did so many admittedly crazy things. He also had varied voices and styles and sometimes I couldn't understand anyone being able to sing so humanly, gently and humbly.