That's All

About a week ago I heard some of this song on the radio and HAD to find it.

I might interpret this different than other people, but it reminds me of a guy that I know. He was all over me for a long time, but I turned him down. Now I'm like him, and somewhere hope he's not over me just yet.

"Just as I thought it was going alright I find out I'm wrong, when I thought I was right s'always the same, it's just a shame, that's all"

^This part is sort of skipping to the end of the story that he's telling, so I'll get back to it.

"I could say day, and you'd say night tell it's black when I know that it's white always the same, it's just a shame, that's all"

This is like my guyfriend and I, we disagree on SO MUCH, and we bicker (often in a fun way.) However sometimes it's too much which is "just a shame."

"I could leave but I won't go though my heart might tell me so I can't feel a thing from my head down to my toes"

^Despite the fighting, I still want the guy. Could give up on him liking me back, but I won't.

"but why does it always seem to be me looking at you, you looking at me it's always the same, it's just a shame, that's all"

^This is one of my favorite parts. I see it like I'm telling off the other person, "you're looking at me too, you just won't admit it."

At the same in those lines I'm trying to figure out why we're both are attracted to each other if we don't get along.

"Turning me on, turning me off,"

^Sometimes I can hardly keep myself from jumping him, others I almost hate him for things he does.

"making me feel like I want too much living with you's just putting me through it all of the time"

^ He's sort of teasing me, and he makes me feel like I want to much. As if I'm the only one who wants a real relationship.

"Running around, staying out all night taking it all instead of taking one bite living with you's just putting me through it all of the time"

^Going to the extremes and trying to take it to fast. Being around this guy always makes me do stuff like that.

"Truth is I love you more than I wanted to"

^This part completely won the song over for me. Those two lines fit so perfectly that it makes me want to cry or die or something! The song's sort of fun and angry, and then -boom- these lines are INTENSE.

"there's no point in trying to pretend there's been no-one who makes me feel like you do say we'll be together till the end"

^Why pretend, we're meant to be together, despite everything that wants to stop us.

"But just as I thought it was going alright I find out I'm wrong when I thought I was right"

^ This is the part in the song were the song starts out, before it goes back to the beginning. Things were almost seeming like they were going to work out, but it turns out I really am the only one looking for a real relationship. I thought there was a chance, but it's as if he doesn't even want anything with me anymore.

"it's always the same, it's just a shame, that's all"

^ I'll always feel this way for him. It's gone away for times, but it always comes back. Just a shame because there's nothing I can do to change his mind.

"Well I could say day, and you'd say night tell me it's black when I know that it's white it's always the same, it's just a shame, that's all"

^Going back to talking about the differences and what a shame it is.

Okay, so not that anyone cared to read all that, and probably no one will. Anyway, if you made it all the way through, that's my interpretation of this song.

Yeah this is one seriously great song.

This song is about a guy and his girlfriend arguing about the smallest things. His heart wants out of the relationship, but he doesn't, so he tries to tough it out. I'm only a teen, but I THINK THIS SONG IS AWESOME!!!! "I could say, and you'd say night. Tell me it's black when I know that it's white. It's always the same, it's just a shame, that's all. That's all..."

to quoye the man himself 'its a song about living with someone that turns out to be a pain in the arse' - think most of us can relate to that which is why its so good.

I believe that this song is about a relationship that's not going so well anymore, so what he's saying is that he's living something he didn't expected before, he's in a loop he can get out of, and may sometimes feel guilty about things he want that weren't meant to be abnormal...

Great song, my first favorite song of Genesis.

If the man himself said 'its a song about living with someone that turns out to be a pain in the arse', then it is worth looking more closely at that interpretation. This is not simply a story of a couple bickering. It is clear that the singer ('singer') is more emotionally attached to his partner ('partner') than the opposite, ie. partner holds the power in the relationship: 'Turning me on, turning me off, making me feel like I want too much' illustrates this point. If empathy was invested equally, such a situation would not arise, because partner would understand how difficult it must be for singer to be left in a situation where they are made to feel wanting (too much). Singer is prepared to openly his committment to partner, rather than hide from it: 'there's no point in trying to pretend, there's been no-one who makes me feel like you do'. Partner, on the other hand, is not in the same place, ie. not prepared to 'say we'll be together till the end'. Singer keeps trying to illicit a level of engagement from partner that is consistent with his own, and he is not prepared to give up trying to reach that goal: 'I could leave but I won't go'. In summary, partner and singer have different perspectives on love. I would go so far as to say that singer's perspective is rather more pure and innocent, through which he hopes to get closer to 'truth'. Partner, on the other hand, is just along for the ride, and keeps trying to remain distanced such as to not fully engage with the situation. That, in my view, is the explanation for the line 'its always the same, its just a shame that's all'. Singer is saying that him and partner could be 'so much more' if only partner would stop playing games with his emotions.

This song starts out with (the "Just as I thought it was going alright" verse) the singer talking about how he thought everything was going alright in the relationship, but is told he's wrong. Everything he says or thinks, she disagrees on. And no matter what, it's always that way.. he's not trying to do anything about it, just lamenting the fact.

The "I could leave but I won't go" verses make me either think of him telling his girl that he could just leave, but won't, or otherwise he's mulling it over in his mind but knows he won't. The idea of it is almost paralyzing to him, even though his heart knows that it's the best thing for him.

The "turning me on, turning me off" verse is more of the singer talking about how she plays with his emotions, and makes him feel like wanting some stability and normalcy is bad (and "too much" to ask of her). The second part of this verse is more of the same.. using the line "taking it all instead of taking one bite" to talk about the dynamic between them. She is basically just dragging him along, using him in the relationship.

But then you get the "truth is I love you" verse which tells about why he's still here. He loves her despite all of these problems, without a doubt. There's nobody else in the world for him; she is the one for him. It's just a shame that she's the way she is.

It’s about the internal struggle to move on. To move out of a relationship. You can know there are things that will always prevent it from functioning properly, know that ultimately it can never work forwhat each side needs, but your heart won’t let go because of the love that exists. Sometimes our minds have to overrule our hearts to do what is best, and it is not easy for us humans.

[Edit: Missed a word]

To me, I think this song is about a partner, child, or anyone really. The song addresses the struggle of knowing you need to leave a dysfunctional relationship or house for your health, but not being able to because the connection you have with the other person is so strong.

The beginning of the song demonstrates the struggles faced by the two people, and the relationship seems to be filled with arguments and disagreements. "I can't feel a thing from my head down to my toes" represents the emotional numbness one has after living in such a toxic environment. "Running around, staying out all night" shows that the person on the receiving end of the abuse doesn't even like to be with the other, but can't permanently cut ties. The chemistry is just too strong, and they wind up running back.

Oh man, this is one of Genesis' best. I like the video and how they're dressed in rags playin' in the ally. But I haven't seen it in ages! There needs to be an 80's video station or marathon or somethin...but, oh yeah, I don't have cable. Anyway, one word............classic.

I dont' have cable either...but when I get digital, they MUST have a Genesis/Phil Collins marathon!!!