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Introduction
“Under My Feet” is a poignant track from The Moody Blues’ 1983 album “The Present,” released during a transformative period in the band’s career. This emotionally charged song captures the feeling of having your foundation suddenly collapse beneath you – a universal experience of unexpected loss or betrayal.
The track features the signature Moody Blues sound that blends rock elements with orchestral textures, creating a rich sonic landscape that perfectly complements the song’s themes of vulnerability and resilience. Justin Hayward’s expressive vocals convey the raw emotion of lyrics like “Under my feet, the earth shook. Under my feet, the earth just fell away.”
What makes this song particularly compelling is how it balances melancholy with determination. The opening lines “It’s a hard life, never let yourself get down” establish this tension between acknowledging life’s difficulties while maintaining the strength to persevere. The repeated question “Where were you when I needed you?” adds a layer of intimate betrayal that many listeners can relate to.
“Under My Feet” may not be as widely recognized as Moody Blues classics like “Nights in White Satin,” but it represents the band’s continued artistic evolution in the 1980s, when they successfully adapted their sound while maintaining their philosophical depth and emotional resonance.
Video
Lyrics
It’s a hard life
Never let yourself get down
You may never get back
You may never ever turn it round
You may say it took you by surprise
Never ending
Never changing
I didn’t see through your disguise
It took my breath away
Under my feet
The earth shook
Under my feet
The earth just fell away
Under my feet
Gave way
Did you ever want to take a chance
Never thought the time would come round
Quite so fast
Would you walk right thro’ that wall
And keep on walking till you
Couldn’t stand on your feet no more
But you came and took me by surprise
When you stole up on me
I didn’t see thro’ your disguise
It took my breath away
Under my feet
The earth shook
Under my feet
The earth just fell away
Under my feet, gave way
Where were you
When I needed you?
Where were you
When I needed you?
Where were you
Where were you?
I’m holding on
Under my feet
The earth shook
Under my feet
The earth just fell away
Under my feet, gave way
Under my feet
The earth shook
Right under my feet
Gave way