The Good Things
XTC Lyrics


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Demo version, from Mayor of Simpleton single.
Released in 1989.
Four-track recording.

Though your heart desires the things that money can buy
Emptiness lies through the glass, I shield your eyes

There's nothing out there for you, my dear
There's nothing out there for you
Let me tell you about the good things
The good things

I know your head is full of big ideas
You ain't missing anything, have no fear

I have touched the grass so green on the other side
It will grieve you and deceive you with disguise

There's nothing out there for you, my dear
There's nothing out there for you
Let me tell you about the good things
The good things

I know you pine for things you see in magazines
That world brings heartache, now it's not real, believe me





Remember all of those good things
You know you can't buy all those good things

Overall Meaning

The lyrics in XTC's song "The Good Things" present a message of warning and caution to listeners about the emptiness of materialistic desires. The first verse talks about how people's hearts often desire things that money can buy, but the reality is that there is emptiness on the other side of that glass. The singer in the song wants to shield the listener's eyes from that emptiness and warn them that there is nothing out there for them in the pursuit of materialistic desires.


In the second verse, the lyrics continue to warn the listener by letting them know that they are not missing anything and that they should have no fear. The singer in the song has touched the grass so green on the other side, and it has only brought them grief and deception in disguise. The listener should not pine for things they see in magazines or the world of materialistic desires because that world will only bring them heartache that is not real.


Overall, XTC's "The Good Things" serves as a cautionary tale to listeners about the emptiness and deception of materialistic desires. The listener is encouraged to remember the good things that cannot be bought, and to avoid the heartache and emptiness that comes with the pursuit of materialistic desires.


Line by Line Meaning

Though your heart desires the things that money can buy
You may think that money can buy everything you want, but in reality, it's not true.


Emptiness lies through the glass, I shield your eyes
I protect you from the sadness and emptiness that comes with materialism.


There's nothing out there for you, my dear
The outside world is not what you think it is, my love.


Let me tell you about the good things
Let me show you the positive aspects of life that are not money-related.


I know your head is full of big ideas
You may have grand plans, but they are not necessarily related to materialism.


You ain't missing anything, have no fear
You're not missing out on anything important, don't worry.


I have touched the grass so green on the other side
I have experienced other things in life that are not related to money.


It will grieve you and deceive you with disguise
Materialism can lead to sadness and deception, even though it may seem appealing.


I know you pine for things you see in magazines
The media can create unrealistic desires in us for materialistic things.


That world brings heartache, now it's not real, believe me
The world of materialism is not real or fulfilling, and can lead to pain.


Remember all of those good things
Don't forget about the positive aspects of life that don't involve money.


You know you can't buy all those good things
The good things in life cannot be bought with money.




Contributed by Emma L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Bernie Lopez

Though your heart desires the things that money can buy
Emptiness lies through the glass, I shield your eyes

There's nothing out there for you, my dear
There's nothing out there for you
Let me tell you about the good things
The good things

I know your head is full of big ideas
You ain't missing anything, have no fear

I have touched the grass so green on the other side
It will grieve you and deceive you with disguise

There's nothing out there for you, my dear
There's nothing out there for you
Let me tell you about the good things
The good things

I know your mind lies in a glossy magazine
I'll take a cloth and wipe away the sheen
Then what you see is what you'll see, believe me!

Remember all of those good things
You know you can't buy all those good things



All comments from YouTube:

tim hollis

XTC is one of the good things!

Bernie Lopez

Though your heart desires the things that money can buy
Emptiness lies through the glass, I shield your eyes

There's nothing out there for you, my dear
There's nothing out there for you
Let me tell you about the good things
The good things

I know your head is full of big ideas
You ain't missing anything, have no fear

I have touched the grass so green on the other side
It will grieve you and deceive you with disguise

There's nothing out there for you, my dear
There's nothing out there for you
Let me tell you about the good things
The good things

I know your mind lies in a glossy magazine
I'll take a cloth and wipe away the sheen
Then what you see is what you'll see, believe me!

Remember all of those good things
You know you can't buy all those good things

didifin9

I just love this XTC track. I have been a fan since the very beginning. Long live XTC

Ilya Zaburdaev

Excellent!

Marla Singer

One of their best

Greg Gorup

I love this song.

xnonsuchx

Has any other band covered themselves on a tribute album? :-)

MoveOverCasanova

such a wonderful song, and they just spat it out along the wayside

Mike Gervasi

This song is fantastic and it hit the obvious points that made it impossible for Colin to progress any further on it. With a Beatle chorus and Beach Boys bridge where could he go with it besides back to the 4 track demo and start over? This was not a bad place to land IMHO ;)

Ilya Zaburdaev

It's a crime not to record this masterpiece, only like demo on Mayor Of Simpleton single.

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