wheels
The Levellers Lyrics
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In a town that's built on money built on fear
Just don't fake life, he's been told a thousand times
You see the wheels that we turn in keep dragging us down
He was amazed to see the fallen here
Tried so very hard to fight the fear
It slipped from his grasp
And he stumbled there in the dark
Just don't fake life you've been told a thousand times
He took a troubled heart and then he gave it out
Took a violent change of circumstance to shout
There can be nobody better to turn things around
Yes there can be nobody better to turn things around
Just don't fake life you've been told a thousand times
The Levellers's song "Wheels" is a poignant commentary on the cyclical nature of life, how it can be both uplifting and crushing. The song features a protagonist who struggles to make it in a town built on money and fear. He is told not to fake life but still fails to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The 'wheels that we turn in' keep dragging him down, and he can't seem to escape the vicious cycle.
The singer is amazed to see fellow strugglers in the town but also realizes that their end is not very far. As he tries to find his way out of the rut, it seems to slip from his grasp and he stumbles in the dark. However, he finds solace in the fact that there could be nobody better to turn things around other than himself. All he needs is to be true to himself and not fake life.
The message of the song is that life can be tough, but staying true to oneself is the best way to break the wheel of fear and money. The use of simple but evocative lyrics and the instrumentation of the song add to its emotional appeal. The song's melancholic tone and the message it conveys make it a must-listen for anyone feeling lost or stuck in life.
Line by Line Meaning
He came of second best when he first came round here
He didn't have much success when he first arrived in this town
In a town that's built on money built on fear
This town is founded on greed and anxiety
Just don't fake life, he's been told a thousand times
He's been advised not to pretend or lie many times
You see the wheels that we turn in keep dragging us down
Our actions and choices can lead to negative consequences
He was amazed to see the fallen here
He was surprised to see people struggling and suffering in this place
Tried so very hard to fight the fear
He made an effort to overcome his own fears and anxieties
Then when he saw the end and it werent very far
He realized his situation was close to coming to a bad end
It slipped from his grasp
He lost control over the situation
And he stumbled there in the dark
He struggled and was uncertain about what to do next
He took a troubled heart and then he gave it out
He shared his own struggles with others
Took a violent change of circumstance to shout
It took a dramatic event to make him stand up for himself
There can be nobody better to turn things around
He realized he was the only one who could change his life
Yes there can be nobody better to turn things around
He repeated the realization he had just come to
Just don't fake life you've been told a thousand times
He repeats the advice he's received not to pretend or lie
Contributed by Aubrey A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.