As I'm leaving
A change comes on my eyes
These streets persuading me
With mumbled strange goodbyes

Through the water
Through the rain
To the soul of everything
Throw my heart out on the stones
And I'm almost gone

There's no meaning
In clothes and coffee cups
Cheap hotel furniture
Where silence never stops

Through the water
Through the rain
To the soul of everything
Throw my memories to the wind
And I'm almost gone

And now I'm dreaming
I'm staring at the walls
Cars are frozen now
In late night waterfalls

Through the water
Through the rain
To the soul of everything
Throw my heart out on the stones

And I'm almost
Through the water
Through the rain
To the soul of everything

Wash my heart out on the stones
And I'm almost gone


Lyrics submitted by typo, edited by Sdeeut69

As I'm Leaving Lyrics as written by David Gray

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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As I'm Leaving song meanings
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13 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    One of my faves when you dont't know what to do with your life...for me the song describes how you seem to fade away off the world sometimes...when you "dream" into something other than the world you live in

    AgathaKavkaon May 29, 2002   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    I picture a young man who loves a young woman. He is moving away to pursue something (the streets persuading me) but struggles with leaving her as he believes he may be falling in love with her. (mumbled goodbyes) is the awkward and emotional moment of walking away. The change coming to his eyes are his eyes beginning to well up with tears. All references to water falls, rain are when he's crying. (there's no meaning in......) refers to nothing seems to matter without her. In his journey away from her he stays in motels (reference to the furniture) and (silence never stops) refers to sitting alone in his motel room. Throwing his heart on the stones refers to his realization that he may have thrown away his soulmate for life (soul of everything) He throws his (memories to the wind) trying to forget the pain of missing her. He's (almost gone) meaning he realizes it is probably over. FOLLOW THIS SONG WITH BABYLON WHEN SHE TRACKS HIM DOWN AND APPEARS IN FRONT OF HIM. THEY SEEM TO GO HAND IN HAND THOSE 2 SONGS.

    jake2dayon May 06, 2016   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think it's about someone who has to leave, but doesn't want to. They are holding on to what someone else wants them to let go of. A life partner perhaps? Wife? Husband? So you're fading away, but its a struggle and you're pouring your heart out; pleading to stay, trying everything you can to stay, but alas there is nothing you can do. -Just my assumption

    NobleIntenton September 27, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This song was on Ladder 49. The movie was a bit on the lamish side yet it was alright. It was a very good song for the movie. It fitted perfectly into the whole story. Im not saying this song is lame though. Its excellent.

    Lead2BurnedHopeon May 31, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I don't know what it is. When I read the lyrics I can't make out some things but when I hear them in the song it all makes perfect sense.

    I think he is talking about dying. "As I'm leaving" as I'm dying. Maybe he seeing things in a different light but now it's too late.

    MICon June 13, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    leaving the one you love but not wanting to

    annmarie7on September 04, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's "Through the water, through the RAIN."

    This song is so good. Depicts the last year of my life perfectly. "And I'm almost gone... 'Most." I thought I'd never be fully "gone" when it came to this one guy, but I finally was able to move on.

    And there's no meaning In clothes and coffee cups Cheap hotel furniture Where silence never stops

    David has such a fluid way with words.

    mjohnson10on November 26, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I believe it's about letting go of someone, as in a relationship. From what I've experienced, it seems like a perfect explanation for the meaning of this song.

    As I'm leaving A change comes on my eyes These streets persuading me With mumbles strange goodbyes

    And through the water Through the rain To the soul of everything Throw my heart out On the stones And I'm almost gone

    "Throw my heart out on the stones, and I'm almost gone." It seems to me like a relationship that went to waste, or faded.

    Ah, it's so heavy. So tragic. So beautiful.

    mjohnson10on November 26, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "Through the water, through the rain." This seems to indicate that the relationship or whatever became shaky, a good fight was put up, and the tragedy of it seems to pour down upon the person leaving it (whether they really wanted to or not). Perhaps the other person became so distant that it simply became a standstill, and so a non-closure kind of ending might have had to take place.

    And it's "mumbleD strange goodbyes", haha.

    mjohnson10on November 26, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I'm thinking about using this song for a video montage for a high school graduation. I have a few other songs im considering, like Chocolate by Snow Patrol. I might use more than one. I thought this one might be appropriate, not just because of the lyrics but the song itself, I think it can make everyone feel very reflective...

    hopeful_canyonon January 06, 2009   Link

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