Say, my love, I came to you with best intentions
You laid down and gave to me just what I'm seeking
Say love, you drive me to distraction

Oh hey my love do you believe that we might last a thousand years
Or more if not for this
Our flesh and blood
It ties you and me right up
Tie me down

Oh well, celebrate we will
Because life is short but sweet for certain
We're climbing two by two
To be sure these days continue
These things we cannot change

Hey, my love, you came to me like wine comes to this mouth
Grown tired of water all the time
You quench my heart and you quench my mind

Celebrate we will
Because life is short but
Sweet for certain
We're climbing two by two
To be sure these days continue
The things we cannot
Celebrate, you and me, climbing two by two, to be sure
These days continue, things we cannot change

Oh, my love I came to you
With best intentions
You laid down and gave to me
Just what I'm seeking

Celebrate we will
Because life is short
But sweet for certain
We're climbing two by two
To be sure these days continue
Things we cannot change
Things we cannot change

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Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae

Two Step Lyrics as written by David John Matthews

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Two Step song meanings

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91 Comments

+4
General Comment
I've been listening to DMB for two weeks and I understand what he is saying more than you life long fans, between this and ants marching everyone is missing the most important part of the message. First of all it's we climb ON two by two as in a reference to Noah's ark to symbolize everyone pairing up to continue the population. To me this song is saying we cannot live forever all we can do is continue the population so we let other future generations experience this amazing adventure. It's a beautiful way to look at life and death and it single handedly made me accept death as only fair. I know songs can have multiple interpretations so don't reply with that but this is an interpretation that may benefit some people more than some army reference.

I've been listening to DMB for two weeks and I understand what he is saying more than you life long fans, between this and ants marching everyone is missing the most important part of the message. First of all it's we climb ON two by two as in a reference to Noah's ark to symbolize everyone pairing up to continue the population. To me this song is saying we cannot live forever all we can do is continue the population so we let other future generations experience this amazing adventure. It's a beautiful way to look at life and death and it single handedly made me accept death as only fair. I know songs can have multiple interpretations so don't reply with that but this is an interpretation that may benefit some people more than some army reference.

Reason:

Juiceyeahon January 22, 2014 Link
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@Juiceyeah

ClimbING. no biblical reference

Opinionopinionon April 15, 2014

@Juiceyeah I agree with you about this song! I interpreted it as a biblical reference back in 1996! In fact Dave in many songs refers to God in some way shape or form, and this is not just me interpreting God in every song. But Dave's crying out to a God, weather that be in faith, conflictions, convictions, or out right anger. There is truly a Gody shaped hole in everyone, that can only be filled by your connection to your creator. It's not about religion, it's about your personal experience with the power of God and how it directly relates to you and only you Your personal testimony of your life is your own and no one can argue with that! So rock on Dave and I hope you find your truth.

connie1166on April 01, 2019
+2
General Comment
I first listened to this song in surround sound alone in a dark room. It took over my senses. I saw myself dancing around a bonfire in complete joy and freedom. While the true meaning may have to do with war, the underlying "Things we cannot change" theme brings with it a pragmatism that is easy to grasp in times of hardship. For me it accomplishes the whole "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die" thing a whole lot better than Tripping Billies ever did.

I first listened to this song in surround sound alone in a dark room. It took over my senses. I saw myself dancing around a bonfire in complete joy and freedom. While the true meaning may have to do with war, the underlying "Things we cannot change" theme brings with it a pragmatism that is easy to grasp in times of hardship. For me it accomplishes the whole "Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die" thing a whole lot better than Tripping Billies ever did.

Reason:

ballzofsnoon April 27, 2002 Link
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+1
General Comment
This is my all time favorite DMB song. I love it. This is the one song in the whole world that I can listen to at any point in any day and it's just the right thing to be listening to. This song never gets tiring and there are always new things I can pull from it. This is an amazing song and it's mine all mine. Yay Dave!

This is my all time favorite DMB song. I love it. This is the one song in the whole world that I can listen to at any point in any day and it's just the right thing to be listening to. This song never gets tiring and there are always new things I can pull from it. This is an amazing song and it's mine all mine. Yay Dave!

Reason:

DavesSugarMamaon March 11, 2002 Link
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@DavesSugarMama
+1
General Comment
actually, this song is about a love affair during the vietnam war. in a recent interview with dave, he said he was intrigued by the idea of love and war, and how lovers find ways to be together, even in the most extreme of circumstances. the lyrics back this up with "climb on 2 by 2 to be sure these days continue". to "climb on 2 by 2" was the motto of the 101st airborne division air assault troopers, who would climb into the hueys "2 by 2". if you listen closely, the rest of the song backs this up. all i have to say is, this makes me love this guy's music even more than i already do.

actually, this song is about a love affair during the vietnam war. in a recent interview with dave, he said he was intrigued by the idea of love and war, and how lovers find ways to be together, even in the most extreme of circumstances. the lyrics back this up with "climb on 2 by 2 to be sure these days continue". to "climb on 2 by 2" was the motto of the 101st airborne division air assault troopers, who would climb into the hueys "2 by 2". if you listen closely, the rest of the song backs this up. all i have to say is, this makes me love this guy's music even more than i already do.

