Song Analysis
The lyrics of "No One Is To Blame" function as a poetic exploration of unfulfilled desire and the existential frustration of the human condition. By utilizing a series of vivid, sensory-based paradoxes, Jones argues that the tension between instinctual drive and societal or situational constraints is a universal experience for which no individual can be held responsible.
1. The Architecture of Frustration: Sensory Paradoxes
The song is built on a repetitive structure of denied gratification. Jones presents a scenario where the subject is granted sensory access but denied functional participation.
• Visual vs. Physical: "You can look at the menu, but you just can't eat."• Tactile vs. Proprietary: "You can feel the cushions, but you can't have a seat."
• Aspirational vs. Actualized: "You can see the summit, but you can't reach it."
These metaphors illustrate a state of permanent "nearness." By placing the subject at the threshold of fulfillment without allowing them to cross it, Jones highlights the psychological toll of "counting the cost" of rules they didn't necessarily agree to follow.
2. The Determinism of Desire
The chorus shifts from specific material metaphors to the core of human relationships: "And you want her, and she wants you / We want everyone"
This line suggests a biological determinism. By expanding the scope from "you" to "we" and "everyone," the song posits that attraction and the desire for more are inherent traits. The refrain "No one is to blame" serves as a form of absolution. It suggests that the pain of unrequited love or forbidden desire isn't a moral failing, but a natural byproduct of being an animal governed by instincts in a world governed by boundaries.
3. The "Cured" But Aching Condition
One of the most poignant sections occurs in the final verse: "Doctor says you're cured, but you still feel the pain"
This identifies a disconnect between external validation (the doctor's diagnosis) and internal reality (the persistent pain). It serves as a metaphor for modern dissatisfaction—where one may have all the external markers of success or "health," yet still feels the "insecurity that won't get lost."
4. Conclusion: The Unsolvable Puzzle
The song concludes that life is a "puzzle" where the "last piece" simply doesn't fit. Jones’s thesis is ultimately one of compassionate fatalism. He suggests that the "hopes going down the drain" are not a result of personal failure, but a fundamental glitch in the human experience.
Note: The song's minimalist arrangement (especially the Phil Collins-produced single version) mirrors this lyrical isolation, using space and echo to emphasize the distance between the "looker" and the "menu."
By removing "blame" from the equation, the song offers a strange form of comfort: the frustration of wanting what you cannot have is the one thing we all truly share.
Analysis from the Scott Price Media 'Picture Lyrics' Series
Howard Jones
Lead vocals, keyboards, percussion programmingJones has explained that the song was inspired by the realization that humans are often caught between their natural, biological instincts and the rules of society or committed relationships.
Phil Collins
Drums, backing vocals, co-producerPhil Collins produced and was heavily involved in the performance. He played drums, provided backing vocals (which are very prominent in the chorus), and even played the percussion.
Phil Palmer
GuitarPhil was the secret weapon who provided the song's delicate melodic texture.
Mo Foster
Bass GuitarThe song features some of Hopkins' most aggressive, rock-and-roll piano playing, perfectly matching Nilsson's famous (and foul-mouthed) diatribe.
Afrodiziak
Backing vocalsTheir presence on the track reinforces the "We want everyone" line of the chorus.
No One Is To Blame
Howard Jones - "Dream into Action" 1985[Verse 1]
You can look at the menu, but you just can't eat
You can feel the cushions, but you can't have a seat
You can dip your foot in the pool,
but you can't have a swim
You can feel the punishment,
but you can't commit the sin
[Chorus]
And you want her, and she wants you
We want everyone
And you want her, and she wants you
No one, no one, no one ever is to blame
[Verse 2]
You can build a mansion, but you just can't live in
You're the fastest runner,
but you're not allowed to win
Some break the rules and live to count the cost
The insecurity is the thing that won't get lost
[Chorus]
And you want her, and she wants you
We want everyone
And you want her, and she wants you
No one, no one, no one ever is to blame
[Verse 3]
You can see the summit, but you can't reach it
It's the last piece of the puzzle,
but you just can't make it fit
Doctor says you're cured,
but you still feel the pain
Aspirations in the clouds,
but your hopes go down the drain
[Outro]
And you want her, and she wants you
We want everyone
And you want her, and she wants you (Wants you)
No one, no one, no one ever is to blame
No one ever is to blame
No one ever is to blame