The Game
The Levellers Lyrics
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And nothing could be heard
The dust lay undisturbed
At a table near the back, underneath a fan
Two men shared a joke about the normal folk
The cards are on the table
The winners takes it all
One man about to fall
I don't believe in heaven
I don't believe in hell
I don't believe what I'm seeing
This is no game, can't you tell
"I'm calling your bluff" the first man said
"The people went to war, they always wanted more
How could I ever fail to lose
They can't take it any more, they want to end the score"
The second man showed his hand
Some walked barefoot across the land
Many have seen the future
And are doing the best they can
[Chorus]
The clock ticked past the final hour
Which of the men had lost? and what was the cost?
The glasses now were empty and gone
To wash away the shame, and take away the pain
One man left the table
The other, head in hands
Paid the bill for the defeated
the only thing left that stands
[Chorus]
The Levellers's song The Game paints a vivid picture of a tense, high-stakes card game being played by two men in a quiet, dark bar. The mood is somber, with the dust undisturbed and the clock ticking towards the final hour of the game. One man is about to fall, and both players have a lot at stake. The first man jokes about the "normal folk," and taunts the second man, claiming that he can't fail to lose with the people wanting to end the score. However, the second man shows his hand and it becomes clear that he has seen the future, with many people walking barefoot across the land.
One of the most striking things about the lyrics to The Game is the existential and philosophical musings that they contain. The singer declares that he doesn't believe in heaven or hell, and questions whether the game is really a game at all. The imagery of the clock ticking towards the final hour and the dust laying undisturbed adds to the sense of inevitability and tension, while the reference to people walking barefoot across the land suggests a sense of resilience and hope in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
The Bar was dark, quiet and still
The atmosphere was calm, silent and undisturbed
And nothing could be heard
No sound or noise could be noticed
The dust lay undisturbed
The place was abandoned and the dust lay untouched
At a table near the back, underneath a fan
Two men sat at a table located at the back of the room, below a ceiling fan
Two men shared a joke about the normal folk
Both men joked about the common people
The cards are on the table
The situation has been presented and nothing else can be done
The winners takes it all
The one who succeeds gets everything
The game is nearly over
The game is almost finished
One man about to fall
One man is about to lose
I don't believe in heaven
I don't believe in an afterlife where good people go to
I don't believe in hell
I don't believe in an afterlife where bad people go to
I don't believe what I'm seeing
I can't trust my own eyes, what's happening is unbelievable
This is no game, can't you tell
What is happening is real and not a game, and it's obvious for everyone to notice
"I'm calling your bluff" the first man said
The first man questioned the honesty of the other
"The people went to war, they always wanted more
Wars are caused by the people who always crave for more
How could I ever fail to lose
It's impossible for me to win
They can't take it any more, they want to end the score"
People are tired of the situation and want it to end
The second man showed his hand
The second man revealed his intentions
Some walked barefoot across the land
Many struggled and suffered greatly
Many have seen the future
People have predicted what's going to happen
And are doing the best they can
Despite the difficult circumstances, people try their hardest to overcome them
The clock ticked past the final hour
Time is running out, the deadline is approaching
Which of the men had lost? and what was the cost?
Who was the loser and what was the price?
The glasses now were empty and gone
All the drinks have been consumed or removed
To wash away the shame, and take away the pain
To forget the embarrassment and get rid of the agony
One man left the table
One man walked away from the table
The other, head in hands
The other man was deeply upset and disheartened
Paid the bill for the defeated
The losing man settled the bill
the only thing left that stands
The only thing remaining is the memory of the defeat
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERNARD SUMNER, GILLIAN LESLEY GILBERT, PHILLIP CUNNINGHAM, STEPHEN PAUL DAVID MORRIS, THOMAS LOUIS CHAPMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@timothygrayson
Probably the best album to surface the 90s. Full Monty they gave and boy did they give us a blast.
@rabbiemuirhead5304
what an absolute gem of a band. another mans cause is s pure powerful song with fantastic lyrics, big up the levellers,
@HolisticHealthWithHarry
yeah dude love them and this song epic
@dmthandmade5674
I keep coming back. I click on this, I get sent into a completely disproportionate rage about the shitty intro bells, and then I listen and forget. See you in 6 months.
@Joss1
Best album they ever did true story
@garethroberts9310
Got me through hard times GW1
@ross21ize
Absolute classic 🎉
@HolisticHealthWithHarry
just searched these guys again after so long love love love
@calvert161
My favourite ❤️
@debradavitt4758
Great tunes