Hang on, just hang on for a minute
I've got something to say
I'm not asking you to move on or forget it
But these are better days
To be wrong all along and admit it
Is not amazing grace
But to be loved like a song you remember
Even when you've changed

Tell me
Did I go on a tangent?
Did I lie through my teeth?
Did I cause you to stumble on your feet?
Did I bring shame on my family?
Did it show when I was weak?
Whatever you see, that wasn't me
That wasn't me, oh, that wasn't me

When you're lost you will toss
Every lucky coin you'll ever trust
And you'll hide from your god
Like He ever turns his back on us
Then you'll fall all the way to the bottom
And land on your own knife
And you'll learn who you are
Even if it doesn't take your life

Tell me
Did I go on a tangent?
Did I lie through my teeth?
Did I cause you to stumble on your feet?
Did I bring shame on my family?
Did it show when I was weak?
Whatever you see, that wasn't me
That wasn't me, oh, that wasn't me

But I want you to know that you'll never be alone
I wanna believe

Do I make myself a blessing to everyone I meet
When you fall I will get you on your feet
Do I spend time with my family?
Did it show when I was weak?
When that's what you see, that will be me
That will be me, that will be me
That will be me


Lyrics submitted by shaynap84

That Wasn't Me Lyrics as written by Timothy Jay Hanseroth Brandi M. Carlile

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

That Wasn't Me song meanings
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6 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    Brandi has said onstage that this song is "about forgiveness and the toll that addiction takes."

    source: youtube.com/watch

    smokedsalmon13on June 10, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think this song speaks to anyone who's ever been at rock bottom, regardless of how or why they got there. Nobody is inherently bad or unworthy, and sometimes life just takes us to strange places, for better or for worse. Sometimes, people can't understand what it's like until they've been there, too.

    rowkem388on August 19, 2012   Link
  • +1
    Memory

    She probably did write the song about addiction as stated, but wanted to share what this song just meant for my family as we just said goodbye to our dad of 75 years. My sister just "happened" to hear this days before he suddenly left us. It was so perfect to play at his memorial cuz dad was a guy that definitely had his short comings, but at the end of the day, he was always there for each of us. His life of acceptance and love spoke to so many people and to each of his kids. Perfect? no. But a great example ultimately? YES. To me the first part of the song is where we've made mistakes, but as she says "that wasn't me" (meaning I can do much better.) The last verse says it so well... I've gotten it together. I am and will be here for you, my friends and family, and live as the "me" I've wanted to be all along. Here's to our pops, and thanks Brandi for this gem.

    Tangsoo50on August 19, 2014   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    As a recovering alcoholic, I feel this is about addiction. Addiction makes us do things we aren't proud of for our addiction, things that are not part of our true character... It's not about saying sorry for it all, and magically everything is all better (To be wrong all along and admit it, is not amazing grace) -- This is part of the unfortunate toll that addiction has on relationships with our loved ones. :( Sometimes you are never forgiven for what you have done, but making amends with what went wrong and CHANGE for the better... makes things better. (Make myself a blessing to everyone I meet) :) The true you will come out in sobriety... "That will be me. That will be me."

    Hang on, just hang on for a minute I've got something to say I'm not asking you to move on or forget it But these are better days To be wrong all along and admit it, is not amazing grace
    But to be loved like a song you remember Even when you've changed

    This hit home for me. Instant goosebumps. LOVE this song.

    mel0deeon October 12, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    As a recovering alcoholic, I feel this is about addiction. Addiction makes us do things we aren't proud of for our addiction, things that are not part of our true character... It's not about saying sorry for it all, and magically everything is all better (To be wrong all along and admit it, is not amazing grace) -- This is part of the unfortunate toll that addiction has on relationships with our loved ones. :( Sometimes you are never forgiven for what you have done, but making amends with what went wrong and CHANGE for the better... makes things better. (Make myself a blessing to everyone I meet) :) The true you will come out in sobriety... "That will be me. That will be me."

    Hang on, just hang on for a minute I've got something to say I'm not asking you to move on or forget it But these are better days To be wrong all along and admit it, is not amazing grace But to be loved like a song you remember Even when you've changed

    This hit home for me. Instant goosebumps. LOVE this song.

    mel0deeon October 12, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    After listening to this song for the first time it was very clear to me the song is about addiction. My brother suffered from an addiction for majority of his life and only now has been 11 months sober. This song sounds like the words he would write. Beautiful lyrics, as usual.

    stephic03on August 28, 2013   Link

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