Song Name: Plain Truth
Artist: DEVO
Appears On:
- Total Devo (album version)
- Recombo DNA (demo version)
Run Time: 3:12
Writing Credits: Mark Mothersbaugh / Gerald V. Casale
Sung By: Gerald V. Casale (lead), Greta Greta (chorus, backing), Nan Vernon (chorus, backing)
Demo Version: “Plain Truth (DEMO)” (3:59)
Trivia / Info:[]
- Greta Greta and Nan Vernon are the only DEVA credited on Total Devo.[1]
- The demo version is extended to nearly four minutes with some repeated lyrics.[2]
Lyrics:
Who are you? And who am I? Except a couple of people Wasting lots of time Worrying about the future Forever asking why Some people go on living While others die before their time Yet, there's never been a reason Whatever "is" is right If only just because it's Much too big to fight Like the painter who is way ahead Or worse, still far behind You only punch yourself out When you start swinging blind (These are the things) (Too often gone unsaid) (These are the things) Too often gone unsaid) These are the things Keep you better off than dead (These are the things) (That keep running through your head) (Whoa-oh-ah), (Oh-a oh-oh-oh) (Whoa-oh-oh), (Oh-a oh-oh-oh) (Whoa-oh-ah!), (These are the things) (Too often gone unsaid) Who am I? And are you? Except a couple of people With nothing else to do But follow vain obsessions Making gestures towards the truth While trying to ignore it When its convenient to The symbols we believe in Sometimes turn inside out Reshaping each dimension We're so sure about Dreams get so frustrated Fantasies turn pranks A simple ounce of common sense Is money in the bank (These are the things) (Too often gone unsaid) These are the things Keep you better off than dead (These are the things) (That keep running through your head) (Ooh ooh ooh-ooh), (Ooh ooh ooh-ooh!) (Whoa-oh-ah), (Oh-a oh-oh-oh) (Whoa-oh-oh), (Oh-a oh-oh-oh) (Whoa-oh-ah!), (Oh-a oh-oh-oh) (These are the things) (That keep running through your head!)
Video:
- Short Film / Music Video – None.
- Fan Videos
- “DEVO - 'Plain Truth' (Fan Video)” uploaded to YouTube by Sophia Sumthin'
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aboEJ4hsLY
- “The Plain Truth (Spaceman Blues)” uploaded to YouTube by Positive Mutations
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vbIdf40wAg
- “DEVO - Plain Truth Instrumental” uploaded to YouTube by Jaime Valladares
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=db_ntR3AAfI
- “DEVO plain truth (lyrics in περιγραφή)” uploaded to YouTube by Sot K
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usKbj6fuF-U
Additional Info:
- Recorded at DEVO Studios in Marina Del Rey, California, sometime between 1986 and 1988.
- "Wasting lots of time" is sung solo, when slowly repeated twice behind Jerry's lead vocals, at about two minutes into the song. Followed by a slow vocalization of "aaaaa".
Spelling / Orthography
- The original release lyrics are printed in all lowercase letters.[3]
- “Whoa-oh-ah” “Oh-a oh-oh-oh”/"Ooh ooh ooh-ooh" is printed as “woa oooo”.
- The demo is listed as “PLAIN TRUTH (DEMO)” on the original Recombo DNA Rhino release and as “Plain Truth (Demo)” in the Futurismo releases.
References:
- ↑
- While Greta Greta and Nan Vernon are the only DEVA credited on Total Devo,
- The Femmes Devo - Nancye Ferguson and another young woman - appear in the "Disco Dancer" videos and are introduced live in Now It Can Be Told, before singing the brief chorus vocals.
- ↑
- “Plain Truth” ends with the the chorus:
- “These are the things that keep running through your head”.
- “Plain Truth (Demo)” has:
- “These are the things too often gone unsaid!”
- - and continues - repeating the final verse and choruses:
- “Plain Truth” ends with the the chorus:
- (These are the things)
- (Too often gone unsaid)
- (These are the things)
- (Too often gone unsaid)
- These are the things
- That keep you better off than dead
- (Ooh ooh ooh-ooh),
- (Ooh ooh ooh-ooh!)
- (Whoa-oh-ah),
- (Oh-a oh-oh-oh)
- (Whoa-oh-oh),
- (Oh-a oh-oh-oh)
- (Whoa-oh-ah!),
- (Oh-a oh-oh-oh)
- (These are the things)
- (That keep running through your head!)
- ↑
- who are you and who am i
- except a couple of people
- wasting lots of time
- worrying about the future
- forever asking why
- some people go on living
- while others die before their time
- yet there's never been a reason
- whatever is is right
- if only just because
- its much too big a fight
- like the painter who is way ahead
- or worse still far behind
- you only punch yourself out
- when you start swinging blind
- these are the things too often gone unsaid
- these are the things that keep
- you better off than dead
- these are the things that keep running through your head
- woa oooo
- these are the things too often gone unsaid
- who are you and who am i
- except a couple of people
- with nothing else to do
- but follow vain obsessions
- making gestures towards the truth
- while trying to ignore it
- when its convenient to
- the symbols we believe in
- sometimes turn inside out
- reshaping each dimension
- were so sure about
- dreams get so frustrated
- fantasies turn pranks
- a simple ounce of common sense
- is money in the bank
Links:
- External Links
- https://www.discogs.com/master/52824-Devo-Total-Devo
- Internal Links