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Things Happen Lyrics
I could go on talking
Or I could stop
Wring out each memory til I get every drop
Sift through the details
Of the others involved
The true crime would be thinking it’s just one person’s fault
Like an honest signature
On a fake ID
Like the guilty conscience with the innocent plea
You can just ignore it
Put it out of mind
But ain’t it funny how the past won’t ever let something lie
Let’s make a list of all the things the world has put you through
Let’s raise a glass to all the people you’re not speaking to
I don’t know what else that you wanted me to say to you
Things happen
That’s all they ever do
In a different time
On a different floor
I might mourn the loss of who I’m not anymore
So I’m driving up to Oakland for a good look back
And a few revisions to my plan of attack
Let’s make a list of all the things the world has put you through
Let’s raise a glass to all the people you’re not speaking to
I don’t know what else that you wanted me to say to you
Things happen
That’s all they ever do
I think I’ll see Lilly
See where she stands
I can’t help how I feel I don’t think anyone can
Sometimes we’re lovers
Sometimes were friends
Behold the magnetism between two dead ends
Let’s make a list of all the things the world has put you through
Let’s raise a glass to all the people you’re not speaking to
I don’t know what else that you wanted me to say to you
Things happen
That’s all they ever do
Let’s make a list of all the things the world has put you through
(We can qualify the spirit guides you listen to)
Let’s raise a glass to all the people you’re not speaking to
(Or why your mom’s compelled to bronze your baby shoes)
I don’t know what else that you want me to say to you
Things happen
That’s all they ever do
That’s all they ever do
That’s all they ever do
That’s all they ever do
Or I could stop
Wring out each memory til I get every drop
Sift through the details
Of the others involved
The true crime would be thinking it’s just one person’s fault
On a fake ID
Like the guilty conscience with the innocent plea
You can just ignore it
Put it out of mind
But ain’t it funny how the past won’t ever let something lie
Let’s raise a glass to all the people you’re not speaking to
I don’t know what else that you wanted me to say to you
Things happen
That’s all they ever do
On a different floor
I might mourn the loss of who I’m not anymore
So I’m driving up to Oakland for a good look back
And a few revisions to my plan of attack
Let’s raise a glass to all the people you’re not speaking to
I don’t know what else that you wanted me to say to you
Things happen
That’s all they ever do
See where she stands
I can’t help how I feel I don’t think anyone can
Sometimes we’re lovers
Sometimes were friends
Behold the magnetism between two dead ends
Let’s raise a glass to all the people you’re not speaking to
I don’t know what else that you wanted me to say to you
Things happen
That’s all they ever do
(We can qualify the spirit guides you listen to)
Let’s raise a glass to all the people you’re not speaking to
(Or why your mom’s compelled to bronze your baby shoes)
I don’t know what else that you want me to say to you
Things happen
That’s all they ever do
That’s all they ever do
That’s all they ever do
That’s all they ever do
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Verse 1: The speaker is talking about a failed relationship that he simply can't get over. And while he combs over the memories and tries to find fault in a single person (arguably the woman the speaking was dating), He realizes that there is no innocent party. That both played a factor in their relationship's demise.
Verse 2: It reminds me of the saying: Every lie has a kernel of truth. We unintentionally show our true selves during those moments of lying, It's human nature. And while some may overlook these "little" white lies, The speaker can't help but dwell on them. Especially, as mentioned in verse 1, when he's combing over these memories to find what went wrong.
Chorus: And regardless of what went wrong or how you have been wronged or who wronged you, Eventually you have to say: Things Happen. Letting yourself dwell on the past simply eats you up and prevents you from moving on and trying to better yourself.
Verse 3: The verse goes in line with the chorus. The speaker now accepts that he has to be different and move on so he's driving out to Oakland to clear his mind and find a new way to clear a path forward in life.
Bridge: The speaker ultimately decides that in order to move forward, He once again has to revisit the past and visit his ex, Lily. And it seems that while the two have chemistry together, Things simply never work out. The line about the magnets is a perfect reflection of this. With magnets, Opposites attract, North and South. Two north magnets (or two dead ends) aren't compatible. It's a way for the speaker to say that while ultimately, They have no issue being friends or at times lovers, They will never be anything more because they simply don't click.
So overall, I view this as a reflection of a failed relationship and the speaker slowly moving towards the acceptance that "Things Happen" and it's about getting back up and moving forward after getting knocked down.
@Pokemystroke I dig it. If memory serves Oakland is across a body, the Pacific or an inlet, from San Fransisco, which could symbolize crossing over into new awareness. They say water is usually sexual in dreams, could apply here, maybe not intended. This could be a flip side of Elvis Costello's "Accidents Will Happen," similar idiom title, but Elvis typically dumps the motherlode of guilt on the girl. He does say "I used to be the victim but I'm not the only one," but doesn't detail his faults, just leaves it at "I know what...
@Pokemystroke I dig it. If memory serves Oakland is across a body, the Pacific or an inlet, from San Fransisco, which could symbolize crossing over into new awareness. They say water is usually sexual in dreams, could apply here, maybe not intended. This could be a flip side of Elvis Costello's "Accidents Will Happen," similar idiom title, but Elvis typically dumps the motherlode of guilt on the girl. He does say "I used to be the victim but I'm not the only one," but doesn't detail his faults, just leaves it at "I know what I've done," and it echoes at the end like his mind saying "Yeah, you still need to deal with it." "Things Happen" is a grown up taking bigger steps down the line & questioning judgement altogether.
Failed relationships
I dig it. I believe Okland is across a long bridge over the Pacific or an inlet, from San Fransisco, could symbolize crossing over to a new point of view, traveling the bridge and seeing your shore from the other side. Water is said to be sexual in dreams, maybe that too. This feels like the flip side of Elvis C.'s "Accidents Will Happen"; similar idiom title, but typically, Elvis dumps the motherlode of guilt on the girl. He does he sees he's not the only victim, but "doesn't want to hear (about) it (because) I know what I've done." Then his mind echoes "I know, I know etc." which is both like waving a person off from a discussion, but also his mind saying "You may know, but you you're not dealing with it." Things Happen (the title and song) contrasts a cop-out (a "hit and run" can be more a mishap than misdeed, plus cold and impersonal) here the adult is taking bigger steps and finding peace. (I also wonder if the name Lilly suggests something beautiful whose fragility he was careless with.
[Edit: Cleaned up some grammar and added the bit about Lilly]