What If I Do? Lyrics
It's about him being in love with a girl he's already close to. A lot of love songs are obviously about girls who don't pay attention but this is about one he's already friends with. "Help me search to find the words that eat you up inside" is him asking for her to give him the words that will make her fall in love with him, because he can't find them himself "And I only hide what is on my mind because I can't explain" is him telling her that the reason he acts the way he does is because he is scared to tell her how he feels in case of rejection, as if she'd asked him "Why are you acting all weird?" The chorus is the debate he is having with himself on what to do, he wants to be with her but "I'd have to lose everything just to find you" means he'd have to lose his friendship with her and maybe his other friends just to see if a relationship with her would work. "Trophies earned and lessons learned from wicked little liars" is him saying that in previous relationships he's taken the rough with the smooth and has been lied to by women (haven't we all?). Then "We can pave new roads with their cold gravestones, wind them through the pines" is him saying that in his mind, him and her togehter would be a better couple than he was with his previous partners, and being with her would take away his pain from past relationships. "Should I stay or should I go alone, I cannot decide" is him reiterating his confusion, whether he'll wait for the time for them to be togther, but risk heartbreak, or move on and try to forget about her, but it;s obviously not an easy decision. And then back to the chorus of "What if I do? Lord, what if I don't?" Which is, What if I do tell you how I feel? What if I don't tell you? I'd have to lose everything we've had together just to find if I was right and we where meant to be. Love this song to bits, written so intelligently, i think it's the closest to perfection that music can get. Really captures the helplessness of being in love with someone you're already close to. Top work, Mr. Grohl.
Ha. Here's what the foo website lists these lyrics as:
Back and forth, that voice of yours Keeps me up at night Help me search to find the words That eat you up inside I go side to side like the wildest tides In your hurricane And I only hide what is on my mind Because I can’t explain What if I do, Lord? What if I don’t? I’d have to lose everything Just to find you It’s my turn, this soul won’t burn So throw me in the fire Trophies earned and lessons learned From wicked little liars We could pave new roads with their cold gravestones And wind them through the pines Should I stay or should I go alone? I cannot decide. Carolina. ..... Notice, 'what if i do, lord...' Anyone got any ideas? Email me, Michael@spywarelabs.com........searching.
I DID notice the "what if I do, Lord" as well. Which makes a big difference in the meaning for me. The lyrics read more as a prayer over anything else. Especially the lines following his question to the Lord. He says "I'd have to lose everything just to find you" which is something that most people who have been a similar dilemma can relate to personally. Because making that step to really surrender all to follow your faith is one that is necessary, but most definitely not easy. I'm going to go ahead and post my own opinion as...
I DID notice the "what if I do, Lord" as well. Which makes a big difference in the meaning for me. The lyrics read more as a prayer over anything else. Especially the lines following his question to the Lord. He says "I'd have to lose everything just to find you" which is something that most people who have been a similar dilemma can relate to personally. Because making that step to really surrender all to follow your faith is one that is necessary, but most definitely not easy. I'm going to go ahead and post my own opinion as well. But I just wanted to let you know I noticed that as well, and in my opinion it makes a big difference when thinking of what the lyrics are really saying.
this song is really growing on me.
the melody during the "Carolina" bit is so classically infectious in a way the only the foo can do to me. I love it.
I heard "What if I do, Lord?" from the start. I'm not gonna' go right out and say "Hey, look, it's a WORSHIP song!", 'cause that's not really what I think. I think it's just more of a prayer or hope for some kind of guidance or answer. The biblical reference is pretty obvious though.
kinda' reminds me of this little number:
Luke 9:24 - For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it.
Dave the preacher. okay, I doubt that's what he was going for, but it's interesting to contemplate.
I love this song.
I completely agree! That one word/name makes a HUGE difference in who and what the song is about.
I completely agree! That one word/name makes a HUGE difference in who and what the song is about.
The lyrics successfully capture the loneliness of making a difficult, life-altering choice. This decision before him is so serious that he is praying to God about it (in his own way). The lyrics are vague enough that they could pertain to a relationship choice or a career choice--it's unclear. I would guess a relationship choice since he mentions "that voice of yours keeps me up at night" and he'd have to "lose everything just to find you". He may be choosing between his lifestyle and love or between his old relationship and a new one. These lyrics could fit a person who is married or in a serious relationship but in love with someone else...
I think its about a couple that are already together, ''back and forth that voice of yours keeps me up at night'', he's replaying what she said to him and cant sleep, ''help me find the words that eat you up inside'' he wants to hurt her with words like she's done to him, ''he goes side to side like the wildest tides in her hurricane'' the sea wants to be calm but its been thrown about by the wind the wind controls the seas, arguing probably, she thinks he's hiding something but he cant explain what she wants to know.
''what if I do love, what if I don't ill have to lose everything to find you, he cant decide whether to love her whether to give into her love and risk losing his independence or maybe he's thinking about giving up on her and losing everything to to find love
''its my turn this soul wont burn so throw me in the fire'' he knows its his turn to hurt a little by getting burnt but she cant do it a little so he's telling her to hurt him a lot by throwing him away. ''trophies earnt and lessons learnt by wicked little liars'' he's telling her she's won trophies and battles and learnt a lot how to hurt him with wicked lies, ''we can pave new roads with there cold grave stones and wind them through the pines'' he's saying we can bury the past and set a new future but they must be COLD meaning not to be gone over again and use them to find away through the other obstacles In life (wind them through the pines) he reiterates of whether to stay or go,
Carolinas a specific girl.
well that's my opinion whether its right or not I don't know I suppose its open to interpretation thanks for reading
One of my fav songs. Makes me relax. Love the whole album!!
song is clearly about a dude who has to choose between his bitch and his career/exotic future. he doesnt know if he loves his bitch enough to stay. nicely written and catchy as fuck. dave's the man.
for all u nirvana fans check out chris novoselic's(nirv. bassist) new band eyes adrift with sublime's old drummer and meat puppets old guitarist/singer
right on nichech! your so cool ecspecialy when you refer a womman to the word "bitch"
It is definately about a girl, and hes asking god for help in making a desicion between everything he has done and accomplished so far and this girl.
It is definately about a girl, and hes asking god for help in making a desicion between everything he has done and accomplished so far and this girl.