Don't wish it away
Don't look at it like it's forever
Between you and me I could honestly say
That things can only get better

And while I'm away
Dust out the demons inside
And it won't be long before you and me run
To the place in our hearts where we hide

And I guess that's why they call it the blues
Time on my hands could be time spent with you
Laughing like children, living like lovers
Rolling like thunder under the covers
And I guess that's why they call it the blues

Just stare into space
Picture my face in your hands
Live for each second without hesitation
And never forget I'm your man

Wait on me girl
Cry in the night if it helps
But more than ever I simply love you
More than I love life itself


Lyrics submitted by Novartza

I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues Lyrics as written by Davey Johnstone Bernie Taupin

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues song meanings
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47 Comments

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  • +7
    General Comment
    Thats Stevie Wonder playing the harmonica
    bkat004on February 27, 2006   Link
  • +3
    General Comment
    I agree this is my favorite Elton John song. I've been listening to Elton John songs since I was a baby and this is the best. I think alot of people can relate to this, I'm a 15 year old girl and I do.
    SmOoChAbLeon April 25, 2002   Link
  • +3
    General Comment
    I love Elton John. Almost all his lyrics are perfect. He is one of those singers that I could never get tired of. He is a classic. I was watching VH1 Classic the other night and this song came on and I immediately fell in love with it. I'm not sure if I heard it before, but I seriously fell in love with this song in a span of 10 seconds. I think it's his voice...or the lyrics...its probably a combination of both...but it was 2 in the morning and I got up from my bed and downloaded it. I listened to at least 10 times in a row. The song is just beautiful. Its about a couple who is not together. I always imagine its about guy who went off to war....or they were separated when they picked different colleges to go to. Either way the two are apart from each other. I think they are both having a tough time not being with each other. It's the blues...they are sad...depressed...and just want to be with each other. He tells her things can only get better and it's not forever...because they will be together in the end. He tells her it won't be long and tells her to wait for him...b/c the blues will go away and they will be with each other. He tells her...he loves her...more than life itself... I think the last two lines sum their whole relationship up...the fact he loves her more than his own life is just a really special thing. The song describes true love...and even if there are the tough times...or the times when they are not together...you have to believe and have faith that the love your relationship holds will come together in the end...thats what he says in the song...he explains he will always be there waiting for her...and asks her to do the same In the video you see the guy and girl hug in the end...so happy to see each other...the video is great
    steel07on March 10, 2006   Link
  • +2
    General Comment
    i love the lines: "Laughing like children, living like lovers" hes describing such a desirable state
    liv85on November 04, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    It took awhile for my fave lines to hit me--"I guess that's why they call it the blues / Time on my hands could be time spent with you." Time away from that other person is just wasted.
    musicchick44on June 20, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    This song is ridiculously beautiful. The music and the lyrics. I think it's Bernie Taupin's best effort lyrically, because I also think he wrote it for his wife/g.f.? If you look at the liner notes from the Too Low for Zero CD upon which this song was released, it says "This ones for you, Toni" or somethign to that effect. It really is a great song, and there's reason to believe it really came from the heart.
    suckmykisson August 19, 2002   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    I've seen Sir Elton in concert and this song just about killed me emotionally. It reaches into you and pulls at the soul. we've all had someone we loved that we wished we'd spent more time with.......like every waking moment.
    fantom1971on June 06, 2009   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation
    I have always heard this song on the radio, yet never paid much attention to it. Recently, it had been playing constantly... and it was caught in my head and I listened to the words. I know this is only how I see the song because of a recent tragedy. My boyfriend of five years recently passed away. He was the funniest, sweetest, greatest person in the world... but had a some issues and problems that with no matter how much help anyone gave him, he was unable to overcome. He became sick and an addiction got the best of him, turning him into a person that no one could recognize... after two years of trying to help him - I could no longer take the pain of watching him end his life slowly and lash out and blame everyone and everything around him. I knew this person was NOT him... and so tried to get him help and get him back... but even with everything I had in me... nothing was enough. He died July 24th, 2010... and I was never able to say goodbye or tell him, one last time, how much I loved him. He died with his last memory of me leaving upset because he refused to get the help he needed. I was afraid he would just think I didn't care and abandoned him - while I actually spoke to friend and family, hoping he was doing better and our time apart would make him realize how much he lost and try to make a change... it didn't and I would sit and think of how bad he must have felt, thinking I didn't care. Was he mad? Did he hate me? Did I make everything worse? I feel so sad and so guilty all the time. After he passed away this song kept popping up on the radio.. it's an old song, so that's rare... and now with this tune caught in my head I decided to download it and the words just seemed like it was for me... like somehow he wanted me to hear it... silly? maybe... but to me its absolutely perfect. "Don't wish it away Don't look at it like it's forever Between you and me I could honestly say That things can only get better" We can change things so wishing won't help... but it's not forever. Before times were bad, we talked about everything, including what we thought would happen when we died and we both hoped and believed in some sort of heaven. I feel like he is there and letting me know that, just between us, there is something and it will be wonderful. "And while I'm away Dust out the demons inside And it won't be long before you and me run To the place in our hearts where we hide" There were bad times... but it wasn't him and I have to remember to forget all those bad memories and remember the good ones we shared - that in my boyfriend, the person I was crazy about and loved so much. And soon enough, we can somehow be in a place together, not physically, I suppose - "our hearts" or maybe souls. "Just stare into space Picture my face in your hands Live for each second without hesitation And never forget I'm your man" We loved to stare at the sky at night, at all the stars... so thus just seems perfect. And I have to go on and live and do the things we always talked about doing, but I will forever think of him and know he is somewhere waiting for me. "Wait on me girl Cry in the night if it helps But more than ever I simply love you More than I love life itself" I cry myself to sleep night after night... of course, nights are the worst. He didn't love himself or his life and couldn't see the wonderful things he had but I know, as he told me time after time he loved me more than anything... more than his life and he just gave up. Okay... as I can't even see the keyboard to type any longer. I know this is MY sole interpretation of this song but I think that is what this web site is about... what a song means to someone personally. And this song will forever make me think you my baby... I love you ::chirp chirp::
    ooochristinaoooon August 15, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Possibly the best Elton John song ever?
    fonzarellion February 07, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    i actually really do like this song. the lyrics are just timeless.
    pumpkingirlon May 14, 2002   Link

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