Nothing but the whole wide world to gain
Nothing, nothing
Got nothing but the whole wide world to gain
Nothing, nothing
Got nothing but the whole wide, whole wide world to gain

I'm here on the blacktop
The sun in my eyes
Women and country on my mind
Bolting me out
Over the borderline

Now there's no more love loss and no more shame
No more digging holes or graves
Nothing to lose but rivets and chains
Got nothing but the whole wide world to gain

Nothing but the whole wide world to gain
Nothing, nothing
Got nothing but the whole wide world to gain
Nothing, nothing
Got nothing but the whole wide, whole wide world to gain

Was born in a stable and built like an ox
Down in the pastures I learned how to walk
Mama, she raised me to sing and just let 'em talk
Said no rich man's worth his weight in dust
Bury him down same as they'll do us
God wants us busy, never giving up
He wants nothing but the whole wide world for us

Nothing but the whole wide world for us
Nothing, nothing
Well there's nothing but the whole wide world for us
Nothing, nothing
Well there's nothing but the whole wide, whole wide world for us

We ain't got no money, can't get no love
Never was too good at either of 'em
I'm here for adventure whichever way it comes
But what good is an angel that won't catch up
Free falling now and I'm ready enough
I give my tears and I give my blood
I give nothing but the whole wide world for one

Nothing but the whole wide world for one
Nothing, nothing
Give nothing but the whole wide world for one
Nothing, nothing
Give nothing but the whole wide, whole wide world for one


Lyrics submitted by onethingscertain

Nothing But the Whole Wide World Lyrics as written by Jakob Dylan

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Nothing But the Whole Wide World song meanings
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2 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    I know that Jakob has said he doesn't write autobiographically, but I think these lines are very telling:

    "Mama she raised me to sing and just let them talk Said no rich man's worth his weight in dust They'll bury them down same as they do us"

    onethingscertainon April 19, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    Jakob ha dicho varias veces que escribe a partir de ideas ó imagenes y NBTWWW no puede ser otra cosa que la estampa de una serenata.

    Dividida en tres grandes partes; Nothing but the Whole Wide World en sus primeros tres versos es el nuevo anhelo de tomar riesgos. Imagenes de serenidad y optimismo inundan y el intérprete está confiado en un sentido tierno y romántico, que no hay nada más que ganar, que el mundo entero.

    Los siguientes versos, con un estilo mucho más folk-americano en la escritura, mencionan a "sú Momma" y las enseñanzas que ella tenía para él acerca del amor de Dios y de la felicidad cuando joven. Dios solo quiere lo mejor para nosotros; él solo quiere el mundo entero para nosotros (Nosotros adquiere especial significado una vez que la canción redondea de principio a fin y del final al principio).

    Estos versos (y en general la canción) no son propios del estilo de Jakob. Jakob en sus canciones no escribe autobiograficamente y no tiende a escribir optimisticamente de Dios (ó dios) y es aqui cuando noto que esta canción fue escrita para el cantante de country Glen Campbell y fue solo un afortunado accidente que Jakob terminara interpretandola.

    Es al final de la composición donde puedo completar la idea de una serenata que resume el sufrimiento, aprendizaje y nuevo coraje para llegar a este momento. Y no doy nada más que el mundo entero para alguien.

    :)

    CynthiaHon September 22, 2012   Link

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