I'm in a room full of people, hanging on one person's breath.
We would all vote him most likely to be loved to death.
I hope he still wants it, but it might remind him of when,
he aimed for the bulls eye and hit it nine times out of ten.
That one time his hand slipped, and I saw the dart sail away.
I don't know where it landed, but I'm guessing between green and gray.
We thought nothing of it, but it still haunts him like a ghost.
With all eyes upon him, except two that matter the most.

He says "Green is the color everyone sees all around me.
Gray is the color I see around her, and she's just a blur."
The more the crowd cheers, the less I can hear
and they don't really care what I play. It might be for her.
But for now it's between green and gray.

We paid and we cheered. Now we're gone and to us that feels right.
But for him every one of those evenings turns into a night.
With another hotel room where he lays awake to pretend
that he's doing fine with his notebook and discman for friends.

He says "Green is the color everyone sees all around me.
Gray is the color I see around her, and she's just a blur."
Night after night what I hear, what I write fills the room
and my head starts to sway. It might be for her,
but for now it's between green and gray.

I want you to love me, he whispers, unable to speak.
And he wonders aloud why feelings so strong make the body so weak.
Then he awoke. Now he's scared to death somebody heard.
If it was you, and you know her, please don't say a word.


Lyrics submitted by gret854

Green and Gray Lyrics as written by Chris Thile

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC

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Green and Gray song meanings
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24 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    this song def. is amazing..........especially the last verse

    "Then he awoke/ now he's scared to death somebody heard. If it was you and you know her, please dont say a word"

    Amazing...simply amazing...

    TSLlovesPHILon June 10, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think is written from the viewpoint of an audience member/fan about an artist who basically is in love with this notion of a girl. Although he is used to getting everything he wants, the girl is different and he doesn't know why.

    ahh...mcgeeon December 23, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    "He aimed for the bull's eye and hit it nine times out of ten."

    The man in the story is used to being able to get any girl he pleases.But he just can't seem to get the attention of the one he feels he needs.

    I imagine he's feeling rather alone and lost his true friends to the attention he was getting. It's almost as if not being able to get this girl humbled him and made him realize he's alone.

    ohhelenaon January 02, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I absolutely love this song, personal reasons, but it's awesome...

    supachikon September 16, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    not really my kind of music, but this song is really pretty. a friend burned it onto a mix for me and i like it. his voice is really pure. and the lyrics are fantastic.

    starlitxmidnighton April 08, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "With all eyes upon him, except two that matter the most." I think a lot of people experience that feeling at one point in life. It's just like straight up raw emontion. one of my favorite songs.

    forelsket segon May 09, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "And he wonders aloud why feelings so strong make the body so weak. " why do feelings so strong make the body so weak?

    gigglegirl53187on September 20, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song is awesome. I love the strings in the background during the chorus, especially during the second chorus. How is it that Nickel Creek continues to make one awesome song after the next? They've gotta be robots.... ;p

    LilyBearon September 29, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Lovely and amazing. Sigh I love Chris' voice!

    CRYN_OUTon September 30, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Isn't it Sean singing on this one?

    yamahasixstringon October 24, 2004   Link

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