What does Nowhere Man mean?

Beatles: Nowhere Man Meaning

Album cover for Nowhere Man album cover

Song Released: 1966


Nowhere Man Lyrics

He's a real nowhere man,
Sitting in his Nowhere Land,
Making all his nowhere plans
for nobody.

Doesn't have a point of view,
Knows not where he's going to,
Isn't he a bit like you and me?

Nowhere Man please listen,
You don't know what...

  1. 1TOP RATED

    #1 top rated interpretation:
    anonymous
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    Feb 19th 2010 !⃝

    I think this is a song about an individual that has enormous potential, but is simply too apathetic to do any good with his life. "...isn't he a bit like you and me?" means that we can can all be like this at times: we have the ability and the circumstances to bring a positive change in the world, but we are just too lazy or selfish to do so. "nowhere man, the world is at your command"... it is a call to get up off our seats and make the world a better place.

  2. 2TOP RATED

    #2 top rated interpretation:
    insaninater
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    Apr 30th 2010 !⃝

    I think that this song is about people caught up in there own lives and not connected to current events, social norms, and generally important events in the world, "doesn't have a point of view, knows not where he's going to, isn't he a bit like you and me" also means that we can all sometimes get caught up in our own lives and start to shut everything out, don't know what they are going to do in there life, but the Beatles are telling us that there is hope for these people, if we reach out to these people, act with friendship and kindness, we can show them everything we have to offer, "nowhere man don't worry take your time don't hurry, leave it all until somebody else lends you a hand", we should all take time to make sure we help out the nowhere men in our lives, and every now and then, take a look in the mirror to keep ourselves somewherepeople

  3. anonymous
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    Jun 29th 2023 !⃝

    Couldn't agree more or less with others. Makes me wonder why one Southern Rhodesian Prime Minister banned the song from being played on government radio in his country.

  4. anonymous
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    Jan 22nd 2020 !⃝

    Im not sure if im a nowhere man or the fool on the hill.Both those songs hit home when i was young.i knew at some point that i didn't fit in this society.Anyhow i think of sitting on that hill and watching the insanity go by.im also the 21st century schizoid man.brits write cool songs.

  5. BEATLESFAN1989
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    Jun 27th 2018 !⃝

    It's about the paul mccartney imposter that no one gives a fuck about.

  6. anonymous
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    Sep 6th 2017 !⃝

    I think it's a song about someone who doesn't have friends and don't want any. Maybe someone like my Father who is a lot like no where man My Father is autistic he was never diagnos but my Mother and I believe he is . He doesn't like crowds he didn't like to talk to people he don't know.

  7. anonymous
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    Mar 2nd 2017 !⃝

    These guys were hippies who did some drugs and had time to sit and think, and so this is a reflection of that in the sense that they say the words to see what it evokes out of you! It's meant to make you think... It's either "Wow, thank God that I have family and friends and that i'm not a Nowhere Man", or "Damn they're bringing light to the fact that I'm a Nowhere Man, I really don't want to continue being like this... so I should make a change in my life to let people in."

  8. anonymous
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    Jun 23rd 2016 !⃝

    The song might not mean anything. Just jammed a bunch of words together that rhymed and then refined them a little. It's the harmonies and guitar playing that grab me.

  9. coralie.cassady.3
    click a star to vote
    Feb 22nd 2015 !⃝

    My adult son was diagnosed with chronic schizophrenia in 1992. I have been his sole carer since then. Each and every word of 'Nowhere Man' pulls at my HEART each and every time I hear this song. I absolutely LOVE 'Nowhere Man' because it reminds me of my son. xoxo

  10. anonymous
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    Aug 5th 2012 !⃝

    I think it means nothing we do in life matters, death is the final frontier and it's all we're waiting for.

  11. anonymous
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    Aug 29th 2011 !⃝

    Song about my husband. Never wanted to get up close and personal. Separated himself from emotions and closeness. Survived in his own little nowhere land with nobody. Could not get close or talk intimately or intensely to anyone especially a woman or a wife. Never wanted anyone to help him either. Rather than face it or get help he would leave room or situation. Said he could not handle or face it. Would rather retreat to his own nowhere land. it is better to critisize or talk down, and belittle, and scorn.

  12. DiogenesofSinope
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    May 29th 2011 !⃝

    Some people, invisible to you and me, invisible to themselves confuse the meaning of what you know as identity. Make you feel uncomfortable enough to avoid. Don't worry, it doesn't bother them, they don't listen - because neither do you.
    Nowhere man is METOIKOS. You're lucky to have a family, have a place to call home, friends you don't care about, things you think you need.

  13. anonymous
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    Feb 3rd 2011 !⃝

    I always thought this music was talking about god itself, and his point of view.

  14. anonymous
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    Jan 25th 2011 !⃝

    insaninater i agree we need to take the initiative in life to help out these people who going through these identity crises. sometimes i think i'm the nowhere man and often times i wish that someone would pick me up out of my hole.

  15. anonymous
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    Dec 4th 2009 !⃝

    John was trying to compile a song one day and was getting nowhere. hence "nowhere man" he then wrote this classic by geeting nowhere. simple really

  16. anonymous
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    Dec 4th 2009 !⃝

    It means a man who lives in his own little world and does not think about anyone else,Now,in this time period,it apply s to people walking around listening to iPods.people think that's shameful,BUT THEY DO IT THEMSELVES!


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