Electric Light Orchestra - 21st Century Man Lyrics






A penny in your pocket
Suitcase in your hand
They won't get you very far
Now you're a 21st century man.

Fly across the city
Rise above the land
You can do 'most anything
Now you're a 21st century man.

Though you ride on the wheels of tomorrow (tomorrow)
You still wander the fields of your sorrow
What will it bring?

One day you're a hero
Next day you're a clown
There's nothing that is in between
Now you're a 21st century man.

You should be so happy
You should be so glad
So why are you so lonely
You 21st century man?

You stepped out of a dream
Believing everything was gone
Return with what you've learned
They'll kiss the ground you walk upon.

Things ain't how you thought they were
Nothing have you planned
So pick up your penny and your suitcase
You're not a 21st century man.

Though you ride on the wheels of tomorrow
You still wander the fields of your sorrow (sorrow)
Tomorrow, 21st century man
21st century man
21st century man...





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Electric Light Orchestra 21st Century Man Comments
  1. C.... W....

    this is beautiful song

  2. N.... K....

    Aaahhh yes although his predictions were not totally accurate, in principle he was pretty much spot on....unfortunately the world we live in has just moved too fast for the individual to keep up with..."your not a 21st century man"😣😣😣😣

  3. U.... W....

    20 Century Boy
    21st Century -Schizoid- Man

  4. �.... �....

    да уже 21

  5. S.... C....

    I cannot express how hard this song slaps

  6. d.... ....

    Блестящий, яркий, самодостаточный альбом электриков!!!Гениально!

  7. U.... G....

    A very beautiful song! Thank you Jeff Lynne for this! <3

  8. R.... ....

    "Hey Kevin Parker, these guys sound a lot like your band...."

    Kev-

    "hold my beer........."

  9. C.... ....

    CAT'S
    FOOT
    oh wait wrong song

  10. S.... B....

    I bought the album in 1981 as a teen. Listened over and over. Amazing how much has become true. I should be so happy. I should be so glad. So why am I so lonely? This 21st century girl.

  11. F.... K....

    This man is not schizoid

  12. G.... E....

    Pretty song about disappointment, future shock and alienation.

  13. I.... ....

    Still luvin this 21st Century sound! Love to you always Jeff Lynne and Group! 💖🌹 🎵 💖

  14. E.... H....

    I Love you ELO!!!!!

  15. A.... N....

    Fantastic song!!!!!!!!!!!

  16. E.... ....

    I was in Anchorage AK when this album came out. Amazing still to this day.

  17. D.... Y....

    this song is about male privilege (jk)

  18. A.... V....

    Beatles sound

  19. 3.... ....

    We should be so happy, we should be so glad, but we actually are all alone in this day and age.

  20. M.... D....

    Simply genius

  21. �.... �....

    I want to be in 1981 again ... my love my work my dreams

  22. C.... D....

    Sounds like something George Harrison would record. Fantastic stuff!

    C.... D....

    Jeff sounds so much like him at certain points!

  23. A.... S....

    You know you're someone with good taste in music when you put this on loop and listen to it for 6 hours straight, then move on to the rest of the songs in the album.

  24. S.... ....

    One of the best albums ever made. From another time, over another time. Awesome in between these.

    S.... ....

    The best album 80's not only for ELO, Unreservedly.

  25. I.... o....

    you can have it all, and still have an empty soul.. oh how I crave for my yesterdays

  26. S.... ....

    This is my favourite ELO album. I don't know but it "feels" like JL was most at ease doing it, and that his space and time theme suited the new electronics very well.

  27. f.... ....

    One of the best albums of all TIME

    f.... ....

    Absolutely! Top five!

  28. L.... D....

    I was 11 in 1981. My Cousin Introduced me to this album. Thank goodness for people who take the time to pass on great music to the next generation. My Cousin has been gone for a couple of years now. I'll always think of him when I listen to this album. I like to think that his spirit was downloaded into this masterpiece, years before his passing.

    L.... D....

