Blind Leading the Blind
The Selecter Lyrics


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The story's never been told
The secret almost went cold
Some words are better left unsaid
The fantasy had grown old
No more room in the fold
Don't quote me more lies you read
Looks kinda cloudy
Maybe I won't make it
I can see rain in the sky
Impossible questions can never be answered
No matter how hard you try
Foolishly talking
We keep on walking
The blind always leading the blind

Can't find no pot of gold
Somebody sold the rainbow
Then told us we are all free
Looked for the yellow-brick road
It was paved over in stones
Sharpened to cut up my feet
Looks kinda cloudy
Maybe I won't make it
I can see rain in the sky
Impossible questions can never be answered
No matter how hard you try
Foolishly talking
We keep on walking
The blind always leading the blind

Take the idea of Foucault
Watch the pendulum swing low
Measuring days passing by
Shifting it's weight as it goes
Pushing back all your hopes
Time after time after time
Looks kinda cloudy
Maybe I won't make it
I can see rain in the sky
Impossible questions can never be answered
No matter how hard you try




Foolishly talking, we keep on walking
The blind always leading the blind.

Overall Meaning

The Selecter's song "Blind Leading the Blind" is a commentary on society's tendency to follow blindly, without questioning and without understanding what it is they are following. The lyrics talk about how some things are better left unsaid, and how fantasies can grow old if they are not grounded in reality. The song highlights the fact that many people follow others without really knowing why, and that this blind following can lead to disappointment and disillusionment.


The first verse talks about how some secrets are never told, and how words can be better left unsaid. This could refer to the fact that sometimes it's better not to know things, or that sometimes it's better not to say things in order to avoid causing hurt or upset. The verse also talks about how fantasies can grow old, indicating that sometimes our dreams and ideals are not grounded in reality and can become stale over time. The second verse talks about how we sometimes follow others blindly, without really knowing what it is we are following. The line "impossible questions can never be answered, no matter how hard you try" suggests that sometimes we are looking for answers in the wrong places, or that sometimes there are no easy answers to be found.


The chorus repeats the idea that the blind are always leading the blind, suggesting that we are all following each other in circles without really knowing where we are going. The final verse talks about how time passes by and how we often try to measure it, but that our efforts are ultimately futile. The line "pushing back all your hopes, time after time after time" suggests that our attempts to measure time and to understand the world around us can ultimately lead to disappointment, as we are constantly being pushed back and forced to start again.


Line by Line Meaning

The story's never been told
The truth has never been revealed


The secret almost went cold
The secret almost disappeared into obscurity


Some words are better left unsaid
Not everything needs to be spoken aloud


The fantasy had grown old
The dream had lost its luster over time


No more room in the fold
There is no longer any space for you here


Don't quote me more lies you read
Do not repeat falsehoods that you have read


Looks kinda cloudy
The future is uncertain


Maybe I won't make it
I might not succeed


I can see rain in the sky
Trouble is on the horizon


Impossible questions can never be answered
Some questions cannot be resolved


No matter how hard you try
Regardless of effort


Foolishly talking
Speaking without thinking


We keep on walking
We continue on our path


The blind always leading the blind
People who are ignorant leading others who are also ignorant


Can't find no pot of gold
Unable to find riches


Somebody sold the rainbow
Someone made unrealistic promises


Then told us we are all free
Then falsely claimed that we are all liberated


Looked for the yellow-brick road
Searched for an easy path to success


It was paved over in stones
The path was obstructed by difficulties


Sharpened to cut up my feet
The obstacles hurt and slowed progress


Take the idea of Foucault
Consider Michel Foucault's philosophy


Watch the pendulum swing low
Observe the highs and lows of life


Measuring days passing by
Noting the passage of time


Shifting it's weight as it goes
Changing with each swing


Pushing back all your hopes
Crushing one's aspirations


Time after time after time
Repeatedly happening




Contributed by John N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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