Was an honest man
Asked me for the phone
Tried to take control
Oh, I don't see it that way
I don't see it that way
We shared some ideas
All obsessed with fame
Says we're all the same
Oh, I don't see it that way
I don't see it that way

Raised in Carolina
I'm not like that
Tryin' to remind her
When we go back

I missed the last bus, I'll take the next train
I'll try but you see, it's hard to explain
I say the right thing, but act the wrong way
I like it right here, but I cannot stay
I watch the TV, forget what I'm told
Well, I am too young, and they are too old
The joke is on you, this place is a zoo
You're right it's true

He says he can't decide
I shake my head to say
Everything's just great
Oh, I just can't remember
I just can't remember

Raised in Carolina
She says, "I'm not like that"
Tryin' to remind her
When we go back

I say the right thing, but act the wrong way
I like it right here, but I cannot stay
I watch the TV, forget what I'm told
Well, I am too young, and they are too old
Oh man, can't you see I'm nervous? So please
Pretend to be nice, so I can be mean
I missed the last bus, we'll take the next train
I'll try but you see, it's hard to explain


Lyrics submitted by mudfly

Hard to Explain Lyrics as written by Julian Casablancas

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Hard To Explain song meanings
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  • +5
    My Interpretation

    I think rosa a had a really good interpretation, and it's probably a little confusing to some but I completely get it

    I can really relate to this song, I think it's about not being who you try to be and doing things that come naturally because you let yourself do them even though you don't want to.

    I say the right things But act the wrong way

    -I think this is because to him his personality when he interacts with people is him as he wants to be so he says all the right things but when it comes to actions he acts upon all of his insecurities and selfishness and apathy and things that he doesn't like about himself. It's like when he says "Pretend to be nice/ So I can be mean" his personality is nice but he does mean things because he feels like it and he lets himself.

    But then at the same time he feels there's really nothing he can do about it. Like every time he does something wrong he always feels like he had to act that way, and there's no real reason. It's like rosa a said, like people think they can explain the reasons and he doesn't have any reasons but he just knows that their reasons aren't right. And I agree that it is confusion but really it's like confusion in denial or something, like everything makes sense to him and he knows that everything will be ok, hence the line "I'll make it you see/ I'm ever so pleased". And it's like he tries but just doesn't succeed and ends up being someone who he isn't but who is still a part of him(I know that doesn't make sense but it's true).

    I mean I could be wrong about the sort of psychological complex I think this is describing but I think it's the kind of thing where if you really get what he's talking about than you know it really is hard to explain.

    calculatorwatchon December 10, 2008   Link

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