In October 2006, following extensive touring and having built up a hardcore fanbase, the band signed to Wall of Sound records. Their first single "Heavyweight Champion of the World" recieved good airplay on Radio 1 and hit the UK Top 10, and has become of this summer's anthems for many clubbers and festival goers alike, appealing to fans of both dance and indie.
Another single (He Said He Loved Me) is to be released at the end of August, alongside an album (State Of Things) in September.
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Heavyweight Champion Of The World
Reverend and the Makers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As the embers of romance
Pay two mortgages and leccy bills
Been comfortable and that
Nobody told her
That she'd ever reach the stage
Where her husband bored her
Or she lied about her age
He's compromising
At least he's got a job for life
Get born, get schooled, get job, get car
Pay tax and find a wife
And on that note
The end can't come too soon
If you're not living on the edge
You take up too much room
I could've been a contender
I could've been a someone
Caught up in the rat race
And feeling like a no one
Could've been me in the papers
With the money and the girls
I could've been the heavyweight champion of the world
At school, he used to dream about being Bruce Lee
But the need for chops in the Manor Top
Ain't all that great you see
And so he gave up
On his black belt and first dan
As near as he got to China
Was a week in Camber Sands
I could've been a contender
I could've been a someone
Caught up in the rat race
And feeling like a no one
Could've been me in the papers
Money and the girls
I could've been the heavyweight champion of the world
I could've been a contender
Could've been a someone
Caught up in the rat race
And feeling like a no one
Could've been me in the papers
Money and the girls
I could've been the heavyweight champion of the world
It's boring, it's boring
It might put you to sleep
It's the same old routine, repeating week after week
And you work harder, work harder
You're told that you must
And you must earn a living
And you must earn a crust
And be like everybody else
Be like everybody else
Be like everybody else
Just be like everybody else
Be like everybody else
Just be like everybody else
Be like everybody else
Just be like everybody else
Be like everybody else
Just be like everybody else
Be like everybody else
Just be like everybody else
Be like everybody else
Just be like everybody else
Be like everybody else
Just be like everybody else
I could've been a contender
I could've been a someone
Caught up in the rat race
And feeling like a no one
Could've been me in the papers
Money and the girls
I could've been the heavyweight champion of the world
I could've been a contender
Could've been a someone
Caught up in the rat race
And feeling like a no one
Been me in the papers
Money and the girls
I could've been the heavyweight champion of the world
The song "Heavyweight Champion Of The World" by Reverend and the Makers is a commentary on the mundane routine of everyday life and the lost dreams and aspirations of individuals. The first verse describes a woman who is comfortable in her life, but bored with her husband and the monotony of her daily routine. The following verse describes a man who gave up on his childhood dream of being a martial artist or Bruce Lee, settling instead for a routine and ordinary life. The chorus then laments the missed opportunities, emphasizing the could've-beens in life if only the individuals had strived for something more.
The second verse criticizes the idea of the "rat race" and the pressure to conform to societal expectations of getting a job, finding a spouse, and paying the bills. The repetition of "be like everybody else" reinforces the message that society tries to mold individuals into a homogenous group and suppress their individuality or creativity. The final chorus repeats the same message about missed opportunities, this time mixed with regret and a sense of loss for what could have been.
Overall, "Heavyweight Champion Of The World" is a poignant and thought-provoking song that encourages listeners to reflect on their own lives and the choices they have made.
