The things I used to like, I don't like any more,
I want a lot of other things I've never had before,
It's just like my mama says, I sit around and mourn
Pretending that I am so wonderful and knowing I'm adored

I'm as restless as a willow in a windstorm,
I'm as jumpy as a puppet on a string,
I'd say that I had spring fever,
But I know it isn't spring.

I'm as starry eyed and gravely discontented,
Like a nightingale without a song to sing.
Oh, why should I have spring fever,
When it isn't even spring?

I keep wishing I were somewhere else,
Walking down a strange new street,
Hearing words I have never never heard,
From a man I've yet to meet.

I'm as busy as a spider spinning daydreams,
I'm as giddy as a baby on a swing,
I haven't seen a crocus or a rosebud,
Or a robin or a bluebird on the wing,
But I feel so gay in a melancholy way,
That it might as well be spring,
It might as well be, might as well be,
It might as well be spring.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Nina Simone's song "It Might as Well Be Spring" express a sense of longing and dissatisfaction with life, even though the singer cannot identify any specific reasons for their sadness. They feel restless, jumpy, and discontented, and find themselves yearning for things they've never had before. The singer compares themselves to a willow tree in a windstorm or a puppet on a string, suggesting a lack of control or agency in their life. They also mention feeling "starry-eyed," perhaps suggesting a dreamy or unrealistic outlook that only adds to their unease.

The singer mentions "spring fever," a term commonly used to describe a feeling of restlessness and excitement that comes with the onset of warmer weather. However, the singer notes that it isn't actually spring, suggesting that their feelings of discontent are unrelated to the changing season. They continue to express a desire for escape, imagining themselves walking down a new street and hearing unfamiliar words from someone they've never met. They also mention feeling as though they're constantly busy with daydreams, and compare their emotional state to that of a baby on a swing.

Overall, the lyrics of "It Might as Well Be Spring" suggest a feeling of aimlessness and dissatisfaction with life, despite the singer's inability to identify any specific cause for their sadness. The song captures a sense of restlessness and longing that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt stuck or adrift.

Line by Line Meaning

The things I used to like, I don't like any more
I have become disenchanted with things that I once enjoyed.

I want a lot of other things I've never had before
I crave new experiences and possessions that I've never had.

It's just like my mama says, I sit around and mourn
My mother has pointed out that I spend too much time feeling sorry for myself.

Pretending that I am so wonderful and knowing I'm adored
I put on a façade of superiority even though I am aware of how loved I am.

I'm as restless as a willow in a windstorm
I am fidgety and uneasy.

I'm as jumpy as a puppet on a string
I am nervous and agitated.

I'd say that I had spring fever, But I know it isn't spring.
I feel restless and excited, but I know it's not due to the season.

I'm as starry eyed and gravely discontented
I am filled with wonder and longing, yet dissatisfied.

Like a nightingale without a song to sing
I feel aimless and unfulfilled.

Oh, why should I have spring fever, When it isn't even spring?
I wonder why I feel excited and yearning when it's not the appropriate time of year.

I keep wishing I were somewhere else
I constantly fantasize about being in a different place.

Walking down a strange new street
I desire a novel and different experience.

Hearing words I have never never heard
I want to hear words or ideas that are completely foreign to me.

From a man I've yet to meet.
I wish to interact with someone new and captivating.

I'm as busy as a spider spinning daydreams, I'm as giddy as a baby on a swing
I am lost in my own mind, caught up in fantasies and feeling elated.

I haven't seen a crocus or a rosebud,Or a robin or a bluebird on the wing
I haven't experienced the typical signs of spring that usually trigger these emotions.

But I feel so gay in a melancholy way, That it might as well be spring
Despite not having the usual stimuli, I still feel happy in a sad sort of way, as if it were springtime.

It might as well be, might as well be, It might as well be spring.
My emotions are so strong that it may as well be the season that I'm feeling.

Lyrics © Kanjian Music, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Tratore, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it