This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Darling, I love you very, very, very much,
And I really am relying on your touch.
But with all these people listening in,
I don't know where I ought to begin.
Maybe we could hit upon a word,
Something that the others haven't heard,
When you want me to love you,
Just tell me to press.
Right there, that's it. Yes. When you feel the stress
Don't just stand there, tell me to press.
You can give me what I want I must confess,
My body needs attention my mind is in a mess,
Oklahoma was never like this.
Never like this, it was never like this,
Ever like this, say was it ever like this?
Oklahoma was never like this.
It was never like this
Darling, I know it really wouldn't be a crime,
If I say I want to love you all the time.
But with all these people listening in,
I don't know where I ought to begin.
Maybe we should have a secret code,
Before we both get ready to explode.
When you want me to love you,
Just tell me to press. Press
Right there, that's it. Yes.
When you feel the stress,
Don't just stand there.
Won't you tell me to press?
And I really am relying on your touch.
But with all these people listening in,
I don't know where I ought to begin.
Maybe we could hit upon a word,
Something that the others haven't heard,
When you want me to love you,
Just tell me to press.
Right there, that's it. Yes. When you feel the stress
Don't just stand there, tell me to press.
You can give me what I want I must confess,
My body needs attention my mind is in a mess,
Oklahoma was never like this.
Never like this, it was never like this,
Ever like this, say was it ever like this?
Oklahoma was never like this.
It was never like this
Darling, I know it really wouldn't be a crime,
If I say I want to love you all the time.
But with all these people listening in,
I don't know where I ought to begin.
Maybe we should have a secret code,
Before we both get ready to explode.
When you want me to love you,
Just tell me to press. Press
Right there, that's it. Yes.
When you feel the stress,
Don't just stand there.
Won't you tell me to press?
Lyrics submitted by ButNeverOutgunned
Press Lyrics as written by Paul Mccartney
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Hello Everyone:
Please believe what I am going to tell you is the truth about this song--my family can verify every one of these details.
In December 1985 my family & I were in the London Underground at Christmastime, late one evening.
While we were the only small group in the station (I believe Piccadilly Station) there was a man sitting nearby, within earshot, of the Tube map on the wall.
I explained to my Mother, who had never been to London, the way to find her way back to Piccadilly Station should she be lost in our travels on the Tube. She, also, was suffering from a painful ankle which made walking fairly uncomfortable.
In describing ways to navigate both the entire Tube system, and to open the doors to the train, we mentioned to push the "Press" button on the subway train itself, further explaining to not fret, but to remember these directions. She was fairly unsure, even frightened, about the entire process of boarding the trains.
We then decided to board a train to prove our directions for boarding were sufficient for safe travel.
However, after waiting a seemingly long time for a train, not one arrived at the station. In our time of waiting for a train we discussed--out loud--the benefits of train service around a city and within cities. This discussion continued with comments regarding the hopes that one day our family (visiting from Oklahoma) would have train service between our state's (Oklahoma's) main cities.
Still waiting for a train to arrive, we then decided to leave the station.
Upon turning from the Tube map on the wall we walked immediately past a middle-age man dressed in a long grey wool overcoat. His head was turned downward until we passed. As we passed him he lifted his head and we spoke a courteous "hello" to each other.
Upon passing this seated man we all looked to each other and said, "That was Paul McCartney, wasn't it?" We all looked back at him and confirmed with another glance from him.
Not until hearing this track from his "Press to Play" album the following year did we place his text used in the single "Press" with the words and topics we spoke about, standing next to him.
Upon playing the song to our family members each confirmed the exact message about which we spoke is what is used in this song! (...with the exception of the tie-in of the "love" element).
I know, absolutely, if Mr. McCartney were to be asked his inspiration--and remember that inspiration--of this song, he would tell the exact story I relate here.
Barrett Johnson Sallisaw, Oklahoma
I believe you. Being from Oklahoma myself, I really love your story! Amazing!<br />
No meanings will make better sense than this. Thanks Barrett. I was impressed. Mr McCartney got sick and had to cancel two of his perfomances here in Japan. I don't know why but this somehow reminded me of the phrase "Oklahoma was never like this," which I couldn't get the meaning of nearly 30 years ago. I surfed around and, thank God, finally got to your note. Hoep he will get better soon.