Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Don't want to listen to my telephone ring
Or sing ding-a-ling or talk about a thing
Not this mornin'
I don't want to think about the night before
Or maybe it's a bore behind that open door
Got no time for that this mornin'
If I had the mind or I had the time
Maybe I could throw together a new kind of rhyme
And tell about my warnin'
But it's too late now
It's too late now
It's too late now
I don't want to think about a runaway dad
That took away the only thing that I've ever had
Don't even miss him this mornin'
I don't want to think about a cold goodbye
Or a high school buddy got a little too high
I can't help him out this mornin'
Reviewers laugh at me so I go out to see
And perhaps it's just as well, 'cause I'd rather be in hell
Than be a wealthy man this mornin'
But it's too late now
It's too late now
It's too late now
Whatever happened to images, 'cause now they're gone
And worn out phrases just keep a-hangin' on
Whatever happened to homes as opposed to houses?
The conversation, sayings as the evening drowses
It's just like four six two zero one
It's just like four six two zero one
Whatever happened to early morning urban skies?
And broken faces, half with melting eyes
Enough of riddles that just play with time
'Cause I'm still here and I can't beg a dime
I'm back here in four six two zero one
I'm back here in four six two zero one
Some bed is waitin' for me 'round the corner now
I gotta find it and try and hang on for a little while
Back here in four six two zero one, yeah
Mmm, there's gotta be a few small changes made
Don't want to listen to my telephone ring
Or sing ding-a-ling or talk about a thing
Leave me alone this mornin'
Or sing ding-a-ling or talk about a thing
Not this mornin'
I don't want to think about the night before
Or maybe it's a bore behind that open door
Got no time for that this mornin'
If I had the mind or I had the time
Maybe I could throw together a new kind of rhyme
And tell about my warnin'
But it's too late now
It's too late now
It's too late now
I don't want to think about a runaway dad
That took away the only thing that I've ever had
Don't even miss him this mornin'
I don't want to think about a cold goodbye
Or a high school buddy got a little too high
I can't help him out this mornin'
Reviewers laugh at me so I go out to see
And perhaps it's just as well, 'cause I'd rather be in hell
Than be a wealthy man this mornin'
But it's too late now
It's too late now
It's too late now
Whatever happened to images, 'cause now they're gone
And worn out phrases just keep a-hangin' on
Whatever happened to homes as opposed to houses?
The conversation, sayings as the evening drowses
It's just like four six two zero one
It's just like four six two zero one
Whatever happened to early morning urban skies?
And broken faces, half with melting eyes
Enough of riddles that just play with time
'Cause I'm still here and I can't beg a dime
I'm back here in four six two zero one
I'm back here in four six two zero one
Some bed is waitin' for me 'round the corner now
I gotta find it and try and hang on for a little while
Back here in four six two zero one, yeah
Mmm, there's gotta be a few small changes made
Don't want to listen to my telephone ring
Or sing ding-a-ling or talk about a thing
Leave me alone this mornin'
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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This is the best song by Guess Who i dont care what its about its frikkin awesome
His real father deserted the family when Burton was 5. The reference to "46201" is a real American zip code in Indianapolis. Supposedly, Burton became vey attached to a fan who lived there. Now things haven't worked out, and "it's just like 46201."
I take it as a song about a road weary performer who has real issues in his life, and is reserving the morning to ruminate about them. Toni Tennille even wrote a song about this, entitled "The Good Song.' She describes being so down that the mere thought of taking the stage terrifies here, but she does it anyway.
The number 46201 is Jean Valjean's prisoner number in Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. Since Burton Cummings is well educated, this is most likely the meaning of the lyric, probably relating his situation to that of Jean Valjean's<br /> Read more at songmeanings.net/songs/view/6888/
I think Burton Cummings was in a depressed mood about his life when he wrote this. To me it's basically pointing out the negatives in his life and how they've effected him. Even though he was well in health and money when he wrote this, it won't remove what's happened.
Overall maybe to the listeners it should just mean that you can't always be heartbroken or thoughtless by what has happened, instead use your mind to change your life to the better.
The number 46201 is Jean Valjean's prisoner number in Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. Since Burton Cummings is well educated, this is most likely the meaning of the lyric, probably relating his situation to that of Jean Valjean's<br /> Read more at songmeanings.net/songs/view/6888/
this song is so amazing. definetly my favorite from the guess who. so haunting.
this song is so amazing. definetly my favorite from the guess who. so haunting.
Interesting story about this song (to me anyway!)<br /> I had this song on an 8-track as a teenager in the 70's. I played it till it broke. Years later I tried to remember the song but could only remember it had numbers in the lyrics. I even googled looking for it. Then one day I heard it on XM. Glad to have it back in my life.
I just like the title.
The number 46201 is Jean Valjean's prisoner number in Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. Since Burton Cummings is well educated, this is most likely the meaning of the lyric, probably relating his situation to that of Jean Valjean's.
Close, but not quite. Jean Valjean's number is 24601.
@phantassee Burton attended St. John's High School. He dropped out of school, due to poor grades, when he was sixteen. Forty-five years later, in 2010, his former high school awarded him an honorary diploma. Great musician/songwriter/singer not so much well-educated.
You are very close donutbandit. He wrote this in a hotel in downtown indianapolis. It was the morning after a concert. He received bad reviews, which led him to think about his life. what he was doing with it, his helplessness to control things. sorry for his depression, but led to his best song except maybe stand tall
This may not be one of the more central themes of this song, but I think that from a more general view you could say that there are messages buried within this song about the emptiness of consumer culture. Feels like today especially in Westernized society we place a lot of emphasis and importance on material goods and possessions, believing them to have some sort of intrinsic value that will bring us happiness. I would suggest that this song points out the true hollowness of these material goods, and how they by no means guarantee your happiness. Cummings describes in this song how he would "rather be in hell/than be a wealthy man this morning" because in the end, wealth and money isn't enough to provide for you a happy or even fulfilling life. Additionally he comments on modern society's growing sense of depersonalization - "whatever happened to homes as opposed to houses" seems to again indicate how today everything that matters to us has become very distanced and reduced to a material status rather than one that has personal significance to the individual.
Such a great song, probably my favourite by them.
Less important, but worth noting:
RCA was a major employer in Indianapolis until the mid 1990's. Not just RCA Records (its main US pressing and tape plant was in Indianapolis), but also RCA's electronics division, where everything from TV sets to tape players and much more. The presence was so great that the main sports arena was called the "RCA Dome".
Today, very little of RCA's presence remains in Indianapolis.