Barenaked Ladies

Give It Back to You

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Give It Back to You Lyrics

I don't care how long it takes,
I will atone for my mistakes,
I will hold your heart when it breaks,
And give it back to you,
I'll give it back to you.

Out of everyone,
I should have known how,
Knots can come undone,
I should grown but,
I was on the run,
And the walls were crumbling,
And I was tumbling.

Should have just fell down,
Instead of making,
Such a hole in the ground,
There's no mistaking,
I will wear the crown,
I'm the lord and master,
Of this disaster.

I don't care how long it takes,
I will atone for my mistakes,
I will hold your heart when it breaks,
And give it back to you,
I'll give it back to you.

Anyone can walk on water,
Just before they drown,
Anyone can talk but they got
their story upside-down.

Dust coats the floor,
With every move we,
Seem to find more.
I'm out to prove that,
What we're working for,
Is worth defending,
And all this mending.

I don't care how long it takes,
I will atone for my mistakes,
I will hold your heart when it breaks,
And give it back to you,
I'll give it back to you.
I'll give it back to you,
I'll give it back to you,
I'll give it back to you.

Submitted by

carlalsford On Jun 21, 2013

Tonight Is The Night I Fell Asleep At The Wheel

I don't care how long it takes,
I will atone for my mistakes,
I will hold your heart when it breaks,
And give it back to you,
I'll give it back to you.

Out of everyone,
I should have known how,
Knots can come undone,
I should grown but,
I was on the run,
And the walls were crumbling,
And I was tumbling.

Should have just fell down,
Instead of making,
Such a hole in the ground,
There's no mistaking,
I will wear the crown,
I'm the lord and master,
Of this disaster.

I don't care how long it takes,
I will atone for my mistakes,
I will hold your heart when it breaks,
And give it back to you,
I'll give it back to you.

Anyone can walk on water,
Just before they drown,
Anyone can talk but they got 
their story upside-down.

Dust coats the floor,
With every move we,
Seem to find more.
I'm out to prove that,
What we're working for,
Is worth defending,
And all this mending.

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Not sure what they’re singing in that fuzzy bridge? Drop a question in the comments and let the music nerds swarm. Someone always knows.

carlalsford

Submitter

2013-06-21 11:38:58

1 Meaning

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by Browns0286

13y ago

This song's verses sound remarkably like "Told You So" from the Stunt album, while the bridge section ends on a chord that reminds me of the chorus from "For You" off of Everything to Everyone.

Lyrically, the song seems to be Robertson reflecting on a relationship that fell apart. In the first two verses he is lamenting not handling the situation better and instead exacerbating the conflict ("...such a hole in the ground..."). Throughout the song he is taking responsibility for his role in the relationship's failing and expressing his desire to make amends. The lyrical theme is similar to the past BNL song, "Call and Answer."

And as in some other recent BNL songs, one might wonder if he's writing about his relationship with Steven Page a bit in this song.

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