    That's why I send my stepdaughter all this wonderful music, and I'm still finding more myself, check out all those old blues, jazz, folk, and alternative tunes like sea shanties, " like the hog eyed man"

  29. D.... R....

    Just magic music from E L O yeh thanks for the brilliant music

  30. M.... D....

    dedicado a mi hijo Jose Ignacio realmente se gano el nombre de este tema hombre del siglo 21,te amo hijo.

  31. G.... ....

    One of the best songs in my opinion. This song has told me to never take the time that I’m in for granted along with the rest of the album

  32. R.... C....

    God, this song makes me feel out of place with the modern world. I'm absolutely in love with retro things, despite how I wasn't alive during the time of this album...

  33. W.... H....

    This song always take my mind far away.

  34. M.... Z....

    Unbelievable E.L.O and unforgettable 21st C' man !!

  35. l.... ....

    as far as I know, Jeff Lynne wrote that song for someone who left this world in december 1980...

    l.... ....

    lucalone john lennon

    l.... ....

    lucalone Though some people argue it might be for Marc Bolan. I also think it's for Lennon.
    Since Lennon liked ELO's music, named them 'son of Beatles' in a radio interview.
    Jeff sometimes sings with Lennon's voice and accent in this song..
    Jeff's singing about 'wandering the (strawberry?) fields of your sorrow'.
    Although Lennon was not literally a 21st century man, he still lived in the sixties & seventies in a way most people are used to nowadays. And listening to 'Tomorrow never knows' it's obvious that Lennon's mindset sometimes was beyond that of contemporaries.
    The other three Beatles all lived into the 21st century, so Lennon's the only one who didn't became a 21st century man. But in the end of this song, Jeff sings 'you're NOT a 21st century man'. So, that's still in line with the truth.. ;-)

  36. C.... M....

    12 people are deaf

  37. C.... M....

    this needs more likes GOD DAMN IT

  38. n.... ....

    I love this album and I love this song. Long live ELO

  39. A.... D....

    "One day you are hero,
    Next day you are clown"

    Jeff Lynne foresaw Twitter. Absolutely spot-on.

    A.... D....

    Describes well a love relationship.

    A.... D....

    OK LOL.

    A.... D....

    Projared’s Theme song

    A.... D....

    Arþur D 38 years ago!

  40. M.... S....

    I was born in 2000 and I will stop at NOTHING to get this played at my funeral...

  41. j.... d....

    I would love to make a video for this piece.

  42. A.... S....

    wonderful song.

  43. F.... S....

    jeff lynne proviene de la misma epoca que los beatles, y en esa epoca todo el mundo hacia coros. siempre lo mismo con los beatles. jeff es un genio por si mismo

  44. N.... W....

    alguien en Argentina. 2017

  45. M.... C....

    Jeff Lynne pensava além de seu tempo

  46. m.... ....

    Behold our utterly miserable modern world in 2017. Who would ever have thought we'd end up with so much, yet so little ? These guys did.

  47. M.... G....

    A lot of this song depicted the future.
    _A penny in your pocket, suitcase in your hand, they won't get you very far, now you're a 21st Century man_
    The penny is now worth less than the costs of making each penny, and modern technology, such as laptops, tablets and even smartphones, are rendering the bulky suitcase obsolete.
    _Fly across the city, rise above the land_
    The development of cities has resulted in faster public transport and taller buildings, most notably the Burj Khalifa.
    _One day you're a hero, next day you're a clown_
    Advances in social media have resulted in the rapid rise and downfall of any personality, and much quicker than in previous decades.

    M.... G....

    he knew the future

    M.... G....

    The entire album 'time' is a visionary view on a grim future that was spot on.

    M.... G....

    youre a sad loser

    M.... G....

    _you should be so happy_
    _you should be so glad_
    _so why are you so lonely_
    _you 21st century man_

  48. C.... I....

    belongs to John Lennon...

    C.... I....

    Cosby Ikaev o(^▽^)o

  49. D.... ....

    I've heard that this song is supposed to be a tribute to John Lennon. Is it true? If so, how? What do the lyrics mean?

