Their sound is a mix of indie rock and electronic music, most recently integrating organic sounds into their music. Friends since the age of fourteen, Athlete have wide-ranging influences that include Grandaddy and Flaming Lips.
If I Ain't Got You
Athlete Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Some people live for the fame
Some people live for the power
Some people live to play the game
Some people think that the physical things
Define what is within
I've been there before
That life's a bore
Some people want it all
I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you baby
I ain't got you baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you
Some people search for a fountain
That promises forever young
Some people need three dozen roses
And that's the only way to prove you love her
Hand me the world on a silver platter
And what good would it be?
With no one to share
With no one who truly cares for me?
Some people want it all
I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you baby
If I ain't got you baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you
Some people want it all
I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you baby
If I ain't got you baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you
The lyrics of Athlete's song If I Ain't Got You talks about the different desires that people have in life. Some people prioritize fame, fortune, and power while others crave the physical things that they think defines them. But the singer of the song talks about having been there before and realizing that it only led to boredom and superficiality.
The chorus repeats the line "Some people want it all, but I don't want nothing at all, if it ain't you baby". This expresses the idea that the only thing worth wanting in life is love and that anything else is meaningless without it. The second verse mentions the things that some people consider proof of love, such as poetry, flowers, and material gifts, and the singer questions the value of these things if they are not accompanied by genuine care and affection.
The overall message of the song is that love is the most valuable thing that a person can have and that everything else pales in comparison. The lyrics are simple but powerful, and the melody is catchy and memorable.
Line by Line Meaning
Some people live for the fortune
There are people whose lives revolve around making money and accumulating wealth.
Some people live for the fame
There are those who crave public attention and the limelight, believing that it will bring them ultimate happiness and satisfaction.
Some people live for the power
There exist individuals who are driven by the need to control and manipulate others, believing that holding power over them fulfills their sense of purpose.
Some people live to play the game
Some people love taking part in everything competitive - whether it's sports, business, or anything else that can be seen as a game.
Some people think that the physical things
Define what is within
There are people who mistake material possessions for true happiness and believe that the things they own or acquire define their inner selves.
I've been there before
That life's a bore
So full of the superficial
Having personally experienced the kind of life based on material things and the superficial values they represent, the singer expresses his/ her realization that it was a meaningless and ultimately unsatisfying existence.
Some people search for a fountain
That promises forever young
Some people are constantly seeking a mythical fountain of youth that supposedly preserves youth and beauty indefinitely.
Some people need three dozen roses
And that's the only way to prove you love her
There are those who believe that true love can only be demonstrated through grand gestures and expensive gifts, such as giving someone three dozen roses.
Hand me the world on a silver platter
And what good would it be?
Even if the world were handed to the artist on a silver platter - implying wealth, success, and power, and all the other grand things many people aspire to - it would be meaningless without someone special to share it with.
With no one to share
With no one who truly cares for me?
The artist questions the value of having everything without the love and emotional support of someone who genuinely cares for them.
Some people want it all
I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you baby
I ain't got you baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you
In the end, the singer concludes that nothing is as valuable or fulfilling as love - not money, fame, power, or material possessions. Without the love of their partner, everything else becomes empty and meaningless.
Contributed by David H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Eduardo87
I really love this cover
ViZiO Music
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