Their best known songs include "Summer In The City", "Do You Believe In Magic?", "Darling Be Home Soon", and "Daydream". The band reunited in 1991 and continue to perform without Sebastian, who has declined to participate, and Yanovsky, who died in 2002.
The band's name was inspired by lyrics from Mississippi John Hurt's "Coffee Blues" and drew influence from contemporary folk and psychedelic music while also inspiring later rock bands.
A more complete history of this seminal New York band can be found on their official site: lovinspoonful.com
Words
The Lovin' Spoonful Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Words aren't meaning the things that they could
Twin scattered whispers on ears made of wood
She cannot hear me so my words are no good
Words used to be a way to get through
Words aren't meaning the way they used to
Think I said that before
My heart like a bird that can no longer fly
Rose-colored phrases have turned into lies
The longer you're lonely the longer you die
I don't know why I even try
She never hears me
She never hears me
No use in talkin' bout words known by heart
The sound drowns in static, the words fall apart
They die in the air or still born and unknown
The seed never lands so our love never grows
Words used to be a way to get through
Words aren't meaning the way they used to
Think I said that before
I don't know why I even try
She never hears me
She never hears me
Words used to be a way to get through
Words aren't meaning the way they used to
Think I said that before
In The Lovin' Spoonful's song "Words," the singer expresses his frustration with his inability to communicate effectively with his loved one. He observes that his words are not aligning properly, and they are not conveying the intended meanings. The phrases he utters seem to be futile; like whispers on a wooden ear. His loved one is not responding to his words, and he seems to be trapped in a cage made of words. The singer realizes that words used to be a means to connect with one another, but they aren't communicating the way they used to. His heart is like a bird that cannot fly away from the cage made of words.
The singer's frustration is compounded by his loneliness, which seems to be extending his demise. The rose-colored phrases that he once used to convey his love have now turned into lies, and he wonders if his effort to communicate is even worth it. In the end, he concludes that there's no use in talking about the words that were once known by heart because they are drowned in static, or they fall apart, stillborn and unknown. The seeds of their love never grow because there's a lack of communication, and the singer feels dejected as he realizes that he is no longer being heard by his loved one.
Line by Line Meaning
Words aren't falling in line like they should
The words being used aren't being used in the proper context
Words aren't meaning the things that they could
The words being used aren't conveying the true intended meaning
Twin scattered whispers on ears made of wood
The person being spoken to isn't truly listening and comprehending the messages being shared
She cannot hear me so my words are no good
The intended listener is not comprehending the true meaning behind the words being spoken
Words used to be a way to get through
Words were once enough to convey the intended message
Words aren't meaning the way they used to
The intended message is not being conveyed through words as effectively as it once was
My heart like a bird that can no longer fly
The singer's heart feels trapped and unable to express itself
In a cage made of words and I cannot say why
The artist feels trapped in their own words and unable to communicate the true depth of their feelings
Rose-colored phrases have turned into lies
The romantic language and sentiments expressed previously are no longer honest or sincere
The longer you're lonely the longer you die
The more isolated and disconnected one feels, the harder it is to live life fully
I don't know why I even try
The singer is feeling pessimistic and discouraged about the chances of being understood
She never hears me
The intended listener is not truly hearing and understanding the artist's words
No use in talkin' bout words known by heart
Repeating the same old, familiar words is no longer effective or helpful
The sound drowns in static, the words fall apart
The intended message is lost in the noise and confusion of everyday life
They die in the air or still born and unknown
The intended message is either not heard or simply misunderstood
The seed never lands so our love never grows
Without effective communication, the relationship between the artist and intended listener will not grow or progress
Words used to be a way to get through
Words once served as an effective communication tool
Words aren't meaning the way they used to
However, words are no longer as effective at conveying the true intended message
I don't know why I even try
The singer is feeling disheartened, as though their attempts at effective communication are futile
She never hears me
The intended listener is not comprehending or understanding the true depth of the artist's words
Words used to be a way to get through
Words were once an effective means of communication
Words aren't meaning the way they used to
However, words are no longer as effective at conveying the intended message
Think I said that before
The singer feels as though they are repeating themselves, saying the same things without being understood
Contributed by Eli P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Rorick Sellers
on 4 Eyes
4 Eyes: After "Mister up in middle classes" is the line: LET YOUR BABY CHOOSE HIS GLASSES ... [for some reason, this line in all caps is omitted ON EVERY WEBSITE that has the lyrics to this song. Weird.]