XTC – Senses Working Overtime

Know something about this song or lyrics? Add it to our wiki.
Send "Senses Working Overtime" Ringtone to Cell

Hey hey,the clouds are whey,
There's straw for the donkeys
And the innocents can all sleep safely
All sleep safely.

My my, sun is pie
There's fodder for the cannons
And the guilty ones can all sleep safely
All sleep safely.

And all the world is football shaped,
It's just for me to kick in space
And I can see, hear, smell, touch, taste
And I've got one, two, three, four, five senses working overtime
Trying to take this all in,
I've got one, two, three, four, five senses working overtime
Trying to taste the difference 'tween the lemons and limes
The pain and the pleasure and
The church bells softly chime...

Hey hey, night fights day,
There's food for the thinkers
And the innocents can all live slowly
All live slowly
My, my the sky will cry
Jewels for the thirsty and the guilty ones can
All die slowly all die slowly.
And all the world is biscuit shaped,
It's just for me to feed my face
And I can see,hear, smell, touch, taste
And I've got one, two,three, four, five sense working overtime
Trying to take this all in,
I've got one, two, three, four, five senses working overtime
Trying to taste the difference 'tween the lemons and limes
The pain and the pleasure and the church bells softly chime...

And birds might fall from black skies
And bullies might give you black eyes
And buses might skid on black ice
But to me it's very very beautiful (England's glory!)
Beautiful (a striking beauty!)
And all the world is football - shaped,
It's just for me to kick in space
And I can see, hear, smell, touch, taste -
And I've got one,two,three,four,five senses working overtime
Trying to take this all in,
I've got one,two,three, four,five senses working overtime
Try to tell the difference 'tween the goods and crimes,
Dirt or treasure and there's
One, two, three, four,five senses working overtime
Trying to take this all in,
I've got one, two, three, four, five senses working overtime
Trying to taste the difference 'tween the lemons and limes
The pain and the pleasure and the church bells softly chime...

Send "Senses Working Overtime" Ringtone to Cell


Lyrics submitted by pumkinhed, edited by sepultura1987

Track duration: 04:51

"Senses Working Overtime" as written by Andy Partridge

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Senses Working Overtime song meanings
Add your thoughts

13 Comments

sort form View by:
  • 0
    General Comment:It's a celebration of the senses, each of which is evoked several times in the course of the song. For example the chorus line about trying to taste the difference between a lemon and a lime (taste)/ The similarity of sounds between black skies, black eyes and black ice (hearing)/ pain and pleasure (touch)/ night fighting day (light=sight) / turds and treasure (smell)

    His senses allow him to possess the world and all in it, the good and the evil, but to him there's beauty in all of it, that he appreciates with his senses.
    Flag mgajoshon August 20, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Its about being overly stressed in these modern times and working out what is good and bad. In older and simpler times it was easier to know good and bad, but one needs to think harderin these extremely stressful days. The issues maybe the same - good versus bad, the innocent versus the guilty, "Trying to tell the difference' Tween the goods and grime,Turds and treasure" but within a stressed world where "night fights day".
    Its beautifully poetic and clear, and comes to the conclusion that even though we are stressed and our senses are working overtime, there are still issues of good versus bad that are as timeless as the church bells of the final line.
    Flag missterfairyon September 23, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:This song's meaning has always seemed bright and optimistic on the surface; but if you think about the words, it seems to be a sarcastic condemnation of humanity's imperialistic tendencies. For example, the "it's just for me to feed my face" and "it's just for me to kick in space." That's the way I read it, anyway.
    Flag KoshKing777on August 19, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i love this song, and i'm in the middle of writing a paper about synesthesia (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…), and i know this is super weird, but does anyone see why i kinda see synesthesia in the lyrics? all the talk of senses one right after the other makes me feel like maybe they are getting mixed up. maybe i'm just super tired... but anyway... i decided to title my paper "senses working overtime" bc either way, it's a cool and appropriate title :)
    Flag harmoniouson February 27, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Could there be a link between the line 'And all the world is biscuit/football-shaped' and the line 'And all the world is birthday cake' from The Beatles' It's All Too Much? Hmm..
    Flag supamoon January 17, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:After hearing the original, I can see how Mandy's is not as edgy. That's ok though, she has an incredible voice and a sound all her own. :)
    Flag Coronaboyon March 27, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:" edginess (typo :P)
    Flag butterflykiss84on July 25, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I know what you mean - there's no edyness in Mandy Moores cover - it's too 'sweet'. IT's ok though, she sings it well I guess.
    Flag butterflykiss84on July 25, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Just heard Mandy Moore's version--nice but no edginess as this song deserves. Always thought Kim Deal and/or the Breeders could do a great cover of this!
    Flag pharmageekon May 09, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:It'd make a great song on a children's music compilation! :-))
    Flag pharmageekon May 09, 2006   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

Back to top
explain