Hello again
Seems like forever between now and then
You look the same
I mean you look different but you haven't changed

Funny to think how the time gets away
Funny how you take me right back again

Stole me away
First time I saw you, you did me that way
What should I say
I saw you laughing and I was afraid

Never get in the way
I did not think I'd see you again
So how have you been
Do you remember... how's everything

Funny how I think how the time gets away
Funny how you take me right back again

Stole me away
First time I saw you, you did me that way
What should I say
Saw you there dancing and I was afraid
I might get in the way

I did not think I'd see you again
Funny to think how the time gets away
Funny how you take me right back again
Funny the feeling of forever ends

Stole me away
First time I saw you, you did me that way
What should I say
Saw you there dancing and I was afraid
I might get in the way

Never thought I would see you again
How have you been
Watching the years as they trickle away
It's everything how our time gets away
Funny how you take me right back again

Steal me away
It's like the first time I saw you, you do me that way
What should I say
I see you there standing and I am afraid
I might get in your way

I never thought I would see you again
How have you been

Do you remember I mean everything
You steal me away

Like the first time I saw you, you do me that way
What can I say
I saw you standing, and I am afraid I might get in your way

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Dave Matthews Band's song Stolen Away On 55th & 3rd tell the story of someone who meets an old acquaintance after a long time and is immediately swept away by their charm and presence. The singer speaks with a mixture of wonder and trepidation about seeing this person again - they are amazed at how little their friend has changed over time, yet at the same time are aware that they themselves are different people now. The sense of unease grows stronger as the singer remembers how this person "stole them away" the first time they met, and they worry about getting in their way again. Despite this, they cannot help but feel drawn in by the other person's magnetism and charisma.

The song deals with the complex nature of human relationships - how we can be both attracted to and frightened by the people we care about. It captures the way that old connections can be rekindled even after years apart, and how the memories of these connections can stay with us for a lifetime. The lyrics are full of thoughtful meditations on time and change, and they capture the bittersweet feeling of watching our lives unfold before us.

Line by Line Meaning

Hello again
The singer is greeting someone they haven't seen in a long time.

Seems like forever between now and then
The singer feels like a long time has passed since they last saw this person.

You look the same
The person being spoken to hasn't physically changed much since the singer last saw them.

I mean you look different but you haven't changed
The person's appearance may seem different, but their essence is still the same.

Funny to think how the time gets away
It's strange how quickly time seems to pass by.

Funny how you take me right back again
Seeing this person again brings back familiar feelings and memories.

Stole me away
When the singer first met the person being spoken to, they were immediately taken by them.

First time I saw you, you did me that way
Seeing the person for the first time was a transformative experience for the artist.

What should I say
The artist is unsure how to express their feelings to the person being spoken to.

Saw you laughing and I was afraid
The artist was intimidated by the person's carefree and joyful expression.

Never get in the way
The singer doesn't want to interfere with the person's life or happiness.

I did not think I'd see you again
The artist didn't expect to cross paths with this person once more.

So how have you been
The singer is curious about what the person has been up to since they last saw each other.

Do you remember... how's everything
The singer wonders if the person remembers their past interactions and is checking in on their current wellbeing.

Funny the feeling of forever ends
It's ironic how something that seemed like it would last forever can come back into the singer's life.

Saw you there dancing and I was afraid I might get in the way
The person's confident and carefree demeanor makes the artist worry they will ruin the moment by interfering.

Watching the years as they trickle away
The artist is becoming more aware of how quickly time is passing by and wants to reconnect with this person before too much time has gone by.

Steal me away
Seeing the person again makes the singer feel like they are being taken away from their current life and brought back to a different time.

What can I say
The singer is still unsure how to express their emotions to the person being spoken to.

I saw you standing, and I am afraid I might get in your way
The person commands a lot of attention and the artist doesn't want to disrupt their aura or presence.

How have you been
The artist is continuing to show interest in the person's life since they last spoke.

Do you remember I mean everything
The artist is hoping the person remembers their past together and how much it meant to the artist.

You steal me away
The person's presence continues to have a profound effect on the singer even after all this time.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BOYD C. TINSLEY, CARTER A. BEAUFORD, DAVID JOHN MATTHEWS, LEROI H. MOORE, MARK CHRISTOPHER BATSON, STEFAN K. LESSARD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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