Line by Line Meaning
Now that she's older
Now that she's grown up
As the embers of romance
As the sparks of love have faded
Pay two mortgages and leccy bills
Paying for two houses and electricity bills
Been comfortable and that
Been living comfortably
Nobody told her
No one warned her
That she'd ever reach the stage
That she would ever get to the point
Where her husband bored her
Where her husband became dull to her
Or she lied about her age
Or that she had to lie about her age
He's compromising
He's making sacrifices
At least he's got a job for life
At least he has job security
Get born, get schooled, get job, get car
The usual path in life: birth, education, career, car
Pay tax and find a wife
Pay taxes and settle down with a spouse
And on that note
On that subject
The end can't come too soon
Death can't come soon enough
If you're not living on the edge
If you're not taking risks in life
You take up too much room
You're just a waste of space
I could've been a contender
I could have been a successful person
I could've been a someone
I could have been somebody important
Caught up in the rat race
Stuck in the never-ending cycle of work
And feeling like a no one
And feeling insignificant
Could've been me in the papers
I could have been famous
With the money and the girls
With wealth and women
I could've been the heavyweight champion of the world
I could have been the most successful person in the world
At school, he used to dream about being Bruce Lee
In his school days, he dreamed about becoming a martial arts superstar like Bruce Lee
But the need for chops in the Manor Top
But the need for martial arts skills in his hometown of Manor Top wasn't great
Ain't all that great you see
Wasn't all that necessary, as you can tell
And so he gave up
And so he abandoned
On his black belt and first dan
On achieving his black belt and first-degree ranking
As near as he got to China
The closest he got to China
Was a week in Camber Sands
Was a week's holiday in Camber Sands
It's boring, it's boring
It's tedious, it's tedious
It might put you to sleep
It might make you fall asleep
It's the same old routine, repeating week after week
It's the same old pattern, repeating week after week
And you work harder, work harder
And you have to work even harder
You're told that you must
You're instructed that you have to
And you must earn a living
And you have to make money to survive
And you must earn a crust
And you have to earn a living
And be like everybody else
And conform to society's standards
Just be like everybody else
Just be like everyone else, no individuality
Been me in the papers
I could have been featured in the newspapers
Money and the girls
Wealth and women
I could've been the heavyweight champion of the world
I could have been the most successful person in the world
I could've been a contender
I could have been a successful person
Been me in the papers
I could have been featured in the newspapers
Money and the girls
Wealth and women
I could've been the heavyweight champion of the world
I could have been the most successful person in the world
I could've been a contender
I could have been a successful person
Been me in the papers
I could have been featured in the newspapers
Money and the girls
Wealth and women
I could've been the heavyweight champion of the world
I could have been the most successful person in the world
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ed Cosens, Jon McClure, Alan Smyth
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nonagone9570
Lyrics:
Now that she's older
As the embers of romance
Pay two mortgages and leccy bills
Been comfortable and that
Nobody told her
That she'd ever reach the stage
Where her husband bored her
Or she lied about her age
He's compromising
At least he's got a job for life
Get born, get schooled, get job, get car
Pay tax and find a wife
And on that note
The end can't come too soon
If you're not living on the edge
You take up too much room
I could've been a contender
I could've been a someone
Caught up in the rat race
And feeling like a no one
Could've been me in the papers
With the money and the girls
I could've been the heavyweight champion of the world
At school, he used to dream about being Bruce Lee
But the need for chops in the Manor Top
Ain't all that great you see
And so he gave up
On his black belt and first dan
As near as he got to China
Was a week in Cambuslang
I could've been a contender
I could've been a someone
Caught up in the rat race
And feeling like a no one
Could've been me in the papers
Money and the girls
I could've been the heavyweight champion of the world
I could've been a contender
Could've been a someone
Caught up in the rat race
And feeling like a no one
Could've been me in the papers
Money and the girls
I could've been the heavyweight champion of the world
It's boring, it's boring
It might put you to sleep
It's the same old routine, repeating week after week
And you work harder, work harder
You're told that you must
And you must earn a living
And you must earn a crust
And be like everybody else
Be like everybody else
Be like everybody else
Just be like everybody else
Be like everybody else
Just be like everybody else
Be like everybody else
Just be like everybody else
Be like everybody else
Just be like everybody else
Be like everybody else
Just be like everybody else
Be like everybody else
Just be like everybody else
Be like everybody else
Just be like everybody else
I could've been a contender
I could've been a someone
Caught up in the rat race
And feeling like a no one
Could've been me in the papers
Money and the girls
I could've been the heavyweight champion of the world
I could've been a contender
Could've been a someone
Caught up in the rat race
And feeling like a no one
Been me in the papers
Money and the girls
I could've been the heavyweight champion of the world
@matthtoob595
What a criminally underrated tune this is. Still as catchy with every single listen!
@NazriB
Lies again? Causeway West USD SGD
@ronnie377
Agree with you ,and just a taster of great music from Steel City
@tombarnes2373
This song is both depressing, and very motivational. I love it!
@fakevirus8828
@@benjaminwolf8335 people born after about 1985 are easily depressed.. they self diagnose it. Proper robust humans born before that date (like myself, by a good half decade) call it being "bored"
@oscarc7017
@@fakevirus8828 you are egotistical
@MrPacproductions
The song is as depressing as you allow it to be, there's a little voice in everyone's head that says something to the effect of "it's too hard, I can't do this" its a simple fix though, that little voice, Stop listening to it.
@lujay2222
Depression should always be motivational, otherwise it will consume you
@sojiogungbesan5547
This just might be the greatest workout song ever
@BrandonTheComposer
Yep. Discovered this AS I was working out.