11th Hour
The Madness Lyrics
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Even though he didn't know his name
He was so nearly over twenty-one
That he could never feel the same
[Repeat: x 2]
Well, sometimes I wish that I could see
But it was you instead of me
The trumpets of yesterday are blowing for here today
I only hope you can rest in peace
And cannot hear the tune they play
[Repeat: x 2]
Because we're all tired of hearing that song
Though they try to make you sing along
At the eleventh hour
Don't you know you don't need this way?
Can't you see, don't you know you have to stay?
[Repeat: x 2]
Well, sometimes I wish that I could see
But it was you instead of me
At the eleventh hour
If there's more than this, I'll write and let you know
If there's more than this from the seeds we sow
[Repeat: x 4]
Well sometimes I wish that I could see
And maybe it will be
At the eleventh hour
Don't you know you don't need this way?
Can't you see, don't you know you have to stay?
[Repeat: x 4]
From the seeds we sow
In "11th Hour" by The Madness, the singer talks about knowing someone named Robert Blink, although he does not know his actual name. Robert is around twenty-one years old and always feels like he cannot live his life to the fullest because of his age. The singer wishes he could trade places with Robert at times, especially at the eleventh hour. In the second verse, the singer mentions the trumpets of yesterday blowing to pay homage to Robert's life, but he hopes Robert cannot hear it from his peaceful resting place. The singer, like many others, is tired of hearing the same old song and is tired of living in the same way, but he also believes people do not need to be stuck in one way of life. He encourages people to see that there is more room for diversity than what society has programmed them to believe.
The lyrics of "11th Hour" express a feeling of being stuck in life and the need for change. Through the singer's words, we understand that society sets norms and beliefs which end up trapping people, particularly young adults who feel limited by their age. It almost feels like an ode to those who could never reach their full potential due to societal rules.
Line by Line Meaning
It feels like I knew Robert Blink
I feel a connection to someone even though I never truly knew them
Even though he didn't know his name
Even though Robert Blink didn't know his true identity, I still feel a sense of familiarity with him
He was so nearly over twenty-one
Robert Blink was close to reaching the age of 21, but unfortunately never got the chance to experience it
That he could never feel the same
He could never feel the same as someone who had actually reached the age of 21
Well, sometimes I wish that I could see
At times, I wish that I could have had a different perspective or experience
But it was you instead of me
I wish someone else had gone through the experience instead of me
At the eleventh hour
At the last possible moment or when it's almost too late
The trumpets of yesterday are blowing for here today
The past is still haunting the present with reminders of what used to be
I only hope you can rest in peace
I hope that whoever this is directed towards can find peace and solace in death
And cannot hear the tune they play
I hope that whoever this is directed towards isn't bothered by the reminders of the past playing around them
Because we're all tired of hearing that song
We're all tired of the same old reminders and memories being repeated over and over
Though they try to make you sing along
Despite the constant reminders and attempts to relive the past, we don't want to be a part of it
Don't you know you don't need this way?
Do you not realize that there are other options besides reliving the past?
Can't you see, don't you know you have to stay?
Can't you see that you need to stay in the present moment and move forward instead of dwelling in the past?
If there's more than this, I'll write and let you know
If there's more to life than this cycle of reliving the past, I'll keep you updated
If there's more than this from the seeds we sow
If there is a greater impact from the actions we take, I'll inform you
And maybe it will be
Perhaps there is still hope for a better future
From the seeds we sow
From the actions we take, there will be consequences and rewards
Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHRISTOPHER JOHN FOREMAN, CATHAL JOSEPH SMYTH, LEE JAY THOMPSON, GRAHAM MCPHERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Sam Haynes Synthwave / Cheekyboy mashups
really like this one. its moody and atmospheric. Its a great track.
Patrick Stocks
It feels like I knew Robert Blink
Even though he didn’t know his name
He was so nearly over 21
That he could never feel the same
Well, sometimes I wish that I could see
But it was you instead of me
At the 11th hour (x2)
The trumpets of yesterday are blowing for here today
I only hope you can rest in peace ☮️
And cannot hear the tune they play
Because we’re all tired of hearing that song
Though they try to make you sing along
At the 11th hour (x2)
Don’t you know you don’t need this way?
Can’t you see, don’t you know you have to stay?
Well, sometimes I wish that I could see
But it was you instead of me
At the 11th hour (x2)
If there’s more than this, I’ll write and let you know
If there’s more than this from the seeds we sow
Well sometimes I wish that I could see
And maybe it will be
At the 11th hour (x4)
Don’t you know you don’t need this way?
Can’t you see, don’t you know you have to stay?
From the seeds we sow (x4)