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I'd Rather Be You Lyrics

Ooh yeah
You know I never wanted to be closer
And I'll still be here until it's over
No, no I never wanted to be closer
But you'll be back, I could've told you

Well I always knew
Yes I could see it coming
Your ambitious streak
You always want things beyond your reach
Well now you've got what you wanted
And you're free to be the things
You always said you'd be
You're up there looking down
Tell me what do you see - oh

Cos you know
You know I never wanted to be closer
And I'll still be here until it's over
No, no I never wanted to be closer
Yeah, but you'll be back, I could've told you

Well it seems to me
That you've got to fight for yourself
In this world we live in
It's dog-eat-dog and never give in
Why worry when you're holding the aces
Don't throw it away cos you know
I'd rather be you than me
Up there looking down
Tell me what do you see - oh

Hey hey yeah

Ooh yeah
You know I never wanted to be closer (never wanted)
And I'll still be here 'til it's over
No, no I never wanted to be closer (never wanted)
Ooh but you'll be back, I could've told you

It's been a long time coming
But at last we seem to be moving on, straight ahead
We're finally getting something done
Time flies and before you know it
You'll be getting closer to where
You always knew you'd be
Up there looking down
Tell me what do you see - oh

Cos you know
No, no I never wanted to be closer (never wanted)
I'll still be here until it's over
No, you know I never wanted to be closer (never wanted)
Yeah but you'll be back, I could've told you

Hey hey yeah...
1 Meaning

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Cover art for I'd Rather Be You lyrics by Genesis

I think the lyric "I've never wanted to be closer" has a double-meaning.... the figure of speech represents longing, but the literal meaning is that he does not want to be closer to this person. I think he uses this same sort of double-speak throughout "Jesus, He Knows Me" to make his critical points about religion while sounding like he's promoting it. It's pretty brilliant stuff. The entire Invisible Touch album seems to have a negative religious connotation similar to this one. Hearing the B-Sides has only confirmed my theory.

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