Now that I've lost everything to you
You say you wanna start something new
And it's breaking my heart you're leaving
Baby, I'm grieving

But if you want to leave, take good care
Hope you have a lot of nice things to wear
But then a lot of nice things turn bad out there

Ooh baby baby, it's a wild world
It's hard to get by just upon a smile
Ooh baby baby, it's a wild world
I'll always remember you like a child, girl

You know I've seen a lot of what the world can do
And it's breaking my heart in two
Because I never want to see you sad girl
Don't be a bad girl

But if you want to leave, take good care
Hope you make a lot of nice friends out there
But just remember there's a lot of bad and beware
Beware

Ooh baby baby, it's a wild world
It's hard to get by just upon a smile
Ooh baby baby, it's a wild world
And I'll always remember you like a child, girl

Baby, I love you
But if you want to leave, take good care
Hope you make a lot of nice friends out there
But just remember there's a lot of bad and beware
Beware

Ooh baby baby, it's a wild world
It's hard to get by just upon a smile
Ooh baby baby, it's a wild world
And I'll always remember you like a child, girl

Ooh baby baby, it's a wild world
And it's hard to get by just upon a smile
Ooh baby baby, it's a wild world
And I'll always remember you like a child, girl

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Wild World" by Cat Stevens speaks of a man's struggle in coming to terms with his lover's decision to leave him. He is heartbroken and grieving, but tells her to take good care if she wants to leave. He hopes she has nice things to wear and will make good friends, but also warns her of the bad things that can happen in this wild world. The man, however, cannot help but think of her as a child, and he never wants to see her sad or turn into a bad girl.

The song's lyrics capture the sentiments of a person who is dealing with the end of a relationship. The singer is concerned about the aftermath of the breakup, urging his lover to take care before venturing into the wild world. The lyrics emphasize the fact that the world can be both good and bad, and the singer advises his lover to be careful and watch out for the bad.

The chorus plays a vital role in the song, emphasizing the message the singer wants to convey. The lyrics "Ooh baby baby, it's a wild world, It's hard to get by just upon a smile" are a powerful reminder that life can be challenging, and one needs to be prepared to face whatever comes their way. The song is a testament to Stevens' songwriting prowess, and it remains a timeless classic.

Line by Line Meaning

Now that I've lost everything to you
I have lost everything that meant something to me because of you

You say you wanna start something new
You have decided to move on and start a new life away from me

And it's breaking my heart you're leaving
Your decision to leave me is causing me emotional pain and heartbreak

Baby, I'm grieving
I am mourning the loss of our relationship

But if you want to leave, take good care
If you truly want to go, please take good care of yourself

Hope you have a lot of nice things to wear
I hope you have everything you need to start your new life

But then a lot of nice things turn bad out there
Things can change in unexpected ways and what seems nice can turn bad

Ooh baby baby, it's a wild world
The world is unpredictable and can be dangerous

It's hard to get by just upon a smile
It takes more than just a smile to navigate life

I'll always remember you like a child, girl
I will remember you as someone I wanted to protect and care for

You know I've seen a lot of what the world can do
I have experienced many of the hardships of life

And it's breaking my heart in two
Those experiences have caused me great emotional pain

Because I never want to see you sad girl
I care about you and do not want to see you hurt

Don't be a bad girl
Please make wise choices and take care of yourself

Hope you make a lot of nice friends out there
I hope you find good, trustworthy people to surround yourself with

But just remember there's a lot of bad and beware
The world can be dangerous and you should be cautious

Baby, I love you
I still love you and care about your well-being

And I'll always remember you like a child, girl
I will always remember you as someone I wanted to protect and care for

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