You've haunted me all my life
Through endless days and countless nights
There was a storm when I was just a kid
Stripped the last code of innocence

You've haunted me all my life
You're always out of reach when I'm in pursuit
Long winded then suddenly mute
And there's a flaw in my heart's design
For I keep trying to make you mine

You've haunted me all my life
You've haunted me all my life
You are the mistress I can't make a wife
And you've haunted me all my life

And so I wait but I never seem to learn
How to capture your diminishing returns
I still see you through the eyes of a child
Not even thinking we could tame the wild

You've haunted me all my life
You've haunted me all my life
You are the mistress I can't make a wife
And you've haunted me all my life

You've haunted me all my life
You've haunted me all my life
You are the mistress I can't make a wife
And you've haunted me all my life


Lyrics submitted by reecesPiecezz, edited by Cyberghost

You've Haunted Me All My Life Lyrics as written by Benjamin Gibbard

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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You've Haunted Me All My Life song meanings
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    Song Meaning

    This is a masterfully written song by Ben. On first impression, it seems to be about either unrequited love or a lost romantic love from long ago. But this song is about something far bigger than that. Ben is talking about the never-ending pursuit of a happy peaceful life. A key line is "You are the mistress I can't make a wife". A mistress is someone a person enjoys fleetingly - a few hours here and a few hours there. But she's not the person you share your life with/spend the days of your life with. Ben is saying he's experienced that peace & joy only fleetingly but he can never truly obtain it. He's been on the search for that true peace & happiness all his life - through hi career, his marriage to Zooey D etc... But he's come up short every time. He's not alone in that regard.

    Rickveeon May 15, 2023   Link

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