Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: ska
Song Meaning of “Too Nice To Talk To – Live 1982” by The English Beat
‘Too Nice To Talk To’ by The English Beat is an exploration of how we can be so nice to everyone else that we forget to take care of ourselves. The narrator desires to be with someone, but they’re feeling too shy and scared of rejection to pick up the phone and make any kind of connection. They’re too nice to talk to someone, so they remain stuck in their own head, wanting and longing for something they’re too scared to go out and get.
The song speaks to so many of us who are too scared or too timid to take risks and find love. We may want more than anything to connect with someone, but ultimately our fears become too powerful and we fail to reach out and make that connection.
The desperation of the narrator is also palpable, as they put up a wall of politeness around them, unwilling to let anyone get too close for fear of being hurt. Ultimately, they make the decision that it’s safer to stay quiet and remain alone, rather than to reach out and risk failure.
The upbeat tempo and bright melody of the song offer a hint of optimism, however, as the narrator seems to ultimately come to the conclusion that if they can break down the wall of niceness they have built around them, then maybe one day they will find someone to talk to.