Water, water on the seeds
To my left they rose and leaf
To my right cross seven seas

Maybe, maybe they'll stay true
My seeds will cross and then take root
And leave you to an empty room
Lonely, lonely that is you
Lonely, lonely that is you

Paper, paper obsolete
How will you reach out to me?
I thought you'd ask me not to leave
Lonely, lonely that is me
Lonely, lonely that is me

Distance makes the heart grow weak
So that the mouth can barely speak
Except to those who hide their needs
And I have read the golden seal
That tells of how the seedlings feel
Reminds my heart what love can yield

By my only things are clear
Baby boy, I'm staying here
Lonely, lonely that was you
Lonely, and so untrue


Lyrics submitted by science.is.sexy

Lonely Lonely Lyrics as written by Tony Scherr Leslie Feist

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Lonely Lonely song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

13 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +3
    General Comment

    I believe this song talks about a long distance relationship. Where a girl decides to move to another country leaving her boyfriend “to an empty room”. At first the couple misses one another but with distance the boys heart goes weak and he no longer calls or writes. Making "paper obsolete". The girl thought he would reach out to her. When the song speaks about the heart going weak so that mouth can barely speak it talks about their love going weak and them having nothing to talk about but if they do talk it would be about significant things as the boyfriend hides "his need" to end the relationship because he no longer loves her the same way. They thought their relationship would last. When the song says "By my only things are clear Baby boy I'm staying here Lonely lonely that was you Lonely and so untrue" it speaks about the girl staying where she moved to and all the things the boyfriend said about him loving her was a lie and untrue being as he barely called, wrote, and that his love didn’t withstand distance. The girl thought he would ask her to come back or not to leave but he did not making their love untrue. The girl compares love to seeds. She has read the golden seal on the packet where the seeds are kept . The golden seal tells of how the seeds….meaning love feel and it reminds her of what love can yield. Basically it reminds her of the love they felt and about their relationship which is now over. She is sad now that it is over but it is for the better and that is why the song ends in a happy tune.

    vargasf2on July 07, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    the frisbee'd mix of this song is entrancing.

    pulchritoodon August 12, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    why do you think this song says she was cheated on?

    jonnoon May 30, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think this song is about leaving someone, even if its only for a little while, and really missing that person. the seeds that cross the seven seas is a metaphor for parting ways with someone, and taking root is a way of saying that you've been gone long enough to say your starting to feel at home, when really your far away from the person you love. and you keep wondering if your still in love with that person. when they send mail to eachother through the paper she wonders why he hasn't told her to come back, or why he didnt tell her to stay in the first place. and after a while she gets the impression that he's not missing her anymore and that he may have found someone else. when he tells her of this or when she figures it out, she decides to stay where she is and not go back to him. in the last few lines, i think shes saying that she thought he was lonely just as she was when she first left, but she realizes she was wrong and hes not as lonely as she thought but she still is. Fantastic lyrics :)

    frankie47on July 13, 2006   Link
  • +1
    Song Meaning

    I beg to differ with those of you who actually consider the fact that the woman singing is saying the guy cheated. I do not see any direct reference to that. I think rather than that what she is really disappointed about is the fact that the man did not have the guts to accept the feelings, and deal with them. I think the whole point is that she knows that there is so much potential, and that due to the lack of communication and the huge ego of the man to not look for her nothing is possible. It's a beautiful song either way. It really allowed me to see the ways in which this actually has occurred in my life. Sometimes you love someone so much that you simply have to let it die, because it is the only way they understand how much they loved you, and most importantly how much you loved them. How you were able to let them figure their life, rather than keep pushing for something

    sebcuervoon December 09, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this one is lovely live. there is a little man and all he does it the little clapping bit. various easy metaphors about distance and being together and love and flowers, hmm?

    Sarahluvsu182on January 31, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I cannot believe this song only has one comment. It's easily one of the best off of "Let IT Die" (though the whole thing's quite lovely)

    Distance, being cheated on, and love. What more can you want from a song?

    peonyandoceanon April 01, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I cannot believe this song only has one comment. It's easily one of the best off of "Let IT Die" (though the whole thing's quite lovely)

    Distance, being cheated on, and love. What more can you want from a song?

    peonyandoceanon April 01, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think it's her saying "Yeah you cheated, yeah you were stupid but I'm sticking around because I'm not weak like you."

    ..or something.

    filledroleon April 05, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    beautiful song, though. I love Feist

    jonnoon May 30, 2006   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
When We Were Young
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Album art
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.