Since then, while maintaining her singing career, she has occasionally encountered controversy, partly due to her statements and gestures—such as her ordination as a priest despite being a woman with a Roman Catholic background—and her strongly expressed views on organised religion, women's rights, war, and child abuse.
In addition to her ten solo albums her work includes many singles, songs for films, collaborations with many other artists and appearances at charity fundraising concerts.
Since converting to Islam in 2018 she has changed her name to Shuhada Sadaqat.
In December 2019 she gave her first UK concert in five years at the Shepherd's Bush Empire, London.
On 26 July 2023, O'Connor's family issued a statement that she had died at the age of 56, without indicating the date or cause.
In the statement, the singer’s family said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Sinéad. Her family and friends are devastated and have requested privacy at this very difficult time.”
The acclaimed Dublin performer released 10 studio albums, while her song “Nothing Compares 2 U” was named the number one world single in 1990 by the Billboard Music Awards. Her version of the ballad, written by musician Prince, topped the charts around the globe and earned her three Grammy nominations.
Mind Games
Sinéad O'Connor Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pushing barriers, planting seeds,
Playing the mind guerilla,
Chanting the Mantra peace on earth,
We all been playing those mind games forever,
Some kinda druid dudes lifting the veil.
Doing the mind guerilla,
Love is the answer and you know that for sure,
Love is flower you got to let it, you got to let it grow,
So keep on playing those mind games together,
Faith in the future outta the now,
You just can't beat on those mind guerillas,
Absolute elsewhere in the stones of your mind.
Yeah we're playing those mind games forever,
Projecting our images in space and in time.
Yes is the answer and you know that for sure,
Yes is the surrender you got to let it, you got to let it go.
So keep on playing those mind games together,
Doing the ritual dance in the sun,
Millions of mind guerrillas,
Putting their soul power to the karmic wheel,
Keep on playing those mind games forever,
Raising the spirit of peace and love, not war.
I want you to make love, not war, I know you've heard it before,
Let's make make love, not war, not war
I want to make love, make love, not war, not war.
The song "Mind Games" by Sinéad O'Connor is an anthem for people who want to fight for peace and love instead of war. The lyrics describe how people have been playing "mind games" forever, trying to break down barriers and make the world a better place. The "mind games" referred to in the song are not meant to be manipulative or deceitful, but rather a way for people to come together and push for positive change.
The song talks about how love is the answer to all problems, and how we should all work together to make the world a better place. The idea of "mind guerillas" is used as a metaphor for people who are fighting for peace and love. The chorus encourages people to keep playing these "mind games" together and to have faith in the future.
The song ends on a powerful note, with the lines "I want you to make love, not war, I know you've heard it before, Let's make make love, not war, not war. I want to make love, make love, not war, not war." This highlights the message of the song and its emphasis on the importance of peace.
Overall, "Mind Games" is a powerful and insightful song that encourages people to come together to fight for peace and love. It is a call to action for those who want to make a difference in the world and is a reminder that we should always have faith in a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
We're playing those mind games together,
We are engaging in the psychological manipulation of one another and attempting to challenge established limits and foster new ideas collectively.
Pushing barriers, planting seeds,
We are attempting to change the status quo by breaking through societal limitations and introducing new ways of thinking and acting.
Playing the mind guerilla,
We are using non-traditional means to achieve our goals, often targeting the subconscious mind in order to effect change.
Chanting the Mantra peace on earth,
We focus on promoting peace and tranquility, using repetition of key words and rhythms to help create a sense of unity toward this goal.
We all been playing those mind games forever,
Humans have always been influenced by one another and sought to change the world around them. This is simply another iteration of that long-standing tradition.
Some kinda druid dudes lifting the veil.
Perhaps referring to those with a spiritual bent, people attempt to pierce through the veil of everyday consciousness in order to see more deeply into the true nature of things.
Doing the mind guerilla,
Utilizing nonconventional, somewhat rebellious methods of changing how people think and behave.
Some call it magic, search for the grail.
Many may see these attempts at psychological manipulation as some sort of mystical or magical endeavor, and one that is pursued with great passion in pursuit of some kind of greater truth.
Love is the answer and you know that for sure,
All people need love - this is a universal truth that is indisputable.
Love is flower you got to let it, you got to let it grow,
Love needs to be nurtured like a flower in order to blossom - this is a process that requires patience and cultivation over time.
So keep on playing those mind games together,
The pursuit of new ways of thinking and creating social change is an ongoing process that requires sustained effort.
Faith in the future outta the now,
Belief in a better future is what motivates us to continue, even in the face of setbacks or obstacles in the present moment.
You just can't beat on those mind guerillas,
Those who use psychological manipulation and unconventional methods to achieve their goals are tough to defeat.
Absolute elsewhere in the stones of your mind.
The concept of a place beyond our immediate reality exists in the deepest parts of our consciousness.
Yeah we're playing those mind games forever,
This desire to change our reality and others is a pursuit that will never end.
Projecting our images in space and in time.
The use of various media to disseminate ideas and information allows us to make an impact far beyond our own immediate spheres of influence.
Yes is the answer and you know that for sure,
Saying "yes" to the world and its opportunities is the only way to grow and improve as individuals and a species.
Yes is the surrender you got to let it, you got to let it go.
In order to truly let go and accept the opportunities presented to us, we must be willing to surrender our egos and ideas about how things "should" be.
Doing the ritual dance in the sun,
Engaging in spiritual or symbolic practices that connect us to something beyond ourselves and our everyday lives.
Millions of mind guerrillas,
There are many who share the desire to create social change by changing how people think and act.
Putting their soul power to the karmic wheel,
Emphasizing the idea of interconnectedness, individuals employ their spiritual and mental energy in order to create larger changes in the world around them.
Raising the spirit of peace and love, not war.
The ultimate goal is to create a world characterized by compassion and understanding, rather than conflict and aggression.
I want you to make love, not war, I know you've heard it before,
The message of love and peace has been around forever and we need to take it seriously.
Let's make make love, not war, not war
We need to prioritize the peaceful resolution of conflict, rather than accepting that war and violence are inevitable responses to problems.
I want to make love, make love, not war, not war.
The desire to create a more peaceful and compassionate world is something we all share and need to pursue together.
Contributed by Wyatt B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
K. Maczák
on Troy
The song is about her abusive mother, who locked her out of the house, and she sitting in the long grass in summer keeping warm , while her mother turned off the light inside the house , and she screamed . etc.