Well, based on your smile
I'm betting all of this
Might be over soon
But your bound to win
'Cause if I'm betting against you
I think I'd rather lose
But this is all that I have

So please
Take what's left of this heart and use
Please use only what you really need
You know I only have so little
So please
Mend your broken heart and leave

I know it's not your style
I can tell by the way that you move
It's real, real soon
But I'm on your side
And I don't want to be your regret
I'd rather be your cocoon
But this is all that you have

So please
Let me take what's left of your heart and I will use
I swear I'll use only what I need
I know you only have so little
So please
Let me mend my broken heart and

You said this was all you had
And it's all I need
But blah blah blah
Because it fell apart and
I guess it's all you knew
And all I have
But now we have
Only confused hearts and
I guess all we have
Is really all we need

So please
Let's take these broken hearts and use
Let's use only what we really need
You know we only have so little
So please
Take these broken hearts and leave


Lyrics submitted by fateworxbothways

Cocoon Lyrics as written by Jack Hody Johnson

Lyrics © Bubble Toes Publishing, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Cocoon song meanings
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44 Comments

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  • +3
    General Comment

    Best line of the song: "I don't wanna be your regret, I'd rather be your cocoon" that says it all right there - you wanna hope that in failed relationships you were that person with whom the other person needed to be with in order to grow before emerging as a beautiful butterfly with someone else ... instead of one of their mistakes. jack's a genius. loovvve it!

    lyrical_butterflyon March 18, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    This song is about two people who have been hurt in relationships in the past. he is saying that she looks like she is ready to leave or dis connect because of the fact that past relationships bring baggage and her heart may still be in the past. But maybe there is nothing to learn from relationships but that you take what you need and they are what they are. We all are dealing with somewhat of a broken heart and we want to be able to be vulnerable again and not regret the next relationship like the one before. we are all looking for our cocoon. :) Here he is just asking her to share with him what she has and he will do the same.

    ninadoveon November 26, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I take this as a breakup song, and it's one of my favorites along with Song For the Dumped by Ben Folds Five. They show such different views on breaking up, and while BFF's is alot more fun, this one makes so much more sense. "I don't want to be your regret, I'd rather be your cocoon." It's such a good way of saying, "I hope you came out of this a better person," instead of "fuck you."

    Wrapidon October 03, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    the genuine emotion in his voice takes this song to the next level.

    especially at the end when he holds out the not on "please"

    i love it.

    XxXireneyXxXon March 20, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i was about to say something about his voice.

    it's extremely powerful

    jaredheroon August 22, 2008   Link
  • +1
    Memory

    Have been to Finland, met a dancing girl (from Lettland) at a strip club (Naima Club, Saariselkä). We talked to eachother, she listened to "Cocoon" from Jack Johnson on my mp3-player and immediately broke up into tears... Afterwards we cuddled a long time (strictly forbidden in such a bar!) but later never met again.

    "i guess all we had is really all we need" ... "let's use only what we really need you know we only have so little so please take these broken hearts and leave"

    Peddaon July 12, 2010   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    This is my favourite Jack Johnson song. Yeah i know it's impossible to choose just one because there all so amazing. But this one hits close to home and every time i hear it, i immediately just zone out and put everything into perspective. I don't know why but theres something about this song that does it too me.

    Nirvanetteon February 04, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I can't believe no one has posted anything about cocoon. This is one of my most favorite jack johnson songs ever!

    onthetraintonewyorkon April 20, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    hey i love this song so much....he so mellow and down to earth and his music is what i call "no worry" music...."blah blah blah" well any way onthetraintonewyork..your absoulutly right this is a kick ut song.....

    PUNKyFUNK1on May 28, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i love the "blah blah blah" part.

    classic!

    hellohelloon May 29, 2004   Link

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