Toploader’s live career began playing with the likes of Coldplay and Muse in small venues across the UK. They later went on to back the likes of Paul Weller, Robbie Williams and Bon Jovi, becoming the last British band to play the original Wembley stadium. A string of top 20 hits both home and abroad followed, with Toploader quickly rising to become one of the most popular acts in British music. Their debut album, Onka’s Big Moka, sold over 1 million units and remained in the Top 5 of the UK album chart for over six months. Their cover of King Harvest’s song “Dancing in the Moonlight” became a global hit for the band. Their second album ‘Magic Hotel’, reached number 3, beating the number 4 of the debut. The result was over two million album sales to their name.
The band decided to break in 2003 due to the demise of their record label S2. In 2009, after an extended hiatus, they signed a one-album deal with Underdogs Music for their third album, which was released in June 2011.
The band line-up includes four of the five original members: Joseph Washbourn, Dan Hipgrave, Rob Green and Matt Knight.
Stupid Games
Toploader Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A thousand people, maybe more
As the sun burnt through their eyes
You could sense their deep surprise
And I guess one would assume
That we're playing different tunes
No one realized what was wrong
And the people stopped to cry
A sea of tears flowed from their eyes
And then everybody says
But they always say to late
It's such a shame, we all feel the pain
Of stupid games, it's such a shame
There is no gain, we all feel the pain
Of stupid games
History passed me by at school
But I, by no means play the fool
The past and present melt to one
But the future now has gone
And I guess one would assume
That there's nothing left to lose
No more science left to bend
The world was flat we reached the end
The other side now maybe nice
Now's your turn to roll the dice
And then everybody's still
But I can't help but feel
It's such a shame, we all feel the pain
Of stupid games, it's such a shame
There is no gain, we all feel the pain
Of stupid games
Don't you even see that we don't
Want to play this game no more?
Send a satellite to rescue us alone
Alone once more
It's such a shame, there is no gain
We all feel the pain, of stupid games
It's such a shame, we all feel the pain
Of stupid games
The lyrics to Toploader's "Stupid Games" are full of vivid imagery and commentary about societal problems. The song starts with a descriptive scene of a group of people who have missed their chance to leave on boats, perhaps for an escape or a better life. As the sun shines down on them, the weight of their situation hits them hard. The next verse speaks about an ambiguous song that caused people to cry and feel a deep sense of pain. The lyrics then take on a more philosophical tone, with the singer reflecting on the past, present, and future. They imply that there's nothing left to lose and that everything has already been discovered. The final verse poses the question, "Don't you even see that we don't want to play this game no more?" indicating a disillusionment with the current state of things.
Overall, the message behind the song seems to be about the futility of societal constructs and the pain and regret that come with wasted time and missed opportunities. The lyrics also suggest a longing for change and the hope that things can be different. The repetition of the chorus emphasizes the despair and frustration at feeling trapped in a cycle of "stupid games."
Line by Line Meaning
When all the boats had left the shore
After everyone had departed, it was just us left.
A thousand people, maybe more
It was a significant gathering of people.
As the sun burnt through their eyes
The light was harsh and unbearable.
You could sense their deep surprise
Their shock was palpable.
And I guess one would assume
That we're playing different tunes
It appeared as though we had different goals or beliefs.
No one realized what was wrong
It was all lost in a song
Nobody recognized the issue because they were too focused on something else.
And the people stopped to cry
A sea of tears flowed from their eyes
Everyone paused to cry together, causing a collective outpouring of emotion.
And then everybody says
But they always say to late
People began to express their regrets, but it was already too late.
It's such a shame, we all feel the pain
Of stupid games, it's such a shame
There is no gain, we all feel the pain
Of stupid games
Playing meaningless or harmful games is regrettable and harmful for everyone.
History passed me by at school
But I, by no means play the fool
I may not have paid attention in school, but I am not naive.
The past and present melt to one
But the future now has gone
Time seems to blend together, but the future is uncertain.
And I guess one would assume
That there's nothing left to lose
It seems like there is nothing else that can go wrong.
No more science left to bend
The world was flat we reached the end
There was no more knowledge that could be gained, and we had already reached the limits of human exploration.
The other side now maybe nice
Now's your turn to roll the dice
The grass may seem greener on the other side, but it's now someone else's turn to take a risk.
And then everybody's still
But I can't help but feel
Everyone is quiet, but I still have emotions.
Don't you even see that we don't
Want to play this game no more?
Can't you tell that we are tired of playing this pointless game?
Send a satellite to rescue us alone
Alone once more
Send someone to help us, but we still feel lonely afterwards.
It's such a shame, there is no gain
We all feel the pain, of stupid games
It's such a shame, we all feel the pain
Of stupid games
Playing games that hurt us is a waste and causes pain for all.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOSEPH WASHBOURN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind