Listen Now
Phil Manzanera Lyrics


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MacCormack-MacCormack-Manzanera

Thunder rolling down out of dried-up skies
Every inch of earth crying out for water
Television man spelling out the price
Everywhere the sheep creeping the slaughter
Cold weather coming, people feel the fire
Living on Dead End Street with no desire

Is it any wonder you've got no power
When you pay a thief to keep it for you?
Is it a surprise that your wine is sour
When you let a liar choose the brew he pours you?
Talk on the wire about force and choice
It's uncomfortable to raise your voice

Everybody whispering behind their hand
Selling their despair to any stronger man
Don't have to listen now

We taught ourselves to trust our heads
It's getting us nowhere
If fifty-five million hearts can't feel it
We'll never know where

Polish up your silver and hide your gold
Send the lookout man down to every corner
Gather in the place where it's bought and sold
Next to where you once used to be a learner
Cold weather coming, people feel the fire




Living on Dead End Street with no desire
You gotta listen now

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Phil Manzanera's "Listen Now" tackle a number of societal issues and injustices in a powerful and evocative way. The opening lines describe a world where there is not enough water and everything is dried up, with a sense of impending doom from the thunder rolling in. The TV man is further spelling out the price of power and the metaphor of the sheep creeping towards the slaughter suggests how people are blindly following those in power without really understanding the consequences. The image of cold weather coming and living on a Dead End Street without any desire for change further emphasize the helplessness and hopelessness of the situation.


The second verse highlights the paradoxes of the current system, where people have no power despite paying for it and where the truth is hidden behind lies. The discomfort of speaking up and raising one's voice is also noted, further highlighting the suppression of dissenting voices. The chorus encourages people to ignore the whispers and undermine despair, urging people to listen now. The final few lines suggest that amassing wealth is pointless when the world is falling apart, and it's time to gather in the place where we used to learn from each other.


Line by Line Meaning

Thunder rolling down out of dried-up skies
The atmosphere is heavy with an imminent storm


Every inch of earth crying out for water
The land is parched and in dire need of rain


Television man spelling out the price
Advertisements on television are dictating the cost of living


Everywhere the sheep creeping the slaughter
Society blindly follows those in power towards their own destruction


Cold weather coming, people feel the fire
People are bracing themselves for difficult times ahead


Living on Dead End Street with no desire
Life seems futile and pointless


Is it any wonder you've got no power
It's no surprise that people feel powerless in a system that exploits them


When you pay a thief to keep it for you?
By entrusting those who are corrupt, people relinquish control and power


Is it a surprise that your wine is sour
If you allow dishonest people to govern your life, expect a distasteful outcome


When you let a liar choose the brew he pours you?
When people follow someone who intentionally deceives and misleads, they can expect negative consequences


Talk on the wire about force and choice
Discussions about control and decision-making can be uncomfortable


It's uncomfortable to raise your voice
Speaking up against those in control can be difficult and scary


Everybody whispering behind their hand
People are speaking in hushed tones about the harsh realities of life


Selling their despair to any stronger man
Pessimism is contagious and many are trying to pass it along to those who appear more powerful


Don't have to listen now
There is no obligation to continue listening to the negative discourse around you


We taught ourselves to trust our heads
Society has conditioned individuals to prioritize logic and reason over emotions and intuition


It's getting us nowhere
This mindset has not led to any significant improvements in the wellbeing of the masses


If fifty-five million hearts can't feel it
Even if a large number of people are numb to the issues at hand, it does not make them any less real


We'll never know where
If we continue to ignore and suppress our feelings, we will never resolve societal issues


Polish up your silver and hide your gold
People are advised to conceal their valuables for fear of theft or loss


Send the lookout man down to every corner
Vigilance and surveillance are necessary to avoid or preempt danger


Gather in the place where it's bought and sold
People tend to congregate in commercial areas where goods and services are exchanged


Next to where you once used to be a learner
People tend to frequent areas where they used to acquire knowledge or new skills


Gotta listen now
It's imperative to pay attention to the message being conveyed in the song




Contributed by Aubrey E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@genechorney

Sounds just as fresh and relevant as it did when I first heard it in '77. Way to go Phil, I'm sure your Roxy Music mates are proud.

@davidcurtis7547

801

@polyglotte

God, why don't more people know about and love this song?

@nahaloz1816

This is just excellent, I love the bass line!!

@najaraf06

Toujours beaucoup de plaisir à écouter ce petit chef d’œuvre depuis 1977. Thanks Phil.

@VoluntaristJAM

I never thought (back in '77) how prophetic this would be in 2021.

@davidcurtis7547

801 Listen NOW such a great piece of vynal

@regisleturque488

In 2022 too. :-)

@rheahayes3149

And continues to be Prophetic in 2023…as we get closer to 15 minute cities globally…NWO/Reset 🤬

@hifibrony

This song was terribly, horribly prophetic.  Back in 1977-78 I had an awful premonition that this would be the future.  And it was.

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