Reason:

ctmaverick9on April 18, 2002 Link
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@ctmaverick9
+1
General Comment
oh yeah, almost forgot...most likely something between a soldier and a nurse. "things we cannot change" seems to echo the draft and those who actually went to the war...this reminds me of something sort of like hemingway's "a farewell to arms", same basic scenario.

oh yeah, almost forgot...most likely something between a soldier and a nurse. "things we cannot change" seems to echo the draft and those who actually went to the war...this reminds me of something sort of like hemingway's "a farewell to arms", same basic scenario.

Reason:

ctmaverick9on April 18, 2002 Link
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@ctmaverick9
+1
General Comment
whoa...this is an amazing song...my favorite by DMB by far..

whoa...this is an amazing song...my favorite by DMB by far..

Reason:

linkkon April 28, 2002 Link
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@linkk
+1
General Comment
I'm surprised to see no deep interpretations on this dmb song. This song is about love and the title two step is a dance which means he is saying life and love is a dance. It's about great lovers in love in the dance of life and life Flys by and let's enjoy this special love we have to the fullest. She quenches his love, heart, mind and soul.

I'm surprised to see no deep interpretations on this dmb song. This song is about love and the title two step is a dance which means he is saying life and love is a dance. It's about great lovers in love in the dance of life and life Flys by and let's enjoy this special love we have to the fullest. She quenches his love, heart, mind and soul.

Reason:

Schlegson February 06, 2016 Link
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@Schlegs
+1
General Comment
Look at my meaning of "Again and Again." This is no different. Dave has been taking us along on his journey with his own mind since the beginning. Sometimes he makes it obvious (Rhyme & Reason, Too High, etc) but most of the time he doesn't. People have been making whoopie to Dave's tales of he and his ego for 30 years now. Do you ever hear a lyric in one of his songs that just doesn't make sense? Now it should. It's beyond beautiful.

Look at my meaning of "Again and Again." This is no different. Dave has been taking us along on his journey with his own mind since the beginning. Sometimes he makes it obvious (Rhyme & Reason, Too High, etc) but most of the time he doesn't. People have been making whoopie to Dave's tales of he and his ego for 30 years now. Do you ever hear a lyric in one of his songs that just doesn't make sense? Now it should. It's beyond beautiful.

Reason:

jacklancason March 17, 2021 Link
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@jacklancas
0
General Comment
Not that I'm disputing the love affair during war meaning, I think it makes sense, but the 101st Airborne jumps out of planes, not helicopters.

Not that I'm disputing the love affair during war meaning, I think it makes sense, but the 101st Airborne jumps out of planes, not helicopters.

Reason:

zer0vectoron April 26, 2002 Link
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@zer0vector

@zer0vector Well, yes, the 101 was Airborne and jumped out of C-47s in WW II (Overloard/D-Day, Market Garden) but by Vietnam they were reorganized into the 101 Airmobile and were heliborne. In 1974 they were again reorganized into Air Assault. The Screaming Eagles are based at Ft. Campbell, KY

robert1118on March 27, 2015
0
General Comment
zer0factor- even though the 101st's roots were in airborne operations (normandy, WWII), jumping static lines out of DC-10s and gliders, they crossed over to air-assault operations during the vietnam war, using UH-1's (hueys). the 82nd Airborne retained their parachute status, still jumping out of C-130's today. the 101st gave up fixed wing for helocopter based air assault missions, rappeling out of helo's, which remains their primary mission. air assault school in at ft. campbell, the home of the 101st "screaming eagles".

zer0factor- even though the 101st's roots were in airborne operations (normandy, WWII), jumping static lines out of DC-10s and gliders, they crossed over to air-assault operations during the vietnam war, using UH-1's (hueys). the 82nd Airborne retained their parachute status, still jumping out of C-130's today. the 101st gave up fixed wing for helocopter based air assault missions, rappeling out of helo's, which remains their primary mission. air assault school in at ft. campbell, the home of the 101st "screaming eagles".

Reason:

ctmaverick9on May 15, 2002 Link
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@ctmaverick9

@ctmaverick9 really appreciate this backstory, our homecoming is up and this song really hits home. “screaming eagles” most especially. Kudos to you and to DMB, favorite album, fave song!

xkindeepon November 19, 2019