    D.... ....

    Doesnt really matter. The entire album is the message. It is a visionary album that paints an ominous view of the future. Maybe an individual song was inspired partly on some muze, but thats not relevant.

    D.... ....

    It IS for Lennon. There are several Beatley references dotted all throughout, with “one day you’re a hero, next day you’re a clown” as linking back to the time where John dubbed the Beatles bigger than Jesus, “A penny in your pocket” as a link back to Penny Lane, another to Mind Games or Imagine, and another to his masterpiece Strawberry Fields.

    A Penny in Your Pocket - Penny Lane, Written by Paul McCartney and John Lennon.

    Suitcase in Your Hand - Lady Madonna, "Friday Night Arrives without a Suitcase/Sunday morning's creeping like a nun."

    Fly Across the City - "Flying" - An Instrumental Beatles song from "Magical Mystery Tour", or it could refer to Heaven from John's Song, "Imagine".

    One day your a hero, next day your a clown - The infamous "Bigger Than Jesus" statement during the height of The Beatles career.

    You stepped out of the dream - Imagine - "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."

  50. T.... ....

    Nice George Harrison-style guitar solo.

  51. C.... E....

    Kenji and his dream of being a hero brought me here. Bring back our symbol #20thCenturyBoy

  52. C.... I....

    I'm the men of 1971 with penny in my pocket and suitcase in my hands they did not verify me though...

  53. s.... B....

    They do not have a video clip of this song? This album? I so want to see

    s.... B....

    At that time it wasnt in vogue yet to make video clips. It just started really.

    s.... B....

    @Jack Jones, actually ELO have promo videos for nearly all their big hits (even back the '70s). This song wasn't a single though, so no video.

  54. J.... S....

    Cool music from mongolia

  55. D.... ....

    So, is this a tribute to John Lennon, or not? I've heard both ways, but, has Mr. Lynne ever said it is?

    D.... ....

    Tribute to Marc Bolan pal

    D.... ....

    Lennon.

  56. B.... C....

    okj polen

  57. S.... R....

    This is Popmusic from Heaven! There has never been made better popmusuc than this! Jeff Lynne is the King of good Music and records !!! Best wishes from Norway !!!

  58. A.... M....

    Haven't heard this since 1981.... LOVE LOVE LOVE my ELO

  59. E.... G....

    It reminds me Earthbound... And there are a certain Jeff !

    E.... G....

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8ge2pPoIkQ
    ;]

  60. P.... R....

    Fun fact: Some parts from this and Prologue were used for Epilogue.

  61. P.... ....

    *To those who says the world now-a-days is getting worse*
    I dedicate this song to all them old fashioned people, that whinge about the world today; who do nothing but complain, when we have a better technology and medical systems (in most nations) and we live longer and don't live in the harder times in the old days when people had to struggle to survive where they had little food or heating etc, and had to live through two world wars, the cold war and so much more.

    P.... ....

    @James Hyatt I know that there are plenty of older people that agree with me and are liberal as well, and I am not that young really.

    P.... ....

    @the silverskull It is up to all of us to look after the Earth, and people like Donald Trump are not doing this too well.

    P.... ....

    Most bs comment

    P.... ....

    @the silverskull I agree, climate change needs tackling; but I am talking about our personal lives.

    P.... ....

    @Phoenix but dont you think that earth has a huge effect on our personal life aswell

  62. m.... a....

    I don't know if anyone thinks the same but I think it's about how it's either a loving message about how no matter how much stuff you have, no matter if you have the opportunity to experience the future you're always gonna want be back home, back to the life your used to and the people who you love and love you back. or it's a more sinical message about how no matter how advanced we become were never gonna be happy and always gonna have something bothering us

    m.... a....

    I even have my favourite 9/11 video "wtf Richard 9/11"

    m.... a....

    @moussa al-shemeri You'll probably know best. You look like you're an ass expert.

    m.... a....

