‘Til Tuesday’s 1985 hit “Voices Carry” peaked at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and won the MTV Video Music Award for Best New Artist.
The song was produced by Mike Thorne and directed by D.J. Webster, featuring lead vocals and bass by Aimee Mann.
Originally, it was sung as a song from one woman to another. However, Epic records, pressing for a hit, wanted the content to be less controversial, and more commercial. Brent Mann, in his book 99 Red Balloons… called it the quintessential New Wave song. The success of the song was largely due to the MTV video, and the band won for Best New Artist consequently.
[Verse 1]
I’m in the dark, I’d like to read his mind
But I’m frightened of the things I might find
Oh, there must be something he’s thinking of
To tear him away, eh-aye
When I tell him that I’m falling in love
Why does he say, eh-aye
[Chorus]
Hush hush, keep it down now
Voices carry
Hush hush, keep it down now
Voices carry
[Verse 2]
I try so hard not to get upset
Because I know all the trouble I’ll get
Oh, he tells me tears are something to hide
And something to fear, eh-aye
And I try so hard to keep it inside
So no one can hear
[Chorus]
Hush hush, keep it down now
Voices carry
Hush hush, keep it down now
Voices carry
Hush hush, keep it down now
Voices carry
[Instrumental Break]
[Bridge]
Oh, he wants me
But only part of the time
He wants me
If he can keep me in line
[Chorus]
Hush hush, keep it down now
Voices carry
Hush hush, keep it down now
Voices carry
[Outro]
Oh, hush hush, so shut up now
Voices carry
Oh, hush hush, keep it down now
Voices carry
Oh, hush hush, darling, she might overhear
Oh no, voices carry
(Hush hush) He said shut up, he said to shut up
Oh God, can’t you keep it down?
Voices carry
Oh-no, voices carry
I wish he would let me talk
