Who

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a picture of someone navigating a vibrant, almost overwhelming urban landscape, where time itself seems to warp and bend. The opening lines, "A mobile means to make the time / A whirlwind half mast the senses," establish a sense of constant motion and sensory overload, suggesting a world that’s both stimulating and disorienting. This feeling is amplified by the repeated phrase, "Shaking your own brand of rhyme," which implies a unique, personal rhythm or creative expression amidst the chaos. The central tension revolves around an unnamed "you" who seems to be the driving force behind this experience. The narrator repeatedly asks, "Who makes the minutes move / The postmeridian new," before answering, "Who else but you." This suggests the "you" possesses a captivating energy or influence that dictates the pace and feel of their shared reality, particularly during the transition into the afternoon. The imagery of a "gypsy scarf and an old world mouth" and a "mojo hand" further solidifies this figure as someone with an almost mystical, magnetic pull. The most striking aspect of the writing is the juxtaposition of grand, almost mythic imagery with gritty, personal expression. The narrator is "Eye level with Goliath's shoes," a powerful metaphor for facing immense challenges or overwhelming figures, yet they respond by "Spitting out these well worn blues." This contrast highlights a defiant spirit, a refusal to be diminished by the scale of their surroundings or adversaries. The repetition of both the "rhyme" and the "blues" lines underscores the persistent nature of this individualistic struggle and creative output. Ultimately, these lyrics resonate because they capture the feeling of being swept up in someone else's powerful orbit while maintaining a distinct sense of self. The writing effectively uses sensory details and evocative imagery to convey a mood of exhilarating disorientation and defiant artistry. The repeated questions and answers about who controls time and experience create a compelling portrait of an influential, enigmatic presence shaping the narrator's world.