Meaning of 'From the Westside to the Eastside'

by Mike & The Mechanics

Interpretation

The song 'From the Westside to the Eastside' by Mike & The Mechanics thematically deals with the flow of information, faith, and the handling of knowledge in our society. The singer talks about a world that is growing older and in which there are many things that need to be said. He questions whether we believe everything we are told or what we read, and points out that there is often censorship and suppression of information ('There's a ruler on the corner / But it's always been denied'), and that this often serves to keep people ignorant (''cause they don't want you any wiser / You're just towing the body-line').

The chorus 'From the westside to the eastside / From the northside to the south / You'll never get that information / If you believe in the world now' is a metaphorical depiction of how information can be suppressed regardless of geographical location and the importance of being critical and not blindly believing everything we are told.

The singer also warns against those who still want to hang out and live in the past. He emphasizes the importance of listening to the 'whispers' (metaphor for suppressed or ignored information) as times are changing.

Throughout the song, he reiterates the importance of questioning information and reading between the lines ('So when you're reading explanations / You have to read between the lines'), and repeats the chorus to underscore his message.

Overall, the song can be interpreted as a call for critical reflection and questioning of predetermined information. It is about being open-minded and vigilant and not being deceived by supposed 'truths'.