You're Going Back
The Tallest Man on Earth Lyrics
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I could swim from your heavens
I could drive you so safe
I could walk you to here
Let us float in the tears
Let us cry from the laughter's
When it's not for some sake
And the city's not near
Well now, you're going back
You're going back, you're going back
But I hope you could hear
All the screams from the forest
All the ghosts in the trees
And the love of a dog
Let us float in the tears
Let us cry from the laughter's
When it's not for some sake
And the city's not near
Well now, you're going back
You're going back, you're going back
You said, "Driver, please, don't go that fucking way"
You said, "Just let it go away"
You said, "Just let it go"
I could roll you to hell
I could swim from your heavens
I could drive you so safe
I could walk you to here
But you dry me to tears
Like I cry from your laughter's
When it's not for some sake
And the city's still dear
And now, you're going back
You're going back, you're going back
Oh, now you're going back
The Tallest Man on Earth's song "You're Going Back" is a mournful and introspective reflection on the nature of relationships, and the bittersweet feeling of watching someone you care for leave your life. The opening lines are haunting, with the singer offering a list of actions they could take to either help or harm the person they are addressing: "I could roll you to hell/I could swim from your heavens/I could drive you so safe/I could walk you to here." It's an ambiguous opening, leaving the listener unsure whether the singer is trying to help the person or hurting them. But as the song progresses, it becomes clear that the singer is attempting to express the depth of their love and connection to the person, and the pain they feel at their departure.
The refrain, "you're going back," repeats throughout the song, serving as a stark reminder of the inevitable ending of the relationship. The singer begs the departing person to remember the beauty and pain of their time together, asking them to "hear all the screams from the forest/all the ghosts in the trees/and the love of a dog." The imagery in this section is vivid and powerful, evoking both the freedom and the haunting qualities of nature. The final lines of the song shift to the singer's perspective, as they lament the loss of the person and the way they have caused their tears: "But you dry me to tears/like I cry from your laughter's/when it's not for some sake/and the city's still dear."
Line by Line Meaning
I could roll you to hell
I have the power to lead you to bad situations and negative experiences.
I could swim from your heavens
I could escape from the heavenly aspects of your life that bring you joy and positivity.
I could drive you so safe
I have the ability to keep you safe and free from harm during our journey together.
I could walk you to here
I could guide you to the place where we are now.
Let us float in the tears
Let us take comfort in our shared sorrows and find peace in our emotional release.
Let us cry from the laughter's
Let us release our emotions and find beauty in both our joys and sorrows.
When it's not for some sake
We are not crying or laughing for any particular reason, but simply experiencing the emotions we feel at the moment.
And the city's not near
We are far away from the noise and fast pace of city life, allowing us to be more present in our emotional experience.
Well now, you're going back
You are leaving our shared experience and returning to your own reality.
But I hope you could hear
Before you leave, I hope you can hear the sounds and feelings of nature and love that surround us.
All the screams from the forest
The haunting sounds of nature and wildlife that surround us.
All the ghosts in the trees
The emotions and stories that linger in the trees and nature surrounding us.
And the love of a dog
The unconditional love and companionship of a loyal canine friend.
You said, "Driver, please, don't go that fucking way"
You express concern or fear about the path our journey is taking us on.
You said, "Just let it go away"
You urge us to release our worries and fears and simply move forward.
You said, "Just let it go"
You encourage us to release our negative emotions and move forward with positivity and hope.
But you dry me to tears
You bring me to tears with your actions, words, or the end of our shared experience.
Like I cry from your laughter's
Just as your laughter brings me joy, your actions or words can also bring me sadness.
When it's not for some sake
Again, we are experiencing emotions without a specific reason or purpose.
And the city's still dear
Despite the emotional highs and lows of our journey, the city still holds a special meaning for us.
Oh, now you're going back
Reiterating that you are leaving and returning to your own reality.
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Kristian Matsson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind