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See You When You're 40 Lyrics
I've driven 'round in circles for three hours
It was bound to happen that I'd end up at yours
I temporarily forgot there's better days to come
I thought that I would give it just one more chance
'Cause I want, tonight, what I've been waiting for
But I found, tonight, what I'd been warned about
You think that you are complicated, deep mystery to all
Well, it's taken me a while to see, you're not so special
All energy, no meaning
With a lot of words so paper thin
That one real feeling could knock you down
And I've seen, tonight, what I'd been warned about
I'm gonna leave, tonight, before I change my mind
So, see you when you're 40
Lost and all alone
Being comforted by strangers you'll never need to know
Not sad because you lost me
But sad because you thought it was cool to be sad
You think misery will make you stand apart from the crowd
Well, if you had walked past me today
I wouldn't have picked you out
I wouldn't have picked you out
Now I've seen, tonight, how I could waste my time?
And I'll be on my way, and I won't be back
'Cause I've seen, tonight, what I've been warned about
You're just a boy, not a man, and I'm not coming back
It was bound to happen that I'd end up at yours
I temporarily forgot there's better days to come
I thought that I would give it just one more chance
But I found, tonight, what I'd been warned about
Well, it's taken me a while to see, you're not so special
All energy, no meaning
With a lot of words so paper thin
That one real feeling could knock you down
I'm gonna leave, tonight, before I change my mind
Lost and all alone
Being comforted by strangers you'll never need to know
Not sad because you lost me
But sad because you thought it was cool to be sad
Well, if you had walked past me today
I wouldn't have picked you out
I wouldn't have picked you out
And I'll be on my way, and I won't be back
'Cause I've seen, tonight, what I've been warned about
You're just a boy, not a man, and I'm not coming back
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A more literal interpretation of this song could go as such: She thinks she's in love with this guy who is "all talk and no walk." She makes it clear that while he wants to seem mysterious and deep, this is all just a show; in reality, this guy doesn't know anything about emotion. She knows this, but can't help but still want him, even though whenever she spends time with him she knows he is completely false.
She decides to leave - "I'm gonna leave, tonight, before I change my mind," reassuring herself that this guy isn't going anywhere with his life and he's a complete downer. ("You think misery will make you stand apart from the crowd") By separating herself from this guy, she'll rise above him and stand out, not wasting her time anymore - "now I've seen, tonight, how I could waste my time / and I'll be on my way, and I won't be back."
@KatieC That really seems to be the meaning at first sight. I think you are very close to what Dido means by the first and last verses. But you overlook the fact that according to the song title the "See you when you're 40" verses are central. For some reason she wants to see the guy again in her life - and it's probably more her hope that he will be sad and alone. Maybe she herself was afraid of being sad and alone at 40? I think that this song goes much deeper and is not just a pure hate song. This...
@KatieC That really seems to be the meaning at first sight. I think you are very close to what Dido means by the first and last verses. But you overlook the fact that according to the song title the "See you when you're 40" verses are central. For some reason she wants to see the guy again in her life - and it's probably more her hope that he will be sad and alone. Maybe she herself was afraid of being sad and alone at 40? I think that this song goes much deeper and is not just a pure hate song. This song is about a tragedy. "I temporarily forgot there's better days to come I thought that I would give it just one more chance She says this at the beginning - and "it" is "love". She had actually given up hope of love, and suddenly something happened one evening that she had secretly waited for but never expected. The boy had briefly revived in her the buried hope for true love. Later that evening something went terribly wrong. Before she comes to terms with the fact that she herself might also have done something wrong, she blames the boy alone. She would rather go away and give up hope for love than continue to deal with what happened that night and fight for love. A song about a tragedy.
I actually like it. Whenever i'm thinking irrationally about things around me it's a bit like a wake up call. But whatever.
I really like this song too..from the first time I heard it it's really stuck with me. "Not sad because you lost me, but sad because you thought it was cool to be sad". I love that line, I think everyone knows people that can be described like that.
this song is exactly what i just went through this past month. i was dating a boy. a sad one. and he thought it was cool. i really like him, but apparently, he liked being sad more than being happy (which is what i made him), and i had to end it before it was able to truly begin because the pain was too much. and i need a MAN. not a sad little boy. maybe when he grows up we could try again....
@angeleyesud yeah maybe...
@angeleyesud yeah maybe...
This song is Great! I think it means when a guy has said alot of things to you which you want to hear, you know deep down theres feeling there and you like what you see, but he has this other side to him where he doesnt let you in or show you his true emotions, I am in a situation like this at the moment, I love the line '' All energy no meaning, with alot of words' Great track, as always.
I really agree with shadowangel about this being a sort of wake-up call, when you stop thinking irrationally and just simply look at it objectively. She's driven round in circles and ended up at his house, and she suddenly realizes that she doesn't remember any of the reasons why she would still want to be with him - "Cuz I want, tonight what I've been waiting for - But I've seen, tonight, what I've been warned about." And then when she sees that, "I've seen, tonight, how could I waste my time" What I love about this song is how it's not malicious, it's just that she's realized, and she knows she's not going to be coming back to him
on repeat for me at the moment, i love the lines; "You think that you are complicated, deep mystery to all Well it's taken me a while to see, you're not so special" can jus relate to it, wen u choose a guy u wud neva normally go for, u fall for him in a major way, and then suddenly u see that infact he isn't all that, mroe lies beneath that person u fell for and its not rele ll that gr8!
I'm completely with KatieC on this one. I also like cheetah9714's comment that it's not malicious. It really is just an understanding that "I don't really want you the way I thought I did."
...On a personal note, I guess I didn't realize what a universal theme this is. I'm in the process of telling myself what Dido is telling herself here. In the song, it's a sudden, simple realization. If only decisions in life were so easy. Still, it's comforting when I get tied up in what-could-be to listen to this song and think, "He's all wrong for you. And that's OK."
I love this song, and I know it sounds crazy, but I always thought this was about someone who is in love with a goth. Ok, so shoot me. I can understand what everyone else is saying, though - your interpretations probably make more sense than mine. :D
Hedgehog kisses, so true, emos haha.
OMG, call me pedantic but I hate it when people misspell "you're"
It's not that f***ing hard.