I noticed tonight that the world has been turning
While I've been stood here, dithering around
Though I know I said I'd wait around 'til you need me
I have to go, I hate to let you down

But I can't stop now
I've got troubles of my own
'Cause I'm short on time
I'm lonely and I'm
Too tired to talk

I noticed tonight that the world has been turning
While I've been stuck here, withering away
Though I know I said I wouldn't leave you behind
But I have to go, it breaks my heart to say

But I can't stop now
I've got troubles of my own
'Cause I'm short on time
I'm lonely and I'm
Too tired to talk

To no one

Back home
I've got troubles of my own
And I can't slow down
For no one in town
And I can't stop now

And I can't slow down
For no one in town
And I can't stop now
For no one

The motion keeps my heart from you
The motion keeps my heart from you
The motion keeps my heart from you
The motion keeps my heart from you


Lyrics submitted by boss_2k, edited by phxandy, juan102045, lasha10207, Makeitmeansomething

Can't Stop Now Lyrics as written by Richard David Hughes Timothy James Rice-oxley

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

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Can't Stop Now song meanings
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20 Comments

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  • +1
    General Commenti think the last four lines are wrong, are they not "The motion keeps my heart running"
    but this is a great song, my personal favourite song and is simply about someone who had said they would always be there for someone, but now their own troubles have become such that they have to move on, and leave them behind!
    Athlete***on June 19, 2004   Link
  • +1
    My InterpretationTo me, this song is an embodiment of some of my thoughts lately.
    At the minute, I'm living in the same town, same house, that I always have done, around the same sort of people from the last few years. Recently I took a trip to a university for an open day and it's not becoming more apparent that the people and places I know and love here won't be with me every second until the end of everything. Maybe I won't lose contact so much with some more than others, but really it's unrealistic to say that I'll be around them forever, a potentially heartbreaking realisation. Even with this realisation though, I can't slow down for anyone if I'm to go on to be who I want to be.

    This is what this means to me today.
    grandmabillon February 22, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI think it describes a person who places their relationship last on their list of priorities...they see the time spent with their partner as wasted time ("I noticed tonight that the world has been turning/While I've been stuck here dithering around"). Because of this they want to move on and do something more interesting, but feel that the other person is holding them back, so have to break it off first.

    I guess for that explanation to fly they'd have to be lying when they said "I hate to let you down" and "It breaks my heart". Maybe they are lying. Men do that *is not bitter at all...* This song does relate too closely to my ex though.
    Silverdewon September 30, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI agree with Athlete, that the person's troubles are just too much, and they have to deal with them first, before they can help anyone else

    I don't feel that this song is about the person lying. In a relationship context, I see it as the person is in love with a friend, but the feeling is not mutual. The person is really devoted to the friend, therefore "I said I'd wait around 'til you need me". But now, the person realizes that they've spent too much time on this relationship will will probably never happen, and have let their own life go to shambles.

    "I'm short on time" woud refer to the fact that the person has wasted a lot of time on this, and "I'm lonely and I'm to tired to talk" would refer to how they've never really considered anyone else due to this love, and so are still alone. The "too tired to talk" part would be the person growing tired of making their feelings known, and getting nothing in return.

    In the song, the person is still in love with the other person, but the person realizes that it'll never happen, and it's time to move on
    iBcPon December 20, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment~ on this relationship *that* will proabably never happen
    iBcPon December 20, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentOne of the best, catchiest songs on the album...with an anthemic type chorus like "This Is The Last Time".. I hope it'll be a single....
    michael-lon January 11, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Commentidk y it might not have nething to do with this song but the lyrics seemed to fit.. my boyfriend lives far away hes in PA and im in NC and times got so hard for him and i couldnt be there for him and he said he was gonna commit suicide and he told me he never wanted to let me down but this was sumthin he needed to do and he said he loved me and it broke his heart that he had to do it i cried for hours and hours and he called me and i eventually talked him out of it i love him so much for not doin that..and this song just fit it
    m/rockthecasbahm/on March 21, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Commentsorry random comment but the best bit in this song is when he sings "I'm lonely", it sounds so desperate and ... real.
    simsfreqon May 06, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthe speaker has been holding out for someone to return the love he has been putting out there. he finally figures out he has to go on living his life, and is letting go of this love he's been holding on to, by making it seem like he's letting the other person down gently, rather than being hurt himself.

    he's just realizing he's neglecting other parts of his life by putting so much energy into someone who doesn't want him back, or someone who is trying to just keep him around for whenever they feel like having somebody.
    emmeliaon June 16, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentYeah I think this is my favorite song on Hopes & Fears. He's got the most perfect voice for the range and emotion in this song. Excellent.
    musicforlife!on October 13, 2005   Link

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