Like a foggy mirror,
Where receptions blurred
And things could stand to be clearer.
Sometimes it's hard to look you in the eye.

[Chorus]
If I could be the man on your shoulder
A God as you grow older.
I'd sleep so much easier tonight.
Close your eyes, they'll tell a story,
Of happy endings.
Close your eyes, re-write the story,
A new beginning.
It's not what they said, and it's not what we read
And all the promises they made us,
Are all shattered on the ground.

Your defense,
You've done no wrong
And live life in innocence,
So how could they have looked you in the eye?

[Chorus]

It's on the ground.
And when the cards are down,
It's safe to say that all bets are off.
It's on the ground.
And when the cards are down,
Well it's time to play, it's hard to say.
So bet all call.

It's not what they said, and it's not what we read
And all the promises they made us,
Are all shattered on the ground.
It's not what they said, and it's not what we read
And all the promises they made us,
Are all shattered on the ground.

Shattered on the ground,
All the cards are down
Everything they told us
Has always been so wrong,
So wrong, so wrong.
So wrong


Lyrics submitted by xoEmergencyTDM

It's Not What They Said Lyrics as written by Jonathan Luke Mcduffee Brandon Christopher Wootten

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

It's Not What They Said song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

5 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +2
    My Interpretation

    I think the song is about how when your a child people always tell you some sort of fairytale and it always end with a "happily ever after", but in reality its not like that and its more complicated than that.

    Luzeron March 04, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think it's basically talking about living life the way you want to. Being with who makes you happy, not who everyone else wants to see you with. Write the story your way. Choose your own "prince charming" and your own "fairy tale." Re-write the script. Live happily the way you want to. Don't let others see your eyes, because they'll try to change the story. Your eyes give things away that you don't want others to know.

    tyggzzon December 16, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    It's saying, to me, that if you help yourself be happy, you can make your own life, you can control your own life. Make it what you want it to be. And how no matter what people say or what you read, you know the truth, you know what's real. And how you don't have to take peoples promises.

    KayleeKittyon March 10, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I'm not sure what this is about ]: I wish I could interpret it. I like this song quite a bit.

    stagnateon December 10, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Hmmmm I think what it means is that when the drummers fiance died everyone was saying it was going to be alright, yet she had already died. But that's just my opinion you don't have to go with my story, other than that I love this song

    Juancho21on September 21, 2009   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". 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.
Album art
No Surprises
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Album art
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.