The Secret Agent
Philip Glass Lyrics


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There's a man who leads a life of danger
To everyone he meets he stays a stranger
With every move he makes another chance he takes
Odds are he won't live to see tomorrow

Secret Agent Man
Secret Agent Man
They giving you a number
And taken' away your name

Beware of pretty faces that you find
A pretty face can hide an evil mind
Oh, be careful what you say
Or you will give yourself away
Odds are you won't live to see tomorrow

Secret Agent Man
Secret Agent Man
They giving you a number
And taken' away your name

Swinging on the Riviera one day
And then later in the Bombay Alan next day
I know you let the wrong words slip
While kissing persuasive lips
Odds are you won't live to see tomorrow

Secret Agent Man
Secret Agent Man




They giving you a number
And taken' away your name

Overall Meaning

The Secret Agent Man is a song that talks about a man leading a life of danger. He is always on the move and every second of his life is an opportunity for danger. He is always on the run, and to everyone he meets, he remains a stranger. Despite the risks involved in his life, he still goes on with his mission. The lyrics talk about the importance of caution and the risk of losing one's life if a wrong move is made. The lyrics are a warning to the secret agent man to be careful of pretty faces he meets because a pretty face may hide an evil mind. In this line, the song warns him to be mindful of what he says as it may be the difference between life and death. The song suggests that the odds are against the secret agent man as he may not live to see tomorrow because of the dangerous life he leads.


The song is filled with vivid imagery that transports the listener to different locations such as the Riviera and Bombay. The song suggests that the life the secret agent lives is not glamorous, as it may seem. Still, it is rather filled with danger, violence and always staying under the radar. Overall, the message of the song is a warning for people to be cautious about their surroundings, the people they meet and what they say.


Line by Line Meaning

There's a man who leads a life of danger
This is about a man who lives a dangerous life


To everyone he meets he stays a stranger
He has to keep his identity secret from everyone he meets


With every move he makes another chance he takes
His actions could have severe consequences


Odds are he won't live to see tomorrow
His job is so risky that he's unlikely to survive


Secret Agent Man
This is the title of the song


Secret Agent Man
Repeating the title to emphasize its importance


They giving you a number
The agency that employs him has assigned him a code name


And taken' away your name
He no longer goes by his real name


Beware of pretty faces that you find
He has to be cautious of people who may be deceiving him


A pretty face can hide an evil mind
Just because someone looks nice doesn't mean they're trustworthy


Oh, be careful what you say
He has to be careful not to divulge too much information


Or you will give yourself away
If he says too much, it could reveal his true identity


Swinging on the Riviera one day
He leads a life of luxury sometimes


And then later in the Bombay Alan next day
But the next day he could be in a very different place


I know you let the wrong words slip
He's made mistakes before


While kissing persuasive lips
Perhaps he's been compromised by someone he was romantically involved with


Odds are you won't live to see tomorrow
This is repeated to remind us of the danger he's in


Secret Agent Man
Final repetition of the title to close out the song




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: P. F. SLOAN, STEVE BARRI

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@aracelyreyes5783

The world is a better place because Philip Glass’s geniality. Thanks Elliot ...

@jbssfl

Perhaps the most traditional piece of classical music that Glass has ever composed?

@rankefsky

Great masterpiece, with own character and minimalist sounds transporting us to the universe, listening it become us the SECRET AGENT in the universe.

@clt242fg

Drunk or brain-dead.

@bodudas8346

this one is outa this world

@bodudas8346

the best that Glass ever did

@bodudas8346

the intensity is overwhelming

@aykuncetinkaya6201

awaken all my emotions

@johnsamurphy

Heard this on the radio today. Beauty tune

@the5555man

Masterpiece! wow am speechless.

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