He's got a thing about losing control
Carries it a mile just to see how far he'll go
And he brushes up his chops as he tries to fake a smile
A friend indeed but what I need's someone who'll stay a while
Someone to stay a while
You can bend my ear
We can talk all day
Just make sure that I'm near
When you've really got something to say
He drops hints but he won't tell you what's really on his mind
But I know if I look that it's easy to find
And he's got a way with his anger and the way he lets it show
Like the smoldering smoke when the fire's left the coals
When the fire has left the coals
You can take me down
To show me your home
Not the place where you live
But the place where you belong
You can bend my ear
We can talk all day
Just make sure I'm around
When you've finally got something to say
And what are you meaning by
I don't deserve this life?
His door is always open and he's always got the time
To give a little something even though he gets behind
And your trips become his and your lives are intertwined
But like the horse with the junkie it's all in your mind
It's all in your mind
You can take me down
To show me your home
Not the place where you live
But the place where you belong
You can bend my ear
We can talk all day
Just make sure you're around
When I've finally got something to say
Carries it a mile just to see how far he'll go
And he brushes up his chops as he tries to fake a smile
A friend indeed but what I need's someone who'll stay a while
Someone to stay a while
You can bend my ear
We can talk all day
Just make sure that I'm near
When you've really got something to say
He drops hints but he won't tell you what's really on his mind
But I know if I look that it's easy to find
And he's got a way with his anger and the way he lets it show
Like the smoldering smoke when the fire's left the coals
When the fire has left the coals
You can take me down
To show me your home
Not the place where you live
But the place where you belong
You can bend my ear
We can talk all day
Just make sure I'm around
When you've finally got something to say
And what are you meaning by
I don't deserve this life?
His door is always open and he's always got the time
To give a little something even though he gets behind
And your trips become his and your lives are intertwined
But like the horse with the junkie it's all in your mind
It's all in your mind
You can take me down
To show me your home
Not the place where you live
But the place where you belong
You can bend my ear
We can talk all day
Just make sure you're around
When I've finally got something to say
Lyrics submitted by rabidpenguin, edited by elraver
Something to Say Lyrics as written by Guss Dinning
Lyrics © O/B/O CAPASSO
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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to give a little something even though he gets behind
This song makes me think of when people go through the motions, myself specifically included. I always put my priorites above people, which is dare i say rude for lack of a better term Maybe i should say its not real, because I percieve these trivial goals to be so important in my life and I fabricate conversation just looking for an oppritunity to go forfeit the conversation and go get my "list" done. yet in reality i dont ever remember what grades I made, i remember those meaningful conversations. So what its saying to me is Im forfieting meaningful conversations by contriving fake conversation.
But also, and what I think the song's really about, is being traped in a relationship with the latter kind of person.. traped because you fool yourself into believing something that just isn't true. Why isn't really revealed in the song, but it doesn't have to be. Such a beautiful song, that drives me to anger and frustration if I let myself think about the one girl I've known who's let herself get abused like that. I didn't even like her.. in fact, when I'm feeling cold, I can almost argue that she deserved it, but no one deserves shelter and abuse as inseperable.
The person he's singing to/about lives on the street. The singer runs into him every now and then, maybe at the park or waiting for the train or just on the way to the store. One day, a long time ago, he took the time to hear what the person had to say. They chatted, discussed things of moderate importance and bonded though the street person never really revealed very much personal information.
At some point prior to meeting the Narrator, the homeless person was hurt, badly. Maybe in the military or he was in a bad car accident, maybe he lost his family in a fir. Whatever the tragedy, he found himself unable to hold a regular job. Little by little, the homeless person built a life for himself, living off the kindness of others, odd jobs and perhaps a shelter now and then.
When the homeless person and the Narrator meet they begin an unusual friendship. Over time though, the Narrator realizes that his friend is holding back. He has learned little about the man personally and knows nothing of what caused his predicament.
I take this song to be about an abusive relationship. Glen Phillips is an outside observer who can see how this man fakes a smile when in public, but can see he has a way his anger. The line, "He'll take it a mile to see how far he'll go" send chills up my spine.
This woman dosen't have enough confidence in herself to know that she deserves better. Instead she fools herself in believing in a fantasy that he is there for her and their lives are intwined, but it's all in her mind.
Glen Phillips is saying I know. I can see it. When you finally had enough, I'll be here. Make sure you come to me when you finally have the courage to tell me everything!
What I say is a non-romantic relationship between the narrator and someone who deep inside is a great person, but has a thick outer shell that makes them really hard to be seen for who they really are.