Everything Counts (Live) [Paradiso Grote Zaal, Amsterdam, Netherlands - 1983/12/06]

Song Meaning

These lyrics paint a stark picture of a career built on transactional relationships and a relentless pursuit of success. The opening lines immediately establish a sense of finality and obligation: "The handshake seals the contract / From the contract, there's no turning back." This sets a tone of professional maneuvering, where even a "holiday was fun-packed" doesn't negate the underlying "contract still intact." The narrator appears to be navigating a world where personal gain trumps genuine connection. The central tension lies in the stark contrast between outward appearances and internal reality, particularly in the context of business or professional advancement. The "grabbing hands" are a potent image for individuals or entities solely focused on acquisition, driven by a "competitive world" where "everything counts in large amounts." This relentless drive suggests a moral compromise, where sincerity is sacrificed for profit, as hinted by the line "In Korea being insincere." The recurring motif of "the graph on the wall" is a powerful visual metaphor for quantifiable success and the tracking of progress, or perhaps deception. The lyrics suggest this graph doesn't just represent growth, but also the insidious rise of "lies and deceit." The "suntan and a grin" become symbols of superficial confidence, masking the underlying "handshake" and contractual dealings that truly dictate outcomes. This highlights how outward success can be a facade for questionable practices. What makes these lyrics resonate is their unflinching portrayal of a transactional existence. The repetition of "Everything counts in large amounts" hammers home the idea that every action, every deal, every compromise, has a tangible, often self-serving, outcome. The "grabbing hands" become a collective indictment of a system that rewards ruthless ambition, leaving the listener to ponder the true cost of such a "competitive world."