This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Sorry, boys and girls
But Billy won't be out to play.
Ow!
Uh huh, Billy
Yeah
Billy said yes, said yes
Ow!
Billy said yes
When the teacher took the roll call,
Billy wasn't there
The class has staring at his empty chair
There were tears and crazy lies
As she began to say,
"Billy has a good excuse for missing school today."
There's been an accident (Oh no)
That she haven't heard it yet (Well)
Billy's got himself into a terrible mess
If the tough's the way to go
But when he should have said no
Billy said yes
He said yes
Oh, what a shame
It's a loser's game (It's a loser's game)
Turn away when trouble calls your name
He thought he bend,
But he wouldn't break (Wouldn't break)
Too late for him to learn from his mistake
Billy said yes
Billy said
What you say?
Billy said yes, said yes
Ow!
Billy said yes
Well, the teacher just stood there
Had nothing else to say
Today's should have been like any other day
Nothing strange about Billy
As strange as you and me
But maybe there was trouble there that no one else could see
Oh, what he's hurting inside
Or looking for a thrill
Maybe we will never ever know the real deal
If the tough's the way to go
But when he should have said no
Billy said yes
He said yes
Oh, what a shame
It's a loser's game (It's a loser's game
Turn away when trouble calls your name (Turn away)
He thought he bend
But he wouldn't break (Oh, yes, he did)
Too late for him to learn from his mistake
Billy said yes
Oh, what a shame (Oh yes)
It's a loser's game (Oh yes, oh yeah)
Turned away when trouble calls your name (Turn away)
He thought he bend,
But he wouldn't break (Wouldn't break)
Too late for him to learn from his mistake
Billy said yes
Billy said yes, said yes
Billy said yes
Billy said yes, said yes
Billy said yes
Yeah
What you say?
Billy said yes, said yes
Billy has a good excuse for missing school today
Billy said yes, said yes
Oh, sorry, boys and girls
But Billy won't be out to play
But Billy won't be out to play.
Ow!
Uh huh, Billy
Yeah
Billy said yes, said yes
Ow!
Billy said yes
When the teacher took the roll call,
Billy wasn't there
The class has staring at his empty chair
There were tears and crazy lies
As she began to say,
"Billy has a good excuse for missing school today."
There's been an accident (Oh no)
That she haven't heard it yet (Well)
Billy's got himself into a terrible mess
If the tough's the way to go
But when he should have said no
Billy said yes
He said yes
Oh, what a shame
It's a loser's game (It's a loser's game)
Turn away when trouble calls your name
He thought he bend,
But he wouldn't break (Wouldn't break)
Too late for him to learn from his mistake
Billy said yes
Billy said
What you say?
Billy said yes, said yes
Ow!
Billy said yes
Well, the teacher just stood there
Had nothing else to say
Today's should have been like any other day
Nothing strange about Billy
As strange as you and me
But maybe there was trouble there that no one else could see
Oh, what he's hurting inside
Or looking for a thrill
Maybe we will never ever know the real deal
If the tough's the way to go
But when he should have said no
Billy said yes
He said yes
Oh, what a shame
It's a loser's game (It's a loser's game
Turn away when trouble calls your name (Turn away)
He thought he bend
But he wouldn't break (Oh, yes, he did)
Too late for him to learn from his mistake
Billy said yes
Oh, what a shame (Oh yes)
It's a loser's game (Oh yes, oh yeah)
Turned away when trouble calls your name (Turn away)
He thought he bend,
But he wouldn't break (Wouldn't break)
Too late for him to learn from his mistake
Billy said yes
Billy said yes, said yes
Billy said yes
Billy said yes, said yes
Billy said yes
Yeah
What you say?
Billy said yes, said yes
Billy has a good excuse for missing school today
Billy said yes, said yes
Oh, sorry, boys and girls
But Billy won't be out to play
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.