This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
You're browsing through
A second hand bookstore
And you see him
In non-fiction
V through why
She looks up
From World War Two
And then you catch
His catching you
Catching his eye
And you quickly turn away
Your wishful stare
And take a sudden interest
In your shoes
If you only had the courage
But you don't she turns
And leaves and you both lose
And you think about
The people
That you never get to love
It's not as if you even
Have the chance
So many worth
A second life
But rarely do you get
A second glance
Until fate cuts
In on your dance
And you'll see him on a train
That you've just missed
At a bus stop
Where your bus will never stop
Or in a passing Buick
When you've been pulled over
By a traffic cop
Or you'll share an elevator
Just you two
And you'll rise
In solemn silence
To your floor
Like the fool
You are you get off
And he leaves your life
Behind a closing door
And you think about
The people
That you never get to love
The poem you intended to begin
The saddest words
That anyone has ever said
Are "Lord what might have been"
But no one said you get to win
Still you're never gonna miss
What you don't know
And you don't know
Who you'll meet
At half past three
It could be a total stranger
Who looks something
Just exactly much like me
One of the people
That you never get to love
One of the people
That you never get to love
The people
That you never get to love
A second hand bookstore
And you see him
In non-fiction
V through why
She looks up
From World War Two
And then you catch
His catching you
Catching his eye
And you quickly turn away
Your wishful stare
And take a sudden interest
In your shoes
If you only had the courage
But you don't she turns
And leaves and you both lose
And you think about
The people
That you never get to love
It's not as if you even
Have the chance
So many worth
A second life
But rarely do you get
A second glance
Until fate cuts
In on your dance
And you'll see him on a train
That you've just missed
At a bus stop
Where your bus will never stop
Or in a passing Buick
When you've been pulled over
By a traffic cop
Or you'll share an elevator
Just you two
And you'll rise
In solemn silence
To your floor
Like the fool
You are you get off
And he leaves your life
Behind a closing door
And you think about
The people
That you never get to love
The poem you intended to begin
The saddest words
That anyone has ever said
Are "Lord what might have been"
But no one said you get to win
Still you're never gonna miss
What you don't know
And you don't know
Who you'll meet
At half past three
It could be a total stranger
Who looks something
Just exactly much like me
One of the people
That you never get to love
One of the people
That you never get to love
The people
That you never get to love
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
The People That You Never Get to Love Lyrics as written by Rupert Holmes
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
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:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
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.