You’re the Voice by John Farnham Lyrics Meaning – An Anthem of Empowerment and Unity

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for John Farnham's You're the Voice at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

We have the chance to turn the pages over
We can write what we want to write
We gotta make ends meet, before we get much older
We’re all someone’s daughter
We’re all someone’s son
How long can we look at each other
Down the barrel of a gun?

You’re the voice, try and understand it
Make a noise and make it clear
Oh, whoa
We’re not gonna sit in silence
We’re not gonna live with fear
Oh, whoa

This time, we know we all can stand together
With the power to be powerful
Believing we can make it better
Ooh, we’re all someone’s daughter
We’re all someone’s son
How long can we look at each other
Down the barrel of a gun?

You’re the voice, try and understand it
Make a noise and make it clear
Oh, whoa
We’re not gonna sit in silence
We’re not gonna live with fear
Oh, whoa

Ooh, we’re all someone’s daughter
We’re all someone’s son
How long can we look at each other
Down the barrel of a gun?

You’re the voice, try and understand it
Make the noise and make it clear
Oh, whoa
We’re not gonna sit in silence
We’re not gonna live with fear
Oh, whoa

You’re the voice, try and understand it
Make a noise and make it clear
Oh, whoa
We’re not gonna sit in silence
We’re not gonna live with fear
Oh, whoa

You’re the voice, try and understand it
Make a noise and make it clear
Oh, whoa
We’re not gonna sit in silence (we’re not gonna sit in silence)
We’re not gonna live with fear (we’re not gonna live with fear)
Oh, whoa

You’re the voice, try and understand it
Make a noise and make it clear
Oh, whoa
We’re not gonna sit in silence
We’re not gonna live with fear
Oh, whoa

In a world often divided by the cacophony of discord, ‘You’re the Voice’ by John Farnham emerges as a clarion call for harmony and empowerment. Released in the late 80s, this song has become an emblematic figure in the landscape of pop-rock, imbued with a resonance that has swept across generations, urging listeners to find their voice and challenge the silence of conformity.

Beyond its anthemic rhythm and Farnham’s impassioned vocals lies a layer of profound meaning and intention. The song’s lyrics, though deceptively simple, are a masterful stitchwork of persuasion, coalescing into a message that is both timeless and urgently contemporary. Let’s dive into the heart of this song and unravel the threads of unity, courage, and action that have woven it into the tapestries of countless causes and movements.

The Chorus Cry: A Clarion Call for Clarity and Action

Central to the power of ‘You’re the Voice’ is the recurring and indelible chorus. ‘Try and understand it, make a noise and make it clear’ is less a suggestion and more a commandment, a poignant thrust towards personal and collective awakening. It’s about breaking the silence that so often permeates our societal issues, a redeeming shout in the dark ushering us to confront and dispel fear.

Farnham’s fervent delivery transforms the chorus into an infectious battle hymn, pleasantly assaulting the senses until passivity is an untenable option. The drumming imperative to not ‘sit in silence’ nor ‘live with fear’ becomes a rousing mantra for the disheartened and indifferent, stirring the pot of potential change.

Verse Versus Violence: Seeking Respite from the Barrel of a Gun

The verses serve as contemplative contrasts to the rousing chorus, posing questions about the longevity of looking at each other through hostile lenses. These poignant lines reflect a desire to transcend the physical and ideological battles that have long been the crux of human division.

By reminding us that ‘we’re all someone’s daughter, we’re all someone’s son,’ the lyrics foster a universal kinship, shirking the confines of individual differences in favor of shared humanity. The barrel of a gun becomes symbolic, not just of physical violence but of the destructive potential of our words and beliefs when wielded without compassion.

Turning Pages, Writing Futures: Scribbling Autonomy into Existence

There is a gripping sense of agency in ‘We have the chance to turn the pages over, we can write what we want to write,’ as Farnham seemingly presents life as a book awaiting our authorship. It’s a resounding appeal to personal and societal reflection, prodding listeners to take stock of the status quo and script a more desirable destiny.

The poetic notion of ‘making ends meet, before we get much older’ acknowledges the temporal nature of our existence and the urgency to enact change. It speaks to a legacy—both personal and generational—that looks past mere survival and towards principled legacy.

The Hidden Meaning: An Eclectic Fight Song for Every Cause

On the surface, ‘You’re the Voice’ can be mistaken for a catchy pop-rock tune, but its latent layers reveal its role as an adaptable anthem for varying causes. Whether in the frame of political dissent, social justice, or personal liberation, the song manages to clothe itself in the garb of the listener’s own battle.

The open-endedness of ‘We know we all can stand together, with the power to be powerful’ speaks to an adaptability that embraces any struggle against oppression or suppression, a true chameleon of protest music. Its hidden meaning lies in its ambiguity, granting it immortality in a revolving door of relevance.

Memorable Lines: Echoing Through the Alleyways of Change

Though every line of the song beckons a closer ear, certain phrases have thundered through arenas and rallied the spirits of the like-minded. The call to ‘stand together’ and the conviction that ‘we can make it better’ seamlessly stitch personal responsibility to collective action.

Such memorable lines have not only infiltrated the collective consciousness but have hammered at the walls of apathy, serving as a tuneful tinderbox for igniting the conversations and courage needed to forge pathways of change. It’s these words that resonate, not just as lyrics but as emblems of hope and transformation.