The Shape of Things to Come
The Ramones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Risin' up angry in the sky
And there's a new voice
Sayin' we're not afraid to die
Let the old world make believe
It's blind and deaf and dumb
But nothing can change the shape of things to come
There are changes Lyin' ahead in every road
And there are new thoughts
Ready and waiting to explode
When tomorrow is today
The bells may toll for some
But nothing can change the shape of things to come
The future's comin' in, now
Sweet and strong
Ain't no-one gonna hold it back for long
There are new dreams
Crowdin' out old realities
There's revolution
Sweepin' in like a fresh new breeze
Let the old world make believe
It's blind and deaf and dumb
(But) nothing can change the shape of things
Nothing can change the shape of things
Nothing can change the shape of things
Nothing can change the shape of things
To come
The Ramones’ "The Shape of Things to Come" speaks of a new era – an era of change, revolution, and new thinking. The song’s lyrics point to the fact that the future is coming and no one can hold it back. With lines like “there’s a new sun rising up angry in the sky” and “there are new dreams crowding out old realities,” the song contemplates an overwhelming desire for a change in the world.
The song advocates for a reform-specific message, highlighting how there are changes coming in every road; the lyrics embody a sense of curiosity and hopefulness that the future will bring something better. The singer carries a revolutionary spirit, conveying the idea that people aren’t afraid to die and that nothing can stop the shape of things to come. The chorus emphasizes this message by repeating, “nothing can change the shape of things to come.”
Line by Line Meaning
There's a new sun
A change is starting to occur, a new day is beginning
Risin' up angry in the sky
The change that is happening is not calm, but forceful and intense
And there's a new voice
There are people who are speaking up for this change
Sayin' we're not afraid to die
They are willing to risk their lives for what they believe in
Let the old world make believe
The current state of things is outdated and no longer relevant
It's blind and deaf and dumb
The current state of things is ignorant and unable to see what is coming
But nothing can change the shape of things to come
Despite resistance, the change is inevitable and cannot be stopped
There are changes
The change is not limited to any one area, but is happening across many aspects of life
Lyin' ahead in every road
The change is prevalent and present in all paths of life
And there are new thoughts
New ideas and ways of thinking are emerging
Ready and waiting to explode
These new ideas are powerful and ready to be acted upon
When tomorrow is today
The future is quickly becoming the present
The bells may toll for some
There will be obstacles and sacrifices in this change
But nothing can change the shape of things to come
Despite any setbacks, the change will still happen
The future's comin' in, now
The change is happening rapidly
Sweet and strong
The change is powerful and positive
Ain't no-one gonna hold it back for long
No one can stop the change from happening
There are new dreams
New goals and aspirations are being formed
Crowdin' out old realities
These new dreams are replacing previous ways of thinking about life
There's revolution
The change is revolutionary, not just incremental
Sweepin' in like a fresh new breeze
The change is refreshing and rejuvenating
Let the old world make believe
The previous ways of thinking about life are outdated
It's blind and deaf and dumb
The previous way of thinking cannot see or understand the coming change
(But) nothing can change the shape of things
The change is inevitable, no matter how much resistance may come
Nothing can change the shape of things
The change will happen no matter what
Nothing can change the shape of things
The change is unstoppable
Nothing can change the shape of things
The change is imminent, and cannot be stopped
To come
The change is coming soon
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRIAN CRADDOCK, ROBERT MICHAEL PELONI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind