Pass The Word (The Word Is Love)

Song Meaning

This track opens with a direct address, a call to attention for the "fellas" to listen up about "a word." The narrator is setting the stage for a revelation, emphasizing the importance of paying close attention to what's coming. It feels like the beginning of a sermon or a crucial announcement, building anticipation for the message. The core message is simple yet profound: love is the word, and it needs to be spread. The lyrics explicitly state, "love is a real good thing" and the narrator desires "the whole world to know the joy that it brings." This isn't just a personal feeling; it's a universal aspiration for happiness and connection that the narrator believes love can provide. The most striking element is the insistent repetition of "Pass the word" and "Love is the word." This repetition transforms the simple phrase into a mantra, hammering home the central theme. The narrator acts as a messenger, urging everyone to "Spread it out people all the time," making the act of sharing this message an active, ongoing endeavor. The narrator's personal journey as a "travelling man" provides a backdrop for the discovery of this essential truth. Despite extensive travel, they admit to never having "the time / To get my mind together and concentrate" on what truly matters. This suggests that the profound understanding of love's importance came only after a period of distraction, highlighting love as the ultimate focus, beneficial to everyone, "the rich, yeah, the blind and poor."