In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
I got half a smile and zero shame,
I got a reflection with a different name.
Got a brand new blues that I can't explain.
Who did you think I was?
In the morning when the day begins
I'm makin' my mind but change it back again.
I am a shifter of the shape I'm in.
Who did you think I was?
[Chorus]
You've got my number but I always new the score.
Who did you think I was?
Am I the one who plays the quiet songs?
Is he the one who turns the ladies on?
Will I keep shinein' 'till my light is gone?
Who did you think I was?
[Chorus]
Here is a line that you won't understand,
I'm half of a boy but I'm twice the man,
Carry the weight of the world in the palm of my hand.
Who did you think I was?
Who did you think I was?
I got a reflection with a different name.
Got a brand new blues that I can't explain.
Who did you think I was?
In the morning when the day begins
I'm makin' my mind but change it back again.
I am a shifter of the shape I'm in.
Who did you think I was?
[Chorus]
You've got my number but I always new the score.
Who did you think I was?
Am I the one who plays the quiet songs?
Is he the one who turns the ladies on?
Will I keep shinein' 'till my light is gone?
Who did you think I was?
[Chorus]
Here is a line that you won't understand,
I'm half of a boy but I'm twice the man,
Carry the weight of the world in the palm of my hand.
Who did you think I was?
Who did you think I was?
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Who Did You Think I Was Lyrics as written by John Clayton Mayer
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
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This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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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."
Mountain Song
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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.
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"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."
WDYTIW is about the move in a new musical direction, but I think it's also saying "this is who you think i am, but this is really me." People think John has no musical talent and I think this song is kind of a f-ck you.
dude the where the light version of this is SICKNASTY GOOD!!!!! the part where its like "here is the line that you won't understand" and then everything comes back in; THAT is reeeediculous! and even better is that the line really is quality food for thought:
"here is the line that you won't understand: i'm half of a boy but i'm twice the man"
i definitely think that this is a little teaser that john is throwing to the top 40 crowd who just listens to his radio hits and doesn't really stop to think about his music. as far as my interpretation of "boy" and "man", i can't seem to fit one interpretation extremely well, but i have a couple. one is that boy refers to his early music career, where he was compared a lot to dave matthews and he was just another acoustic pop star. then man is his shift in musical direction going where very few can go. or, maybe boy refers to his singing talent, where he is only an average singer, but man refers to his guitar talent, where his playing is in a very elite league of guitar gods.
who knows. maybe i'm crazy. someone else weigh in please!
Sorry I didn't get the whole first line. I believe this song is about John's new direction with his music and questioning himself as to if he is doing the right thing. Great song!!
Fixed...
I love this song, cause it seems like he is finishing what he stater to tell people in Bigger than my Body. In that song he is telling people that he is more than what they think he is and one day they will see that. "Someday I'll fly Someday I'll soar Someday I'll be something much more Cause I'm bigger than my body gives me credit for So Who did you think I was is telling them, see I told you this is what I am about, this is what I can do Superdies 318 is right it is alost like he is telling the people who did not believe him and thought wonderland was all he was, that they can go f-ck themsleves.
maybe "I'm half of the boy but I'm twice the man" is about how he was underestimated in the past. Yes, he's still got some of that boy people claimed him to be, but he's also got so much more yet to be shown and discovered. Plus, he's not only the man people want him be, he's twice as much.