She said to me, "Go steady on me
Won't you tell me what the Wise Men said
When they came down from Heaven?
Smoked nine 'til seven
All the shit that they could find?
But they couldn't escape from you
Couldn't be free of you
And now they know there's no way out
And they're really sorry now for what they've done
They were three Wise Men just trying to have some fun"

Look who's alone now
It's not me
It's not me
Those three Wise Men
They've got a semi by the sea
Gotta ask yourself the question
Where are you now?
Gotta ask yourself the question
Where are you now?

Really sorry now
They weren't to know
They got caught up in your talent show
With you pernickety little bastards in your fancy dress
Who just judge each other and try to impress
But they couldn't escape from you
Couldn't be free of you
And now they know there's no way out
And they're really sorry now for what they've done
They were three Wise Men just trying to have some fun

Look who's alone now
It's not me
It's not me
Those three Wise Men
They've got a semi by the sea
Gotta ask yourself the question
Where are you now?
Gotta ask yourself the question
Where are you now?

Look who's alone now
It's not me
It's not me
Those three Wise Men
They've got a semi by the sea
Gotta ask yourself the question
Where are you now?
Gotta ask yourself the question
Where are you now?

Where are you now?
Where are you now?
Gotta ask yourself the question
Where are you now?
Gotta ask yourself the question
Where are you now?


Lyrics submitted by crazy_punk_gurl, edited by thenateml

Wisemen Lyrics as written by James Blunt Sacha Skarbek

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Hipgnosis Songs Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Wisemen song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

113 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +4
    General Comment

    At an interview James Blunt was once asked the meaning of his song Three wise men and he said it was about his childhood and the ‘wise men’ were the kids who bullied him who have now gone nowhere in life except for getting caught up in drugs and wasting their life. Moreover they now regret all the chances they missed because they were ‘just having fun’.

    wingnutson December 25, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Where are the comments on this song? This is one of James's best... I've no idea what he's talking about in it, especially the line "those three wise men they've got a semi by the sea". So what if three intellectuals have a semi-detached property near the coast? I don't get this at all...

    closet extroverton June 05, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    im not sure exactly and this is without thinking about it a great deal but i think its something to do with where people are in their lives. Like three young guys who used a fuck around with drugs and stuff and then they matured a little and now own houses and stuff but then thats just a part of the song. theres whole other sides to it and other levels that need to be explored but i dnt have the time. also sometimes i think its quite nice just to listen to a song that you dont completely understand on all levels, and that you havent ripped to pieces trying to understand. I think its supposed to be a confusing song and you should enjoy it that way because if you rip a song to pieces exploring its meanings then you will lose some of the magic - no matter what.

    mighty_mooseon June 19, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i love this song. i think sections of it for example the chorus is about looking back at bullies etc saying that you need to take a view on where you got from it as I have got somewhre and you havent. .... Also I think maybe it might be about a rape? the beginning signals to me that she "said go steady on me" etc and she is looking back saying look where I am! Thats just my view on it though! Enjoy this song its brill! x

    STACYTHESTARon June 25, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is the best song i've heard in a while. i think it's about how shallow people are sometimes and also kind of relates to 3 guys growing up throughout it, thinking of the things they'd done through their lives.......no matter what it means, it's amazing

    alexbandgroupieon July 02, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "they were three wise men, just tryin' to have some fun."
    or....the three wisemen may be the three main agonists who james/army were fighting aganist. He appears to use irony to take a stab at them, by saying " just tryin' to have some fun.". As, i feel this suggests how they didn't consider how many lives may be lost, and it's as if they are just playing with people's lives for "fun". Again the irony of "wise" men. I think this suggests total anger on james' behalf, as you have to ask yourself the question 'do wise people start wars without considering consequences?' "where are you now" may also mean, look where starting a war has got you. A huge attack on the staters of grief.

    Pez_fxon July 02, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Wow, you've thought about that a lot. Well done. Sorry to spoil it, but James only wrote one song about his experiences of war - No Bravery. Still, good interpretation.

    closet extroverton July 02, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    but...perhaps it does still hold meaning to more than one thing. metaphorical and just alternative interpretation in this song. Just coz he's written 'No Bravery' directly about the war, doesn't mean his other songs don't include more than one story.

    Pez_fxon July 09, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this might be wrong cos it only seems to make sense in certain places but some of the lyrics smack to me like hes having a go at the whole pop idol thing. three 'wise' people who 'just judge each other and try to impress' might also explain the whole 'were are you now' thing. maybe ? anyway just an idea

    Big_scaryon July 18, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "Really sorry now, they want to know, they got caught up in your talent show, With you panikety little bastards and your fancy dress, Who just judge each other, and try to impress"

    I love those lines, not just because they're fantastic lyrics but I love the way James sings them too. 'Wisemen' is easily the best song from his album.

    Raqaelon August 21, 2005   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
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve. The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future. Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere" The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Album art
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Album art
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.