Sometimes I get the feeling
That I won't be on this planet for very long
I really like it here
I'm quite attached to it; I hope I'm wrong

All I really want to say
You're the reason I want to stay
I loved you before I met you
And I met you just in time
Because there was nothing left

I sat here on my suitcase
In our empty new apartment
'til the sun went down
And I walked back down the stairs
With all my bags and drove away
You must be freaking out

All I know is I got to be
Where my heart says I ought to be
It often makes no sense, in fact
I never understand these things I feel

Don't change your plans for me
I won't move to LA
The leaves are falling back east
That's where I'm going to stay

You have made me smile again
In fact I might be sore from it
It's been awhile
I know we've been together
Many times before
I'll see you on the other side

Don't change your plans for me
I won't move to LA
The leaves are falling back east
That's where I'm going to stay

All I really want to say
You're the reason I want to stay
But destiny is calling
And I told them when my time is up
I'm out of here

All I know is I got to be
Where my heart says I ought to be
It often makes no sense, in fact
I never understand these things I feel

I love you, good bye
I love you, good bye


Lyrics submitted by kevin

Don't Change Your Plans Lyrics as written by Ben Folds

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Don't Change Your Plans song meanings
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    Song Meaning

    This is part of a long history of songs about a person moving to L.A. to seek fame and fortune, leaving home and everyone there. The most famous is "Midnight Train to Georgia," but there's also "Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere" and "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?" (Side note: The last of these is a Bacharach/David composition, and Ben Folds Five was clearly going for that type of feeling with this song's arrangement.)

    However, whereas those songs are from the point of view of the fame-seeker going home (or at least considering it), "Don't Change Your Plans for Me" is about other person being the one who goes back. The person who decides to go to L.A. is enough reason for him to keep living, but not enough to keep living in L.A. He wants her to continue seeking what she wants even though he feels he can't stay there.

    calbearon April 15, 2024   Link

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