Lord Only Knows
Beck Lyrics
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You only got one finger left
And it's pointing at the door
And you're taking for granted
What the Lord's made on the floor
So I'm picking up the pieces
And I'm putting them up for sale
Put your skeletons in jail
Cause Lord only knows it's getting late
Your senses are gone so don't you hesitate
To give yourself a call let your bottom dollars fall
Throwing your two bit cares down the drain
Invite me to the seven seas like some seasick man
You will do whatever you please and I'll do whatever I can
Titanic, fare thee well, my eyes are turning pink
Don't call us when the new age gets old enough to drink
Cause Lord only knows it's getting late
Your senses are gone so don't you hesitate
Move on up the hill there's nothing dead left to kill
Throwing your two bit cares down the drain
Odelay, odelay, odelay, odealy odelay, odelay
Just passing through
Odelay, odelay, odelay, odealy
Going back to Houston
Do the hot dog dance
Going back to Houston
To get me some pants
In this song, "Lord Only Knows", Beck is speaking about a person who is at a crossroads in their life. They only have one chance left to make a change and they are ignoring the gifts that the Lord has given them. The lyrics "And you're taking for granted What the Lord's made on the floor" suggests that this person is failing to appreciate the gifts that life has given them. Beck goes on to encourage this person to take a chance and make a change. In fact, he insists that the person should do so as soon as possible, as their senses are fading and time is running out.
The line "Throw your meal ticket out the window, Put your skeletons in jail" refers to the fact that sometimes people need to let go of their security and deal with their past mistakes in order to move forward. Beck then offers up encouragements like "Move on up the hill there's nothing dead left to kill" and "Throwing your two bit cares down the drain", to remind the person that they are capable of overcoming their past.
Overall, Beck's song "Lord Only Knows" is a call to action for people who feel stuck and unable to make positive changes in their lives. He encourages listeners to take control of their destiny, claiming "You will do whatever you please and I'll do whatever I can". He hopes that this message can motivate people to take steps towards the lives that they truly desire.
Line by Line Meaning
You only got one finger left and it's pointing at the door
You have very little power or influence left and it's clear that you want to leave or end something.
And you're taking for granted what the Lord's made on the floor
You're underappreciating the good things in your life that you've been blessed with.
So I'm picking up the pieces and I'm putting them up for sale
I'm trying to salvage what I can from this situation and make the most out of it.
Throw your meal ticket out the window, put your skeletons in jail
Let go of what you rely on for sustenance and face your past mistakes or wrongdoings.
Cause Lord only knows it's getting late, your senses are gone so don't you hesitate
Time is running out and you're losing your grip on reality, so take action before it's too late.
To give yourself a call, let your bottom dollars fall
Take a chance and invest in yourself, even if it means risking everything you have.
Throwing your two bit cares down the drain
Forget about your trivial problems and focus on the bigger picture.
Invite me to the seven seas like some seasick man
Take me along with you on your journey, even if you're feeling lost or uncertain.
You will do whatever you please and I'll do whatever I can
You have the freedom to make your own choices, and I'll do my best to support you in whatever way I can.
Titanic, fare thee well, my eyes are turning pink
Goodbye forever to something big and important, and I'm feeling emotional about it.
Don't call us when the new age gets old enough to drink
Don't expect us to come back or be there for you when you're in trouble in the future.
Move on up the hill, there's nothing dead left to kill
Leave behind the negativity and move forward to find new opportunities.
Odelay, odelay, odelay, odealy odelay, odelay, just passing through
I'm just here for a short time and don't have any real attachment or commitment to this place or situation.
Going back to Houston, do the hot dog dance, going back to Houston to get me some pants
Returning to a familiar place where I can relax and be myself, and do something simple like buying new clothes.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Beck Hansen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind