Mishra, a straight edger and ex-Marxist, often incorporates political concerns in his songs veiled in terms of personal relationships (as in his only hit). After a troubled working relationship with EMI Records, Mishra was dropped from the label in 1997 and since then has gone back to working with indie labels like Parasol Records. His last album, 2000's Peek & Poke, received moderately enthusiastic reviews but sold pitifully compared to his major label work.
In 2005 White Town contributed the song "The PNAC Cabal" to the charity album "Voyces United for UNHCR" (Voyces United for UNHCR (disc 1)).
In October 2006 White Town released a new album, Don't Mention The War on Mishra's own label, Bzangy Records.
A New Surprise
White Town Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've been waiting for so long to hear the truth,
It comes as no surprise at all you see,
So cut the crap and tell me that we're through.
Now I know your heart, I know your mind,
You don't even know you're being unkind,
So much for all your highbrow Marxist ways,
Boy you can't play me that way.
Well I guess what you say is true,
I could never be the right kind of girl for you,
I could never be your woman.
When I saw my best friend yesterday,
She said she never liked you from the start,
Well me, I wish that I could claim the same,
But you always knew you held my heart.
And you're such a charming handsome man,
Now I think I finally understand,
Is it in your genes?, I don't know,
But I'll soon find out, that's for sure,
Why did you play me this way?.
Well I guess what you say is true,
I could never be the right kind of girl for you,
I could never be your woman.
Well I guess what they say is true,
I could never spend my life with a man like you,
I could never be your woman.
The lyrics of "A New Surprise" by White Town tell a story of a love relationship that is coming to an end. The song starts with the singer asking their lover to tell them the truth because they have been waiting for a long time to hear it. It is obvious that the truth will not come as a surprise because the relationship is already over. The singer is asking their lover to cut the crap and tell them that they are through.
The singer then goes on to show their disappointment with the way their lover has treated them. They know their lover's heart and mind and apparently, the lover does not even know that they have been unkind. The singer brings up the fact that their lover had highbrow Marxist ways and only used them up before walking away. The singer calls their lover out on the fact that they cannot play with them that way.
In the third verse, the singer explains that they have finally understood that they could never be the right kind of girl for their lover. The singer saw their best friend who said they never liked the lover from the start. The singer wishes they could claim the same, but the lover always held their heart. The singer admits that their lover is a charming, handsome man, which might be in their genes, and they will soon find out. The singer concludes by stating that they could never be the right kind of girl for their lover, and they could never spend their life with a man like them.
Line by Line Meaning
Just tell me what you've got to say to me,
Please be honest with me and tell me the truth
I've been waiting for so long to hear the truth,
I've been waiting for a while to know the truth
It comes as no surprise at all you see,
I'm not surprised by what you're about to say
So cut the crap and tell me that we're through.
Be direct and tell me that our relationship is over
Now I know your heart, I know your mind,
I understand what you're feeling and thinking now
You don't even know you're being unkind,
You don't realize how hurtful you've been
So much for all your highbrow Marxist ways,
Your intellectual beliefs mean nothing now
Just use me up and then you walk away,
You took advantage of me and left without looking back
Boy you can't play me that way.
I'm not someone you can manipulate or control
Well I guess what you say is true,
I have to accept what you're saying even if it's painful
I could never be the right kind of girl for you,
I'm not the type of person you want or need
I could never be your woman.
I could never be in a romantic relationship with you
When I saw my best friend yesterday,
I talked to my best friend recently
She said she never liked you from the start,
My friend didn't approve of you from the beginning
Well me, I wish that I could claim the same,
I wish I could say that I never liked you either
But you always knew you held my heart.
You knew I had feelings for you all along
And you're such a charming handsome man,
You have good looks and charisma
Now I think I finally understand,
I finally comprehend the situation
Is it in your genes?, I don't know,
I'm wondering if this is a characteristic that runs in your family
But I'll soon find out, that's for sure,
I will discover the truth eventually
Why did you play me this way?.
Why did you treat me like this?
Well I guess what they say is true,
I have to acknowledge what others are saying is correct
I could never spend my life with a man like you,
I could never be in a long-term relationship with someone like you
I could never be your woman.
I could never be your partner or lover
Writer(s): Jyoti Prakash Mishra
Contributed by Zoe V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.