Manchester England
The New Broadway Cast of Hair Lyrics


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Manchester England England
Across the Atlantic Sea
And I'm a genius genius
I believe in God
And I believe that God
Believes in Claude
That's me, that's me
Claude Hooper Bukowski
Finds that it's groovy
To hide in a movie
Pretends he's Fellini
And Antonioni
And also his countryman Roman Polanski
All rolled into one (one what?)
One Claude Hooper Bukowski

Now that I've dropped out
Why is life dreary dreary
Answer my weary query
Oh, Timothy Leary, dearie

Oh, Manchester England England
Across the Atlantic Sea
And I'm a genius, genius
I believe in God
And I believe that God
Believes in Claude

That's me (that's he)
That's me (that's he)




That's me (that's he)
That's me!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of The New Broadway Cast of Hair's song Manchester England describe the singer Claude Hooper Bukowski's nonconformist view of life. He sees himself as a genius and believes in God. He also believes that God believes in him. Claude Hooper Bukowski finds comfort in movies where he pretends to be a famous Italian film director, Fellini, Antonioni, and Polanski. The last verse suggests that since Claude has dropped out of society, life has become dreary. He hopes Timothy Leary, an LSD advocate, can provide an answer to his existential crisis.


The song draws attention to the counterculture movement of the 1960s, where young people adopted a nonconformist lifestyle and rejected traditional societal norms. Manchester was a city in Northern England that became synonymous with the counterculture movement during the 1960s. The song's lyrics portray Manchester, England as a utopia where Claude could find respite from the dreariness of his life.


Line by Line Meaning

Manchester England England
Referencing the city and country he feels nostalgic for, but also the English rock and roll movement


Across the Atlantic Sea
Acknowledging the distance in miles and culture from his hometown


And I'm a genius genius
Ironically self-aggrandizing, or at worst sincere, in believing that he is more than moderately brilliant


I believe in God
Conveying a personal faith in a divine creator, possibly also referring to spiritual/religious experiences within the counterculture


And I believe that God
Carrying on from the last line to assert his following conviction


Believes in Claude
Suggesting the belief that he's a chosen one, a prophet or teacher guided by divine providence or inspiration


That's me, that's me
Affirming the identity of the singer as that chosen one


Claude Hooper Bukowski
The person the artist identifies as, perhaps a reference to the Charles Bukowski poem


Finds that it's groovy
Discovers that it's cool or fashionable to immerse oneself in movies or other media


To hide in a movie
To lose oneself in cinematic art and fantasy


Pretends he's Fellini
Adopting characteristics of the great Italian film director, known for introducing neo-realism and surrealist elements


And Antonioni
Additionally affecting the style and philosophical themes of Michelangelo Antonioni's movies


And also his countryman Roman Polanski
Further emulating the filmmaking of Polanski, a major Polish director who often portrayed crime, horror, and psychological tension


All rolled into one (one what?)
Combined into a single identity, perhaps asking rhetorically what that identity is or means


One Claude Hooper Bukowski
Recognizing the self-concept and choosing to identify as that, rather than a character in a movie


Now that I've dropped out
Given up or departed from former pursuits, especially those deemed conformist or capitalistic


Why is life dreary dreary
Posing a philosophical or rhetorical question about the worth or meaning of life, and perhaps commenting on the monotony and meaninglessness of suburban life in the U.S.


Answer my weary query
Implying that this is an existential problem that requires answers from other intellectual minds


Oh, Timothy Leary, dearie
Calling out to the legendary psychologist who advocated for psychedelic drug use and opened doors of perception for many counterculture youths


That's me (that's he)
Repeating the self-affirming sentiment from earlier, perhaps suggesting that Leary might understand the quest for greater truth and understanding that Claude is on


That's me (that's he)
Continuing the repetition to emphasize self-identity


That's me (that's he)
Concluding with the triumphant reiteration of self-discovery and self-identification




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Galt MacDermot, Gerome Ragni, James Rado

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Hannah Emerson

[Claude]
Manchester England England
Across the Atlantic Sea
And I'm a genius genius
I believe in God
And I believe that God
Believes in Claude
That's me, that's me

Claude Hooper Bukowski
Finds that it's groovy
To hide in a movie
Pretends he's Fellini
And Antonioni
And also his countryman Roman Polanski
All rolled into one
One Claude Hooper Bukowski

Now that I've dropped out
Why is life dreary dreary
Answer my weary query
Timothy Leary dearie

[Claude & Tribe]
Oh Manchester England England
Across the Atlantic Sea
And I'm a genius, genius
I believe in God
And I believe that God
Believes in Claude

[Claude] [Tribe]
That's me
That's he
That's me
That's he
That's me
That's he
That's me



All comments from YouTube:

Flannery Monaghan-Morrs

Oh boy, Gavin must’ve had the time of his life performing that song.

McKenna

I love this musical! I saw it yesterday on stage in San Francisco. It was epic!!!!

Jacob Okerlund

I just got cast in a production of this show at my college. I am so excited because for one my college is very much against censorship so we are not cutting anything from the show.

Alex Pooner

Thanks so much for putting this up! i just saw hair and i loved the new broadway cast!

Emily Earle

Gavin's accent is GEORGEOUS

Kristy

Way too awesome!

Kay Andell

This play was written more than 10 years before Polanski's legal issues.

supersporkspank

BlazingKrimson
And about three years before the Manson Family paid a visit to Sharon Tate, his pregnant wife.

Hannah Emerson

[Claude]
Manchester England England
Across the Atlantic Sea
And I'm a genius genius
I believe in God
And I believe that God
Believes in Claude
That's me, that's me

Claude Hooper Bukowski
Finds that it's groovy
To hide in a movie
Pretends he's Fellini
And Antonioni
And also his countryman Roman Polanski
All rolled into one
One Claude Hooper Bukowski

Now that I've dropped out
Why is life dreary dreary
Answer my weary query
Timothy Leary dearie

[Claude & Tribe]
Oh Manchester England England
Across the Atlantic Sea
And I'm a genius, genius
I believe in God
And I believe that God
Believes in Claude

[Claude] [Tribe]
That's me
That's he
That's me
That's he
That's me
That's he
That's me

Hannah Emerson

@xylfox no that's the movie

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