If you want to find yourself by traveling out west
Or if you want to find somebody else that's better
Go ahead

If you want to buy a brand new fancy automobile
Or if you want to build a place up in Coldwater Canyon
Go ahead
I wish you would
Go ahead

If you want to hold your own hand going up that cliff
Or if you want to just hold back cause you ain't up to it
Go ahead
Be my guest
Go ahead

If you want to hold on to the first girl that you meet
Or if you want to settle down and plant roses at my feet
Go ahead
I wish you would
Go ahead

If you want to have your cake and eat it too
Or if you want to have other people watch you while you eat it
Go ahead

If you want better things, I want you to have them
If you want better things, I want you to have them
Go ahead
I wish you would
Go ahead


Lyrics submitted by brick

Go Ahead Lyrics as written by Colin John Newman Bruce Clifford Gilbert

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC

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Go Ahead song meanings
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19 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    I don't think it's really supposed to be encouraging. Pretending to be stronger/healthier/more confident than you really are is a common theme in RK songs (ex: the last few lines of "My Slumbering Heart"). So I think it's really that she's saying "go ahead, do whatever you want, I want you to be happy" but she's making such a big deal out of it it's obvious she doesn't want the person to do that at all.

    mockingsmileon October 27, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    when I hear this song it tells me not to limit myself. like it says "if u want better things" I luv this song

    21pinksockson May 01, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song reminds me of when you get to a certain point with a lover where they just don't seem ready to commit, and you're so tired of caring about it that you finally give up and say, "I wish you would go ahead and DO something, you bastard. Even if it means you're leaving me."

    stephon May 02, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    " If you want to have your cake and eat it too Or if you want to have other people watch you while you eat it Go ahead "

    that was lame. rilo kiley is great. but that was lame.

    museformurdererson July 22, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    that line mentioned by museformurderers IS insanely lame, but for some reason i don't mind it. it just seems to my idea of the tone of the song, which is an awkward, clumsy sort of thing--like she's been caught slightly off balance and is trying to retalliate as best she can.

    balalínon April 13, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    :( I like that line. It's cute. The whole song is cute.

    LittleBriddieon December 14, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this song is about accepting the fact that someone wants to move on with their life. And basically tell them to go do whatever the hell they want, even if it is to go and eat a cake. :)

    sound of settlingon January 02, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    that line about the cake is probably referring to a lyric in LAY LADY LAY by BOB DYLAN.

    maggotbrainon January 22, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    uhhh i dont know about that, umm.. maggotbrain? "have your cake and eat it too" is a pretty common phrase. i doubt it had anything to do with a bob dylan song haha. Mmm Go Ahead.

    heeeyyyjudeon September 01, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is about being yourself and creating your own path. This may include defying conventional wisdom i.e. can’t have your cake and eat it too (great lyric by the way, really defines the overall meaning of the song). Notice how the guitar emphasizes this line more than any others? Also, if you feel the need to prove yourself, heck, have people watch you eat that darn cake. If not, that’s fine too. Anyhow, live your life the way you see fit. Do not get lost within the mold of others. If you are eager for adventure, be adventurous. If you prefer serenity, create it for yourself. Why would anyone else be better at making decisions about you than yourself? She then analyzes a relationship through this lens of thinking. A perfect relationship is with someone whom you can truly be yourself with. The unselfish plea to go find it with someone else if it isn’t achieved with me shows that her actions mimic her beliefs at her most vulnerable moment. The grand idea promoted within this song is simple and logical but not applied nearly enough within many people’s lives.

    melch22on February 09, 2006   Link

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