Stop And Listen
Shag Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

9 Monday morning heard the telephone ring
It was Charlotte called to tell me I was wrong about the thing
From a train station phone booth she was reading people's minds
Had to call and tell me she was having such a time.
Everybody's goin', everybody's trippin'
Everybody tells you what ya been missin'
She said quite cautiously "You didn't like. Right?
I said "No, I never said that.
I'm afraid you missed the point." It's all just happening in a dream
Oh, Can it really be as real as it seems?...
Oh, stop and listen!
Phil came up and told me he decided he would do it
With everybody going well there must be something to it
I said I can't disagree but when you find it out
Don't think you have to tell me what it's all about
Everybody's goin', everybody's trippin'
Everybody tells you what ya been missin'
He said 'I'm always ready for something that is new'
And I said 'do you really think you know what you are doing'
It's all just happening in a dream
Oh, Can it really be as real as it seems?...
Oh, stop and listen!

Everybody's goin', everybody's trippin'
Everybody tells you what ya been
He tried it not too long ago and scared himself then
But you know that in a month or two he'll take it again
It was all just happening in a dream




Oh, Can it really be as real as it seems?...
Oh, stop and listen!

Overall Meaning

The song "Stop And Listen" by Shag is a psychedelic and introspective piece that captures the feeling of being lost and uncertain in a tumultuous time. The lyrics tell a story of Charlotte, who calls the singer from a train station phone booth where she claims to be reading people's minds, and Phil, who has decided to do something new and exciting. This apparent quest for meaning and excitement is contrasted with the singer's skepticism and questioning of the reality of it all.


The repetition of the line "Everybody's goin', everybody's trippin', everybody tells you what ya been missin'" highlights the pressure of social expectations and conformity that the singer is feeling. He is struggling to find his own path amidst the noise of the world and the voices of those around him. The dreamlike quality of the song emphasizes the surreal nature of this experience, as if everything is happening in a haze.


The chorus, "Oh, stop and listen!" is a plea to slow down and truly take in the moment rather than being swept up in the chaos. The song seems to suggest that the answers we seek may not come from external sources but from within ourselves, if only we take the time to stop and listen.


Overall, "Stop And Listen" is a thought-provoking exploration of the pressures of conformity and the search for meaning in a confusing world.


Line by Line Meaning

9 Monday morning heard the telephone ring
I received a call from Charlotte on a Monday morning


It was Charlotte called to tell me I was wrong about the thing
Charlotte called to inform me that I was mistaken about something


From a train station phone booth she was reading people's minds
She was calling me from a train station phone booth and claimed to read people's minds


Had to call and tell me she was having such a time.
Charlotte felt the need to call me and tell me about her good time


Everybody's goin', everybody's trippin'
Everyone is moving or traveling and experiencing something new


Everybody tells you what ya been missin'
Everyone is sharing their experiences and telling you what you have been missing out on


She said quite cautiously 'You didn't like. Right?
Charlotte carefully asked if I did not like something


I said 'No, I never said that.
I responded by saying that I never claimed to not like something


I'm afraid you missed the point.
I am concerned that Charlotte didn't fully understand what I meant


It's all just happening in a dream
Everything seems unreal and dreamlike


Oh, Can it really be as real as it seems?...
I question whether the reality is as it appears


Oh, stop and listen!
I urge someone to pause and pay attention


Phil came up and told me he decided he would do it
Phil informed me that he had made a decision to do something


With everybody going well there must be something to it
Since everyone else is doing it successfully, there must be some merit to it


I said I can't disagree but when you find it out
I agreed with him, but expressed interest in knowing more about it


Don't think you have to tell me what it's all about
I reassured Phil that he did not need to explain everything to me


He said 'I'm always ready for something that is new'
Phil expressed his excitement for new experiences


And I said 'do you really think you know what you are doing'
I questioned whether he had a full understanding of what he was getting into


He tried it not too long ago and scared himself then
He had attempted it before and got frightened


But you know that in a month or two he'll take it again
Despite his previous fear, he will attempt it again soon


It was all just happening in a dream
Everything seems to be a surreal experience


Oh, Can it really be as real as it seems?...
I question the reality of the situation


Oh, stop and listen!
I urge someone to pause and pay attention




Writer(s): Chuck E. Berry

Contributed by Scarlett J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions