This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
I'm not a fortune teller, I won't be bringing news
Of what tomorrow brings, I'll leave that up to you
I'm not a fortune teller, don't have a crystal ball
I can't predict the future, can't see nothing at all
It doesn't mean I'm afraid of all the things that you say
But I just think we should stay stuck in the moment today
And as the seasons roll by, no matter how hard I try
Summer will end and the leaves will turn again
I don't know why you're acting like this
I don't know why you had to do it again
Why'd you have to go and ruin the night
Don't worry about tomorrow's mess
I never know how the future will go
I don't know what to tell you, I'm not a fortune teller
I'll never change, but I want you to stay
I don't know what to tell you, I'm not a fortune teller
I don't like watching TV, I don't know what it all means
And your American dream, baby it just isn't me
I know that what I'm thinking may not be on your mind
I know the song I'm singing is not your favorite kind
It doesn't mean I'm afraid of all the things that you say
But I just think we should stay stuck in the moment today
And as the seasons roll by, no matter how hard I try
Summer will end and the leaves will turn again
I don't know why you're acting like this
I don't know why you had to do it again
Why'd you have to go and ruin the night
Don't worry about tomorrow's mess
I never know how the future will go
I don't know what to tell you, I'm not a fortune teller
I'll never change, but I want you to stay
I don't know what to tell you, I'm not a fortune teller
This feeling keeps growing
These rivers keep flowing
How can I have answers
When you drown me in questions
I never know how the future will go
I don't know what to tell you, I'm not a fortune teller
I'll never change, but I want you to stay
And I don't know what to tell you, I'm not a fortune teller
I'll never know how the future will go
I don't know what to tell you, I'm not a fortune teller
I never change, but I want you to stay
I don't know what to tell you, I'm not a fortune teller
Of what tomorrow brings, I'll leave that up to you
I'm not a fortune teller, don't have a crystal ball
I can't predict the future, can't see nothing at all
It doesn't mean I'm afraid of all the things that you say
But I just think we should stay stuck in the moment today
And as the seasons roll by, no matter how hard I try
Summer will end and the leaves will turn again
I don't know why you're acting like this
I don't know why you had to do it again
Why'd you have to go and ruin the night
Don't worry about tomorrow's mess
I never know how the future will go
I don't know what to tell you, I'm not a fortune teller
I'll never change, but I want you to stay
I don't know what to tell you, I'm not a fortune teller
I don't like watching TV, I don't know what it all means
And your American dream, baby it just isn't me
I know that what I'm thinking may not be on your mind
I know the song I'm singing is not your favorite kind
It doesn't mean I'm afraid of all the things that you say
But I just think we should stay stuck in the moment today
And as the seasons roll by, no matter how hard I try
Summer will end and the leaves will turn again
I don't know why you're acting like this
I don't know why you had to do it again
Why'd you have to go and ruin the night
Don't worry about tomorrow's mess
I never know how the future will go
I don't know what to tell you, I'm not a fortune teller
I'll never change, but I want you to stay
I don't know what to tell you, I'm not a fortune teller
This feeling keeps growing
These rivers keep flowing
How can I have answers
When you drown me in questions
I never know how the future will go
I don't know what to tell you, I'm not a fortune teller
I'll never change, but I want you to stay
And I don't know what to tell you, I'm not a fortune teller
I'll never know how the future will go
I don't know what to tell you, I'm not a fortune teller
I never change, but I want you to stay
I don't know what to tell you, I'm not a fortune teller
Lyrics submitted by thrwmyhrtawy.
Fortune Teller Lyrics as written by James Valentine Adam Levine
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is about person-1 being madly in love with his now ex person-2 for a reason he/she can't comprehend so person-1 constantly asks questions about the future and getting back together. For some reason, the other side (person-2) just needs space but still has feelings for person-1 even though they broke up but they "aren't a fortune teller" and don't know what the future brings. Person-2 is living in the moment instead of worrying about the future with person-1. Person-1 just wants to be with person-2 with all their heart.
The more person-1 acts "like this", the more the person-2 questions their love. If person-1 really loved person-2, they would understand that person-1 needs space and time to clear their mind but it's hard for person-1 because they are madly in love (like I mentioned before.) They try their best to appease person-2 but struggle and all person-2 offers is "I don't know what to tell you, I'm not a fortune teller."
The hardest lyric to comprehend in this song is "And as the seasons roll back, no matter how hard I try, summer will end and the leaves will turn again."
This can have multiple interpretations but my interpretation is as follows.
Considering most of this song is about love interpretation between a couple, I can safely assume that person-2 realizes the true love they have for person-1 and ends up getting back together with person-1.
When "summer has ended," the break will be over and person-1 and person-2 will get back together and live happily ever after. <3
I think it's about 2 people in a relationship. One wants more out of the relationship like marriage. But the other wants thinks to just stay the way they are. The person singing the song says he's not a fortune teller and doesn't know what tomorrow will bring. He also says he is not afraid of the things she says, but wants to say in the moment. He also complains about her ruining the moment with tomorrows mess.