Hello
Unmade Beds (a.k.a. London Nights) Lyrics

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A roll of the dice
A slip of the tongue
I was stirring up the hornet's nest
It finally got me stung

Said I'd do the right thing
But the wrong was done
It's over, excuse my grammar

But the fat lady's sung

And I wish I were Michael J. Fox
I'd visit the past
Then come back to the future
Hello McFly
When I'd cleaned up my act

Yeah I don't know
What went through my head
Was my conscience shut
Was it left for dead
I said I'm sorry but
No one heard, 'cause actions
Actions speak louder than words

I think I made God angry
Yeah I'm sure that He's irate
I just hope my remorse was not
Too little to late

I gave Him my track record
He gave me a clean slate

Now I'm forgiven and I'm living
With no sin on my plate

Overall Meaning

These lyrics from Unmade Beds' song "Hello" speak to the regret and remorse someone may feel after making a mistake. The first few lines describe how the person acknowledges that they were "stirring up the hornet's nest" and got "stung" as a result of their actions. They admit to doing the wrong thing despite intending to do the right thing. The phrase "excuse my grammar, but the fat lady's sung" is a colloquial way of saying that it's all over, as well as acknowledging that they may not be using proper grammar in the moment.

The next few lines mention the desire to go back in time and do things differently - a longing that many people can relate to after making a mistake. It's interesting that the lyrics specifically mention Michael J. Fox's character from "Back to the Future" here, as the film is a classic example of time-travel storytelling. The songwriter may be implying that they wish they could rewind time like the character can in the movie.

The last two lines seem to suggest that the person believes they have been forgiven for their mistake, and are now living without "sin on [their] plate." The reference to giving God their "track record" means that they have admitted to their mistake and have asked for forgiveness. Overall, the lyrics to "Hello" convey a sense of regret while also touching on themes of forgiveness and redemption.

Line by Line Meaning

A roll of the dice
Taking a chance without knowing the outcome

A slip of the tongue
Saying something unintended or inappropriate

I was stirring up the hornet's nest
Causing trouble or problems for myself

It finally got me stung
Experiencing the negative consequences of my actions

Said I'd do the right thing
Promising to behave morally or ethically

But the wrong was done
Acting immorally or unethically

It's over, excuse my grammar
Acknowledging that it's too late to change what happened

But the fat lady's sung
It's a done deal, there's no going back

And I wish I were Michael J. Fox
Expressing a desire to go back in time and change the past

I'd visit the past
Going to a previous time period

Then come back to the future
Returning to the present moment

Hello McFly
A reference to the movie Back to the Future; a humorous way of acknowledging the desire to time travel

When I'd cleaned up my act
Once I had changed my behavior and stopped acting immorally

Yeah I don't know
Expressing confusion or uncertainty about one's actions

What went through my head
Wondering what thoughts or emotions led to one's actions

Was my conscience shut
Questioning whether one was aware of the right thing to do at the time

Was it left for dead
Wondering if one's conscience was ignored or disregarded

I said I'm sorry but
Apologizing for one's actions

No one heard, 'cause actions
Acknowledging that words alone are not enough to make up for past mistakes

Actions speak louder than words
A well-known saying that emphasizes that actions are more meaningful than words

I think I made God angry
Feeling guilty or ashamed of one's actions and anticipating divine punishment

Yeah I'm sure that He's irate
Strongly believing that God is angry or upset

I just hope my remorse was not
Expressing a desire that one's feelings of regret are genuine and can lead to forgiveness

Too little to late
Worrying that one's remorse and desire to change may not be enough to make up for past mistakes

I gave Him my track record
Offering one's history of behavior to God

He gave me a clean slate
Believing that God has forgiven one's past behavior and that one can start anew

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP
Written by: BRIAN LEE PITTMAN, MATTHEW ARNOLD THIESSEN, MATTHEW RYAN HOOPES, STEPHEN CUSHMAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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