Paddy McAloon originally wrote the song in April 1990 for a proposed biographical album about Michael Jackson, who he was fascinated by. The verses originally listed unhappy things that had happened to Jackson, while the original lyrics of the chorus were "Only the boogie music / Will never, ever let you down".
The song's final form has been described by McAloon as "a “Why does God allow this?” song". The lyrics concern the plights of people around the world, and ask why they cannot be helped. This was prompted by George H. W. Bush's references to a new world order, as McAloon felt that "no matter how well-regulated you make the world, no matter how well-regulated our affairs are, disasters are kind of there".
The song received significant airplay on BBC Radio 1, and became Prefab Sprout's first top 30 hit on the UK singles chart since "The King of Rock 'n' Roll" reached No. 7 four years earlier. It peaked at No. 23, and remains the band's second highest-charting single to date. A music video featuring the band was produced and was included on the VHS release "A Life of Surprises: The Video Collection".
The song was well received, with Jim Lawn of the Lennox Herald calling it "Paddy McAloon's best chance of a hit single in ages". The Times' Alan Jackson commented that the song's "lush production and glorious melody" were used "to sneak one of the oldest debates in Christendom before millions of Radio 1 listeners". Similarly, David Cavanagh of Select praised how the song "manages to include ice-cool phraseology like “the music of the spheres” while still being catchy enough to be this week’s third most played single on Radio 1"
Produced by Steve Lipson
Sound of crying
Prefab Sprout Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Start singing now a song to greet the joyful day
Just when we thought the time was right for celebrating
with music of the spheres
What's this, another boat of fleeing refugees on a
sea of children's tears
Once more the sound of crying
We're only men and women doing what we can
Sometimes I think that God is working to a plan
then other times I swear that he is improvising -
discordant and remote
Another orphan baby in failed uprising
another real bum note
Once more the sound of crying
Is number one across the earth
And if you're listening up there
you could consider this a prayer
Well who am I to tell you how to run your business
Man, you could strike me blind
What kind of noise we gotta make down here
Before we disturb your peace of mind
Once more the sound of crying
Is number one across the earth
The lyrics to Prefab Sprout's "Sound of Crying" express an overwhelming sense of disappointment and despair at the state of the world. The opening lines suggest that a new world order is on the way, but rather than celebrating and singing, the singer notes that there are still countless people suffering, represented metaphorically as "another boat of fleeing refugees on a sea of children's tears". Despite humanity's best efforts to make things better, the sound of crying still dominates the earth.
The next lines suggest a conflicted attitude towards God's role in the world. The singer vacillates between thinking that God is working to some sort of plan, and feeling that he is remote and disconnected from humanity's pain. The image of "another orphan baby in failed uprising" reinforces this sense of alienation and separation from the natural order of things.
The repeated refrain of "once more the sound of crying is number one across the earth" underscores the song's bleak message. Despite our best efforts to create a better world and connect with an omnipotent God, suffering and sorrow still reign supreme. The final lines suggest a note of frustration with the divine, as the singer asks "what kind of noise we gotta make down here before we disturb your peace of mind".
Overall, "Sound of Crying" is a haunting and melancholy reflection on human suffering, powerlessness, and the search for meaning in a world that seems to offer little hope or solace.
Line by Line Meaning
Hang out the flags a new world order's on the way
People are optimistic about a new world order and they are putting up flags to celebrate it.
Start singing now a song to greet the joyful day
People are happy and they are singing to welcome the new day.
Just when we thought the time was right for celebrating with music of the spheres
People thought it was the perfect time to celebrate and make music.
What's this, another boat of fleeing refugees on a sea of children's tears
However, another boat of refugees is seen escaping their distressed country.
Once more the sound of crying Is number one across the earth
The new world order is not what everyone expected, and the sound of crying is heard everywhere.
We're only men and women doing what we can
People are powerless to help the refugees, but they try their best.
Sometimes I think that God is working to a plan
Sometimes people think that God has a plan for everything.
Then other times I swear that he is improvising - discordant and remote
However, other times it seems as though God is not in control and everything seems chaotic.
Another orphan baby in failed uprising another real bum note
Another baby has lost their parents due to a failed uprising.
And if you're listening up there you could consider this a prayer
People pray to God for help and assistance.
Well who am I to tell you how to run your business
But people acknowledge that they cannot tell God how to handle things.
Man, you could strike me blind
People are afraid of the power of God.
What kind of noise we gotta make down here Before we disturb your peace of mind
People wonder what they have to do to make God pay attention to their plea without disturbing his peace of mind.
Once more the sound of crying Is number one across the earth
Despite people's prayers, the sound of crying still dominates the world.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: PADDY MCALOON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@musicnerd9100
Every song Prefab Sprout has released is beautiful. Paddy McAloon is one of the most gifted songwriters in the history of pop music.
@albertotamburini9908
The most underrated group on earth
@deceiver444
Not a single doubt about it
@marcdavison6937
I second that 1000 times over
@V8AmericanMuscleCar
I was just thinking about this.
@perryhailey6715
Greatest
@perryhailey6715
Paddy was an amazing writer
@nik_elektrik
The most intelligent lyrics meet the most beautiful melodies.
@francishughes2016
Paddy Macloon is a brilliant songwriter, his songs are Beautiful, sensitive, & deep. They have always been one of my favourite bands.
@jean-erictateia3273
I couldn' t say Better ,francis .There are GROUPS like that which are MAGIC and the passage of Time has no effect on their existence even if they no longer exist because they are separated or for any other reason But one fact remains, the GREAT QUALITY of the SONGS, MUSIC, the TALENT of the Performers and the RARITY of what is offered, absolutely nothing to do with all the flood of what we are thrown on the Airwaves, TODAY and it is an ABSOLUTE INJUSTICE that they are ignored by the current generation only by ignorance of these talents which are only known to the previous generation, at a time when Social Networks did not exist and which do not appear on the programming of the charts or emissions intended for the musical Media current. It's really terrible for all these RARE and TALENTED GROUPS. For us, it's a TOTAL HAPPINESS to listen to these INSPIRED MELODIOUS COMPOSITIONS and these CREATIVE VIDEOS which bring us back, the space of a song with a strong taste of regrets and nostalgia. When we admire WENDY, twirling, magnificent to the sound of the Melody and the superb voice of Paddy McAloon, we can only feel a strong attraction and a great admiration for their BRILLIANT COMPOSITIONS especially with hindsight when they are compared "necessarily" to everything that is produced musically today... What an immense Loss!