This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Don't hang your head low 'cause I can't see your face
In your reflection I see your beauty and grace
And when the light shines bright to show you your way do not be weary
Don't turn your head away
So let the critics look upon you with a thousand eyes
And let their tongues do the judging and criticize
And you just sit here before us and reveal your light
Go on
Go on my child
Go on
Go on my child
Your soul is aching and it's dying to be heard
This might be painful but consider the worth
And when you feel like there's nobody on your side
They will embrace you with a radiant smile
So let the critics look upon you with a thousand eyes
And let their tongues do the judging and criticize
And you just sit here before us and reveal your light
Go on
Go on my child
Go on
Go on my child
So you want to give up and you can't find the strength
I believe that you will make it in the end
So you want to stare back and you want to retreat
I believe that there ain't nothing you can't be
Nothing you can't be
Don't feel so naked
I am the blanket of hope
Your words are life rafts and they keep us afloat
And when this long painful journey comes to an end
They will be touched by the message
The message you've sent
So let the critics look upon you with a thousand eyes
And let their tongues do the judging and criticize
And you just sit here before us and reveal your light
Go on
Go on my child
Go on
Go on my child
Go on
Go on my child
Go on
Go on my child
Go on
Go on my child
In your reflection I see your beauty and grace
And when the light shines bright to show you your way do not be weary
Don't turn your head away
So let the critics look upon you with a thousand eyes
And let their tongues do the judging and criticize
And you just sit here before us and reveal your light
Go on
Go on my child
Go on
Go on my child
Your soul is aching and it's dying to be heard
This might be painful but consider the worth
And when you feel like there's nobody on your side
They will embrace you with a radiant smile
So let the critics look upon you with a thousand eyes
And let their tongues do the judging and criticize
And you just sit here before us and reveal your light
Go on
Go on my child
Go on
Go on my child
So you want to give up and you can't find the strength
I believe that you will make it in the end
So you want to stare back and you want to retreat
I believe that there ain't nothing you can't be
Nothing you can't be
Don't feel so naked
I am the blanket of hope
Your words are life rafts and they keep us afloat
And when this long painful journey comes to an end
They will be touched by the message
The message you've sent
So let the critics look upon you with a thousand eyes
And let their tongues do the judging and criticize
And you just sit here before us and reveal your light
Go on
Go on my child
Go on
Go on my child
Go on
Go on my child
Go on
Go on my child
Go on
Go on my child
Lyrics submitted by gaylordmfocker
Go On My Child Lyrics as written by Michelle Featherstone
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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In a nutshell, I think it's about believing in someone when they don't quite believe in themself. "I believe that there ain't nothing you can't be, nothing you can't be." Knowing that they have something good to offer if they can find the strength to take a chance and put themself out there -and you will be there to support them.
I always thought this was about Christ. I'm not religious or anything but it just seems to fit eg. just sitting there revealing his life, being passive even to those who mean him harm, and the bit about his words being liferafts. Maybe, I dunno. Just seems to fit. Wonderful song at any rate.
I think that this song is about giving someone the strength to make it through even when everyone else says they won't. Very beautiful song