The Difference

The Wallflowers

One, two boys by the river
Down by the water tellin' riddles in the dark
With fireflies under the moonlight
Carvin' the insides of a tree with a knife
Ever hear the one about the boy's big sister
His best friend come along
He tried to kiss her

The only difference that I see
Is you are exactly the same as you used to be

One boy lives in a tower
With bow and arrow and the artificial heart
With his girl late in the summer
He loaded the cannon with a jealous appetite
They say that children now they come in all ages
And maybe sometimes old men die with little boy faces

The only difference that I see
Is you are exactly the same as you used to be
The only difference that I see
Is you are exactly the same as you used to be

You always said that you needed some
But you always had more, more than anyone

The only difference that I see
Is you are exactly the same as you used to be
The only difference that I see
Is you are exactly the same as you used to be


Lyrics submitted by 3ssence

The Difference Lyrics as written by Jakob Dylan

Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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The Difference song meanings
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7 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment
    I always thought that the song was pillorying Jakob's dad the way he would later in "Hand Me Down."--calling him immature (children, now they come in all ages...old men die with little boy faces) and referring to his penchant for womanizing (you always said that you need some...but you always had more than anyone.) I'm by no means confident of this interpretation, but it's something to think about.
    DJacques75on May 24, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    i love this song. it's so fun and...sweet. that's all i can say.
    missbinnyon June 17, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I cannot beieve more people haven't posted about this song, it's awesome. I dont know exactly what it means but DJacques75's theory would make sense. Bob Dylan is a crazy motherfucker.
    alwaysanoleon September 13, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    ty always. Bob definitely was crazy!
    DJacques75on September 29, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    “Ever hear the one about the boy's big sister His best friend come along He tried to kiss her” maybe a reference to Jakob’s childhood sweetheart, Nicole Paige Denny, now actress Paige Dylan?
    Davin Baconon May 06, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Ever hear the one about the boy's big sister His best friend come along He tried to kiss her i love that phrase :)
    catdanceon August 04, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Sounds like he's talking to an old friend, and trying to make the point that his friend really hasn't changed. That much is obvious. Still a little boy who gossips about girls.
    Nillerzon July 01, 2009   Link

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