    @moussa al-shemeri It's a shame you react so childish. A lot of men from semitic cultures seem to act this way. They never reach a level of true civilisation. Probably due to the goat genes..

    m.... a....

    Well said & so true my friend

    m.... a....

    "one day you're a hero, next day you're a clown" - how isn't it prophetical and true re social media today? beautiful music, depressing lyrics

  63. R.... A....

    Every time i hear this song, it reminds me of what i felt hearing it
    for the first time back in 1981, that it sounds like what I'd imagine
    the Beatles would sound like... in the 21st century.
    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=358535706603&set=a.298258006603.157747.551811603&type=3&theater

    R.... A....

    I think you're kinda right. I always thought this song was an hommage to John Lennon.

    R.... A....

    i was just thinking that. elo and beatles for life

  64. A.... P....

    I can't help but notice how perhaps the majority of the lyrics of this song have come true in some form or another.

    A.... P....

    Cause Jeff Lynne is genius

    A.... P....

    Time was a visionary album. I know no other. And i still wonder how Jeff knew back then. The 80ies were a time of gr8 hope. But there was already a seed of doubt. Still, magic how he managed to expand on that back then and be so right.

  65. T.... B....

    Kind of reminds me of the Flaming Lips. Wonder if this influenced them at all...

    T.... B....

    precisely what I thought. this sounds like something straight out of YBTPR.

  66. M.... ....

    This sounds really similar to Queen

    M.... ....

    Game over again, what a rip

    M.... ....

    moussa al-shemeri Bisexual ! Don't forget Barbara Valentine !

    M.... ....

    The french Timelord I don't get it

    M.... ....

    moussa al-shemeri Freddie was bisexual and Barbara Valentine was one of his most famous female partner.

    M.... ....

    The french Timelord oh didn't know that I searched her up on Google to try to find the realation I always thought he was gay that for the facts!!

  67. �.... �....

    СПАСИБО!!!!

  68. W.... S....

    I listened to this whole album "TIME" on my way home from dropping off my son for his second semester at college. It made my 1.5 hour drive on the Pa. Turnpike go much faster....took me back to 1980's Awesome!

  69. Z.... ....

    "Though you ride on the wheels of tomorrow, you still wander the fields of your sorrow". Brilliant line, I think many of us have been there.

    Z.... ....

    Zephaniah3verse17 forgot the TOMOROOOOooOOOOW

    Z.... ....

    Couldn't have said it better myself... So true.

    Z.... ....

    That’s me...

    Z.... ....

    It's so good, he used it several other songs from the album...but BACKWARDS!!!!

  70. R.... D....

    That short jingle after "You stepped out of a dream". I wish they had included more of it. Amazing.

    R.... D....

    +Roger Davis Always leave 'em wanting more. :-)

    R.... D....

    TAHT part alone could've been another song LOL. But he just had too much creativity in him and not enough time lol

  71. L.... �....

    First music of the 80's that I really love!
    Nice music!

  72. g.... w....

    Awesome wonderful music the man is a genius

  73. M.... R....

    beautiful.

  74. M.... V....

    jeff your are the music master

  75. S.... S....

    I'm a 21st century man!

  76. L.... M....

    Mozart, Schubert, Verdi, Chopin, Jeff Lynne................................................

    L.... M....

    +Morte Dartius where's queen?

    L.... M....

    Yes it is. Those artists are in order of age (gets a bit blurred between verdi and chopin) He's saying Lynne is as great as them, and I wouldn't disagree.

    L.... M....

    Yes my friend!

    L.... M....

    Todos grosos

    L.... M....

    Lennon/McCartney too!

  77. C.... M....

    I love 80's music!!!

  78. M.... ....

    one of my favourites of all time, thanx....

  79. S.... C....

    Jeff Lyne, If you are reading this....you are great!

    S.... C....

    This was dedicated to John Lennon :')

    S.... C....

    Probaly their best Album. Then they died. 

    S.... C....

    +crobarus It is their best, but Secret Messages is pretty good too.