"Bounce Right Back" by Howard Jones is a song about the consequences of our words and actions. The lyrics tell the story of the narrator and his friend, Luke, who witness a strange occurrence on the street. They see a flash, fall to the floor, and then a peculiar-looking person appears before them. The person advises them to "button up and tighten [their] lip" and warns them about the impact of their words. The lyrics suggest that the words we speak can have a boomerang effect and come back to affect us in the future. The story then fast-forwards several years, and the narrator is stuck in a mundane nine-to-five job. He is planning to go to a party at his friend's house when an unwelcome person interrupts his conversation with a woman. Feeling provoked, the narrator is about to confront the person when the same strange guy from before appears by his side. The chorus is repeated in all three instances, reminding us of the importance of being mindful of the words we choose to speak. The song's message is to think before you speak, as the energy we put out into the world can have consequences, both positive and negative. Overall, "Bounce Right Back" serves as a reminder to be aware of our words and actions, as they have the power to affect us in ways we may not expect.
