I drove through the desert last night
I carried the weight of our last fight
Elvis singing "don't be cruel"
And I wonder if you feel it too
It's like we're going under

Somewhere outside the lonely Esmeralda county line
The question of my heart came to my mind

If I go on
With you by my side
Can it be
The way it was
When we met
Did you forget all about those golden nights?

Maybe a thief stole your heart
Or maybe we just drifted apart
I remember driving
In my daddy's car to the airfield
Blanket on the hood, backs against the windshield
Back then this thing was running on momentum, love and trust
That paradise is buried in the dust

If I go on
With you by my side
Can it be
The way it was
When we met
Did you forget all about those golden nights?
(The way it was)

All of our plans have fallen through
Sometimes a dream, it don't come true

Darling!
Darling!

If we go on
Can it be (can it be)
The way it was
When we met
Did you forget all about them golden nights?

If I go on
With you by my side
Can it be
The way it was
My heart is true
Girl, it's just you
I'm thinking of
Can it be the way it was?

Maybe a thief stole your heart


Lyrics submitted by mike, edited by Drknight16

The Way It Was Lyrics as written by Daniel Roland Lanois Brandon Flowers

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC

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The Way It Was song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • +2
    Memory

    This song strongly applied to me in the relationship im in with my gf. We felt like we were "drifting apart" and we had to decide if we wanted to break up or try and fix our relationship. I showed her this song and we both realized it matched up perfectly to what we were going through. Its now back to "the way it was" and we're both happy.this song help change my life.

    daezo11on May 13, 2013   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    What a graceful song- Battle born is one of their best album!

    Sundyon March 21, 2014   Link
  • 0
    Lyric Correction

    I am not sure, but I think that the correct lyrics are:

    I drove through the desert last night I carried the weight of our last fight

    (Elvis* singing) Don't be cruel, and I wonder if you feel it too It's like we're going under Somewhere outside the lonely Esmeralda county line The question of my heart came to my mind

    If I go on with you by my side Can it be the way it was? When we met did you forget about those golden eyes?

    Maybe a thief stole your heart Maybe we just drifted apart

    I remember driving in my daddy's car to the airfield Blinking on the hood, backs against the windshield Back then this thing was running on momentum, love and trust That paradise is buried in the dust

    If I go on with you by my side Can it be the way it was? When we met did you forget about those golden eyes?

    All of our plans have fallen through Sometimes a dream don't come true

    eirineon September 13, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    The Elvis part is probably my favorite line in this song. He's referencing the song Don't Be Cruel which is really relevant to the message of this song. He's asking himself if what the couple has can stand the test of time. He sings "all of our plans are falling through/sometimes a dream, it don't come true." He's acknowledging that the couple may have fallen apart. Maybe she fell in love with someone else? Maybe they just don't have as much in common anymore? It's a brilliantly straightforward song.

    WillYumm2498on September 15, 2012   Link
  • 0
    Lyric Correction

    I think I might have got the lyrics corrected, Correct me if some are wrong Here's what I heard:

    I drove through the desert last night I carried the weight of our last fight

    Elvis singing don't be cruel, and I wonder if you feel it too It's like we're going under Somewhere outside the lonely Esmeralda county line The question of my heart came to my mind

    If I go on with you by my side Can it be The way it was when we met Did you forget all about those golden nights

    Maybe if he stole your heart Maybe we just drifted apart I remember driving

    In my daddy's car to the airfield Blinking on the hood, Backs against the windshield Back then this thing was running on momentum, love and trust That paradise is buried in the dust

    If I go on with you by my side Can it be The way it was when we met Did you forget all about those golden nights

    All of our plans have fallen through Sometimes a dream it don't come true

    Darling, darling If we go on, can it be (can it be) The way it was when we met Did you forget all about them golden nights

    If I go on with you, by my side Can it be The way it was, my heart is true Girl its just you i'm thinking of Can it be the way it was

    Maybe if he stole your heart

    FFNSDBTCVon September 17, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think it might be "fear stole your heart"

    Twrideon September 21, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Opinion

    I swear, in a lot of his songs, he sings about a same girl he likes.

    reacmfion October 11, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song!!!!

    Froggy77on October 22, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The line "Maybe a thief stole your heart" reminds me of Gaslight Anthem's "Here's Looking At You, Kid" where Brian sings "That a thief stole my heart." There seems to be some other lines in the album similar to Gaslight Anthem and it is a nostalgic album like GA albums tend to be. Might be the Bruce Sprinsteen influence, though, that causes the overlap.

    DarthWaderon October 18, 2013   Link
  • -1
    Lyric Correction
    • Elvis = (apparently) Elvis Presley
    eirineon September 13, 2012   Link

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