Baby Plays Around
Anne Sofie Von Otter; Elvis Costello Lyrics


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It's not open to discussion anymore
He's out again tonight and I'm alone once more
He's all I have worth waiting for
But baby plays around
And so it seems I've always been the last to know
To hold on to that girl, I had to let her go
I wish to God I didn't love her so
'Cos baby plays around

I try to be strong hold on to my pride
He doesn't even know it's wrong, how much
I hurt inside
And heaven knows I've tried
But baby plays around. Just a plaything
It's hard to reconcile the facts I'm facing

It's not open to discussion anymore
She walks those shiny streets
I walk the worn out floor




She's all I have worth living for
Baby plays, baby plays around

Overall Meaning

The song "Baby Plays Around" by Anne Sofie von Otter and Elvis Costello is a heart-wrenching tale of unrequited love and heartbreak. The lyrics tell the story of a woman who is in love with a man who continually goes out and leaves her alone, yet she still waits for him to come back to her. However, the man seems to be playing around with other women, leaving the singer feeling hurt and alone. She tries to be strong and hold onto her pride, but the pain inside is too much to bear. She wishes she did not love him so much, but she cannot help it.


The song is a sad portrayal of a woman who is stuck in a relationship where her feelings are not reciprocated. She is left waiting for a man who does not seem to value her or the relationship they share. The lyrics are so well crafted that they create a vivid image in the listener's mind of the singer sitting alone, waiting for her lover to come home, while he is out having fun with other women.


Overall, "Baby Plays Around" is a beautifully written and performed song that captures the emotions of heartbreak and unrequited love.


Line by Line Meaning

It's not open to discussion anymore
I can't argue with the reality that he's going out again and I'm left alone.


He's out again tonight and I'm alone once more
He's not with me tonight, so I'm left on my own for yet another night.


He's all I have worth waiting for
He's the only one I'm willing to wait for because he's important to me.


But baby plays around
Even though I love him, he's still acting as if he's single and playing the field.


And so it seems I've always been the last to know
It appears that I'm always the last one to find out the truth about his actions.


To hold on to that girl, I had to let her go
I had to let go of the girl I was holding onto because she was playing around too.


I wish to God I didn't love her so
I regret that I still love her even though she wasn't genuine with me.


'Cos baby plays around
She's just playing around with my feelings and I'm still here, hung up on her.


I try to be strong hold on to my pride
I try to stay strong and hold onto my self-respect, but it's difficult.


He doesn't even know it's wrong, how much I hurt inside
He doesn't realize how much pain he's causing me by playing around.


And heaven knows I've tried
I've tried my best to deal with this heartache.


But baby plays around. Just a plaything
She's only using me for her own pleasure and entertainment.


It's hard to reconcile the facts I'm facing
It's difficult to come to terms with the truth in front of me.


She walks those shiny streets. I walk the worn out floor
She's out living her best life, while I'm stuck at home, alone and miserable.


She's all I have worth living for
She's still the only one I want, despite her actions.


Baby plays, baby plays around
She's still playing around with my emotions, and I'm still letting her.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CAIT O'RIORDAN, ELVIS COSTELLO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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