Hobson’s Choice

Song Meaning

The lyrics lay out a stark dichotomy, presenting a world of "hundreds of concepts and hundreds of premises" and "thousands of open paths" from a "list of dreams." Yet, the narrator chooses a singular, resolute path: to remain "alone, but whole." This isn't a choice born of isolation, but of integrity, a deliberate stand at the "point separating the black and white segment." The central tension lies in the narrator's insistence on mutual acceptance within this chosen space of integrity. It's a place "where I count the same as you," where the narrator "let you be as you are and accept me." This creates a powerful internal conflict: the desire for personal wholeness versus the potential for connection, predicated on radical, non-judgmental acceptance of all differences. The brilliance here is in the exhaustive catalog of human variation that follows. The lyrics paint a vast, inclusive portrait of humanity, listing "fanatic in faith, agnostic or atheist," "man, child, woman," "with a blue passport, or simply stateless," "tall and blond with blue eyes, or shorter, tanned," "rich, poor, unemployed or working," "educated or unlettered," "with golden hands or a little clumsy," "at 70 or young." This expansive list underscores the narrator's commitment to accepting everyone, regardless of their identity or status. Ultimately, the effectiveness of these lyrics stems from their powerful, almost defiant embrace of individuality within a collective identity. By meticulously detailing the spectrum of human experience and then unifying it under the simple, profound label of "Human," the song offers a vision of integrity and acceptance that feels both deeply personal and broadly resonant. The final, shared experiences of "smiling and crying freely" under the "name 'Human'" land with a quiet, powerful force.