The band released their debut album, Good Feeling (1997), to moderate success where it debuted at number nine on the UK Albums Chart and was later awarded a silver certification from the BPI in January 2000. The band gained greater success with their second album, The Man Who (1999), which spent nine weeks at number one on the UK Albums Chart, totalling 134 weeks in the top 100 of the chart. In 2003, The Man Who was certified 9× platinum by the BPI, representing sales of over 2.68 million in the UK alone. Following this success, the band released their third effort, The Invisible Band (2001) album. The Invisible Band went on to match the success found with their previous album, where it debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and spent a total of four weeks at the top spot, fifteen weeks in the top ten, and a total of fifty-five weeks in the top 100 chart, as well as peaking at thirty-nine on the US Billboard 200 album chart, spending a duration of seven weeks in the Billboard 200 chart. A year following the release of The Invisible Band, the BPI awarded Travis with a 4× platinum certification for the album.
In recent years, the band's discography has included studio albums 12 Memories (2003), The Boy with No Name (2007), Ode to J. Smith (2008), Where You Stand (2013), Everything at Once (2016) and 10 Songs (2020). In 2004, the band released their first greatest hits album, Singles, which spent nineteen weeks in the top 100 of the UK albums chart. Travis have twice been awarded best band at the BRIT Awards and were awarded the NME Artist of the Year award at their 2000 ceremony, and in 2016 were honoured at the Scottish Music Awards for their outstanding contribution to music. The band are widely said by the media to have paved the way for other bands such as Keane and Coldplay to go on to achieve worldwide success throughout the 2000s, particularly with the success of The Man Who.
Craft Recordings celebrated the 20th anniversary of Travis' breakthrough year with two simultaneous releases: Live at Glastonbury '99, plus expanded editions of The Man Who – both of which were released on 21 June 2019.
Give Me Some Truth
Travis Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm sick & tired of hearing things
From uptight, short-sighted, narrow-minded
All I want is the truth
Just give me some truth
I've had enough of reading things
By neurotic, psychotic pig-headed politicians
Just give me some truth
No short-haired, yellow-bellied son-of-tricky-dicky's
Gonna mother hubbard soft soap me with just a bundle of hope
It's money for dope
Money for rope
No short-haired, yellow-bellied son-of-tricky-dicky's
Gonna mother hubbard soft soap me with just a bucket of soap
It's money for dope
Money for rope
I'm sick to death of seeing things
From tight-lipped, condescending, mother's little chauvinists
All I want is the truth
Just give me some truth
I've had enough of watching scenes
With schizophrenic, egocentric, paranoiac prima donnas
All I want is the truth
Just give me some truth
No short-haired, yellow-bellied son-of-tricky-dicky's
Gonna mother hubbard soft soap me with just a bucket of soap
It's money for dope
Money for rope
Repeat 1st & 2nd verses
The lyrics to John Lennon's "Give Me Some Truth" are a critique of the politics and media of his time. The first verse targets the narrow-mindedness of those who are quick to judge without understanding, and the desire for truth in a world full of lies. The second verse takes aim at manipulative politicians, calling out their attempts to deceive the public by promising hope while actually profiting off their substance abuse and lack of opportunities.
The chorus repeats the message of the verses, with the repeated refrain of "just give me some truth" emphasizing the need for honesty and transparency in society. The repeated line about money for dope and rope underscores the argument that our society is one in which people are trapped in cycles of poverty and addiction, while those in power profit from their suffering.
Overall, the lyrics of "Give Me Some Truth" are a passionate call to action, urging people to demand honesty and transparency from those in power in order to create a fairer and more just society.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm sick & tired of hearing things
The singer is exhausted from listening to statements made by people who are uptight, short-sighted, and narrow-minded.
From uptight, short-sighted, narrow-minded
Referring to people who lack openness and flexibility in their thinking and ideas.
All I want is the truth
The singer is looking for honesty, authenticity, and transparency in everything that they encounter.
Just give me some truth
The artist desires for nothing but the truth to be told to them without any manipulation and cover-up.
I've had enough of reading things
The artist has grown tired of reading reports and articles that are written by neurotic, psychotic, and pig-headed politicians.
By neurotic, psychotic pig-headed politicians
Referring to politicians who are characterized by their mental instability, irrationality, and obstinacy.
No short-haired, yellow-bellied son-of-tricky-dicky's
The singer does not want to be fooled by anyone who resembles Richard Nixon, who was referred to as 'Tricky Dicky'.
Gonna mother hubbard soft soap me with just a bundle of hope
The artist will not be deceived by anyone who tries to convince them with mere empty promises.
It's money for dope
The artist believes that anyone who promises hope without substance is only offering a fake solution, much like how one would use money to buy drugs.
Money for rope
Referring to a situation where one is essentially paying for their downfall, much like how someone would exchange money for a rope to hang themselves.
I'm sick to death of seeing things
The singer is disgusted and fed up with seeing things that are shown to them by people who are tight-lipped, condescending, and chauvinistic.
From tight-lipped, condescending, mother's little chauvinists
Referring to people who are arrogant, dismissive, and patronizing towards others.
With schizophrenic, egocentric, paranoiac prima donnas
Referring to people who have various psychological disorders and display extreme self-obsession and delusions of grandeur.
All I want is the truth
The singer once again states their desire for honesty, authenticity, and transparency in everything that they encounter.
Just give me some truth
The singer once again reiterates their desire for nothing but the truth to be told to them without any manipulation and cover-up.
Contributed by Lila V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Michal Turlik
one of the best energy that i ever listened from travis
UTAH Bill
Outstanding!
shaikhymx
Nice job..
fran gleason
Lennon would be proud.. :D
Graham Cox
Give them credit for doing cover of great song,but nothing compares with Lennon.
MrMWRMWR
Hmm, nice discovery and better than Pearl Jam; if the hard-edgy voice was continuous, this would have really been one to re-visit. Really enjoyable in places but sadly no George Harrison -style solo.