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"
Just as I thought it was going alright
I find out I'm wrong, when I thought I was right
S'always the same, it's just a shame, that's all
I could say day, you'd say night
Tell it's black when I know that it's white
S'always the same, it's just a shame, that's all
I could leave but I won't go
Though my heart might tell me so
I can't feel a thing from my head down to my toes
So why does it always seem to be
Me looking at you, you looking at me
S'always the same, it's just a shame, that's all
Turning me on, turning me off
Making me feel like I want too much
Living with you's just putting me through it all of the time
Running around, staying out all night
Taking it all instead of taking one bite
Living with you's just putting me through it all of the time
I could leave but I won't go
It'd be easier I know
I can't feel a thing from my head down to my toes
But why does it always seem to be
Me looking at you, you looking at me
S'always the same, just a shame, that's all
Truth is I love you
More than I wanted to
There's no point in trying to pretend
There's been no-one who
Makes me feel like you do
Say we'll be together til the end
I could leave but I won't go
It'd be easier I know
I can't feel a thing from my head down to my toes
But why does it always seem to be
Me looking at you, you looking at me
S'always the same, just a shame, that's all
Just as I thought it was going alright
I find out I'm wrong when I thought I was right
S'always the same, just a shame, that's all
I could say day, you'd say night
Tell me it's black when I know that it's white
S'always the same, it's just a shame, that's all
That's all
I find out I'm wrong, when I thought I was right
S'always the same, it's just a shame, that's all
I could say day, you'd say night
Tell it's black when I know that it's white
S'always the same, it's just a shame, that's all
I could leave but I won't go
Though my heart might tell me so
I can't feel a thing from my head down to my toes
So why does it always seem to be
Me looking at you, you looking at me
S'always the same, it's just a shame, that's all
Turning me on, turning me off
Making me feel like I want too much
Living with you's just putting me through it all of the time
Running around, staying out all night
Taking it all instead of taking one bite
Living with you's just putting me through it all of the time
I could leave but I won't go
It'd be easier I know
I can't feel a thing from my head down to my toes
But why does it always seem to be
Me looking at you, you looking at me
S'always the same, just a shame, that's all
Truth is I love you
More than I wanted to
There's no point in trying to pretend
There's been no-one who
Makes me feel like you do
Say we'll be together til the end
I could leave but I won't go
It'd be easier I know
I can't feel a thing from my head down to my toes
But why does it always seem to be
Me looking at you, you looking at me
S'always the same, just a shame, that's all
Just as I thought it was going alright
I find out I'm wrong when I thought I was right
S'always the same, just a shame, that's all
I could say day, you'd say night
Tell me it's black when I know that it's white
S'always the same, it's just a shame, that's all
That's all
Lyrics submitted by jowanatalkboutit
That's All Lyrics as written by Phil Collins Tony Banks
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
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This song is much to do about the poo of a relationship.
Cool, I get to be the first to comment on this song. It has been one of my favorite songs since I was real young and I mainly liked it because of the piano in it and I never really paid attention to the lyrics. Now that I'm older and I just went through a divorce it was scary as to how this song was tailor made for my situation (after I read the lyrics). I'm the type that can't leave someone I love even if it is for the right reasons. But I'm sure glad my ex-wife had the courage to leave me, I'm much happier now! So the song is creapy in a way but in another way I enjoy hearing it from time to time to as a reminder of what I just went through. Phil sing this song just perfect.
As a songwriter who routinely uses figures of speech to ascribe multiple meanings to the same sequence of words, I can tell you EXACTLY what this song is about:
C.O.C.A.I.N.E.
I am certain this is Phil Collin's ode to the contradictions inherent in a chronic cocaine abuser's never ending quest for elation; followed immediately by guilt and remorse.
Don't believe me?
Just listen to the song again right now with THAT premise in mind...
" I could leave but I won't go, it would be easier I know.. I can't feel a thing from my head down to my toes.."
I mean, really: c'mon people!
cheers!
Pimpadeus