I was born in 1989
All we could do
No shakes or coughs or burst relief
Or lists of all our things
Just minutes making minds

I was born in 1989
All we could do
But the making never made
The comers never came
But I, I still felt that awful news

It was patience that we had
And the miles that we had left
That held us there
Until we could let go

I was born in 1989
And it'll be over soon
No moon children or people's sun
No ringing in my ears
When I, I still felt that awful news

It was patience that we had
And the miles that we had left
That held us there
Until we could let go

It was patience that we had
And the miles we had left
That held us there
Until we could let go (if our hearts would ever come around)

I was born in 1989
All we could do

And I didn't hurt nobody
In our minds, in our minds
And I didn't hurt nobody
And I, I still felt that awful news

It was patience that we had
And the miles that we had left
That held us here
Until we could let go

It was patience that we had
And the miles that we had left
That held us here
Until we could let go (if our hearts would ever come around)


Lyrics submitted by lendmeyourbrain

1989 Lyrics as written by John Baldwin Gourley

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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1989 song meanings
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12 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment
    Probably my favorite song on Censored Colors, at least so far. I was born in 1988, but man does this song speak to my whole generation. I love it.
    discovolanteon September 02, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    I myself was born in 1989... I feel like when I'm old and grey, this song will be something I'll sing to my grandkids
    Fortresskezia8201on September 27, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    i read somewhere that john mentioned the 'event' was the gulf war. but the gulf war started in 1990 and he just changed the lyric to 1989 because it fit much better.
    HomerunHenryon May 07, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment
    taken from absolutepunk-- "'1989,' a track off of Censored Colors detailing John Gourley's recollection of the Gulf War and how it affected him"
    HomerunHenryon May 07, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    this song is an orgasm in my ears.
    pmiller14691on September 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I deffinitely agree with you Fortress.. This song is amazing, it's my favorite PTM song..
    elizuhbethon October 29, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    I saw them recently at the Brewery in Raleigh NC and asked John what this song was about. It's about the year his eyes were truly opened, when he realized that the world wasn't such a warm fuzzy place
    clm1003on October 31, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    haaaa, i thought i'd spam a little bit more just to back up what i said first "the epic '1989,' in which the singer touches upon the effect the Persian Gulf War had on his life. [Yes, this war started in 1990, but '1990' didn't fit musically, so Gourley changed history for the benefit of the song.]"
    HomerunHenryon May 07, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    my first impression from this song was that it was about the simplicity of being young. but i guess i was too far off.
    digger26on April 30, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    i personally think the "awful news" was about the Exxon Valdez oil spill that happened on the shores of Alaska. He grew up in Alaska and it happened in 1989. Makes sense.
    dude106on June 14, 2010   Link

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