Whatever Became of Hubert?

Song Meaning

The lyrics open with a direct, almost plaintive question: "Whatever became of Hubert?" They quickly establish a stark contrast, portraying a once-prominent figure now isolated and waiting. There's a palpable sense of public curiosity and concern for his sudden disappearance from the spotlight. The core tension lies in Hubert's dramatic fall from grace. He was once a "fiery liberal spirit," a man who "shone on his own," but now his voice is stifled, and he "must clear it" before speaking. This suggests a loss of autonomy and a forced subservience, creating a poignant image of a once-powerful individual stripped of his influence. The lyrics hint at the difficulty of being "second fiddle" when one isn't even acknowledged. The lyrics masterfully use contrasting imagery and a touch of dark humor to convey Hubert's predicament. The shift from "shone on his own" to "sits home alone" is a sharp, rhyming encapsulation of his decline. Later, the vivid image of him "gathering moss / While you wait for the boss to sneeze" paints a picture of enforced idleness and a desperate, almost pathetic hope for a minor event to trigger change. This blend of the mundane and the absurd underscores his current powerlessness. These lyrics resonate by tapping into the universal experience of observing someone's decline, particularly when they were once a force. The repeated questions about Hubert's well-being ("Are you sad? Are you cross?") invite empathy, while the sardonic wit, like the abrupt question "Do you dream about staging a coup?", injects a critical edge. This combination of genuine concern and sharp, almost cynical observation makes the portrayal of Hubert's fate both human and politically astute, leaving the listener to ponder the cost of losing one's platform.