That ain't a parachute
That ain't a rip cord
That ain't a body of water
We?re headed for
there's so little time left
So much to be done
Even you are gonna need someone
That ain't a trick of light
Or the morning haze
Coming in from the lake
Getting into your eyes
It?s the invisible breath
Of a storm on the rise
That I feel whenever you arrive

Now I may not be quick
Maybe never was
But tell me what the hell it is
That you've become

Baby if you never got sick
I wouldn't get to hold you
Baby if you never got sick
I would never get to hold you

This ain't a righteous love
Even a good one
These ain't the kinds of return
That I was thinking of
I'm unbearable now
You ain't seen nothing yet
you'll se me dead
Before you see me quit
That ain't a jug of wine
That you've been drinking from
Now lay back now baby
Let your fever come
I will bury you in
Just to dig you out
I haven't a use
For being proud

[chorus]
I followed you deep into a barren field
There was someone you were running from
When I needed to sleep
that's when you disappeared
But I did get the impossible done
Now I always knew
There was God inside you
I just never did learn which one

[chorus]



Lyrics submitted by planetearth

If You Never Got Sick Lyrics as written by Jakob Dylan

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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If You Never Got Sick song meanings
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6 Comments

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  • 0
    General CommentAwesome song, but the pre-chorus for the second verse is missing.
    burntfireon February 06, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentSorry, that's how the lyrics are listed in the liner notes that come with the CD. I corrected the part before the chorus and the other verse. I think I got the words right, but it's hard to tell.
    planetearthon February 08, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI've always loved this song, but I don't think that I ever really understood it until last night. I was at the Wallflowers concert in Cleveland and for whatever reason I just had an epiphany about it.

    this song is about someone who is strong and doesn't allow their partner to ever take care of them. When they start to get sick, their partner sees it as an opportunity to finally be there for them.

    There’s so little time left
    So much to be done
    Even you are going to need someone

    I will bury you in
    Just to dig you out
    I haven’t a use
    For being proud

    he doesn't care about being proud... he just wants to take care of his partner (who normally won't allow any help) and help them feel better. :-)
    marvelon July 12, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI'll agree with that. I'm actually a lot like that partner, not allowing help or anything, until I'm sick and I can't be independent any longer.
    Buddha of Suburbiaon December 14, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti agree that this song is about not being able to help a strong partner until they're sick, but i get a vibe that it's almost like the person singing is trying to MAKE the other person sick or weak...

    I think I made a mistake
    I think I pushed when you said wait
    But I never get to hold you

    It almost sounds to me like the person was so tired of not being able to take care of their partner that they felt the only way they could do it is if they made their partner feel weak or incompitent.
    ejb3939on March 15, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis song paints a different picture for me.

    I see a disintegrating relationship with an emotionally damaged woman. She goes to him for physical comfort. He's so infatuated that he's eager just to be used.

    He knew her before, and picked her up when she was on the rebound. Now he's doomed to be the rebound guy. If he had waited, maybe they could have had something. But then if he had waited, maybe he wouldn't have gotten anything.

    It took me a while to get the imagery. The parachute is referencing the relationship, about to crash and burn. With the "jug of wine," he says she's using him; drinking his blood. The barren field is the loveless place she's gone after a failed relationship. No good comes from following somebody there.

    What I find gripping is on one hand his awareness of the doomed, destructive nature of the relationship and on the other his powerlessness in the face of his lust and emotion. He never talks about her qualities, just the feeling that grips him. Despite all his critical awareness, he can hope: Even you are going to need someone.
    Maurkovon March 22, 2006   Link

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