You say you've been waiting,
Waiting for someone,
Waiting for some song,
Waiting since when you were born
For a moment when everything's alright,
And everything's all white but I just cant wait anymore

Hey Paul where have you gone,
I wanna come along
What went so wrong?

Have you gone away or been left behind,
You know that I don't mind,
You know that you're my kind,
'Cause when I hear "churchbells" or when I see fireflies,
You know that I don't lie,
One of these days you'll belong

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of the song Hey Paul by The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, seem to be addressing someone named Paul who is waiting for something, possibly an experience or a feeling, that will make everything feel alright. The singer seems to sympathize with Paul's longing to feel content and at peace, but also feels a sense of impatience with waiting for this moment to arrive. The chorus of the song addresses Paul directly, asking where he has gone and expressing a desire to come along with him. The singer also asks what has gone wrong, suggesting that something has caused a rift between them. However, they reassure Paul that they still consider him to be one of their own.

The verses of the song paint a picture of a person who is searching for a sense of belonging and wholeness in the world. The reference to churchbells and fireflies suggests a longing for a sense of transcendence or magic, a feeling that everything is connected and that there is a purpose to life. The singer seems to feel a sense of kinship with Paul, recognizing that they share this longing for something more, but they also acknowledge that they can't continue to wait indefinitely for this elusive sense of peace to arrive. The song seems to be exploring the tension between longing for something that may never come and accepting the reality of the present moment.

Line by Line Meaning

You say you've been waiting,
You've been anticipating and longing for something for some time now,

Waiting for someone,
You've been waiting for a specific person to arrive in your life,

Waiting for some song,
You're waiting for some sort of inspiration, perhaps a piece of music, to give you hope,

Waiting since when you were born
You've been waiting for this moment your entire life,

For a moment when everything's alright,
You've been waiting for a time when everything in your life will finally be okay,

And everything's all white but I just cant wait anymore
Despite your desire for a positive outcome, you have grown tired of waiting for it to finally arrive.

Hey Paul where have you gone,
You're looking for Paul, questioning his whereabouts,

I wanna come along
You want to join Paul, wherever he may be,

What went so wrong?
You're questioning what events may have led Paul to disappear,

Have you gone away or been left behind,
You're uncertain if Paul intentionally left or if something unplanned made him disappear,

You know that I don't mind,
You want Paul to know that you are not upset with him for disappearing,

You know that you're my kind,
You want Paul to know that you have a deep connection that transcends distance and time,

'Cause when I hear 'churchbells' or when I see fireflies,
Certain things trigger fond memories of you and Paul,

You know that I don't lie,
You're reaffirming your honest intentions and communication,

One of these days you'll belong
You believe that you and Paul will eventually reunite and feel a sense of belonging together.

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