I Wonder
Bill Nelson’s Orchestra Arcana Lyrics

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There's a fire in my heart
And it's burning all the time
And I wonder, and I wonder
How you ever sleep at night
I've been calling in the dark
I've been counting on your time
And I wonder, and I wonder
Why it hurts to be alive

Got a message on my phone
I wasn't keeping count
I know you like to talk in code
I've got you figured out
Nobody said it was easy
Yeah, but you gotta believe me
Because I'm losing out
Yeah, I gotta tell ya

There's a fire in my heart
And it's burning all the time
And I wonder, and I wonder
How you ever sleep at night
I've been calling in the dark
I've been counting on your time
And I wonder, and I wonder
Why it hurts to be alive

What is the chance of making life?
Pick up the panic stations
And I can only sympathize
With your hesitations
You can dance the night away
You can force yourself to stay
When you're easing on the brakes
And taking care of things

There's a fire in my heart
And it's burning all the time
And I wonder, and I wonder
How you ever sleep at night
I've been calling in the dark
I've been counting on your time
And I wonder, and I wonder
Why it hurts to be alive

No one sends letters anymore
That's what we've got computers for
Cleaning the shit up from the floor
That's what I live for
That's what I live for

Let me down and leave me hopeless
Stay around and talk it over
Let me down and leave me hopeless
Stay around and talk it over

There's a fire in my heart
And it's burning all the time
And I wonder, and I wonder
How you ever sleep at night
I've been calling in the dark
I've been counting on your time
And I wonder, and I wonder
Why it hurts to be alive

There's a fire in my heart
And it's burning all the time
And I wonder, and I wonder
How you ever sleep at night
I've been calling in the dark
I've been counting on your time
And I wonder, and I wonder
Why it hurts to be alive

Let me down and leave me hopeless
Stay around and talk it over

Let me down and leave me hopeless
Stay around and talk it over

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bill Nelson’s Orchestra Arcana's song I Wonder express intense emotional turmoil and a desperate need for connection. The singer sings of a fire burning in their heart, a constant burning passion that never ceases. They wonder how their loved one can sleep at night, implying that the singer is kept awake by their own emotions and thoughts. The singer has been reaching out to their loved one, but they haven't been responding, and the singer wonders why it hurts so much just to exist.

The song continues with the idea of communication struggles, with the singer receiving coded messages from their loved one, which they claim to have figured out. They express their frustration with the situation, acknowledging that they're losing out. The line "what is the chance of making life?" suggests that the singer is contemplating the difficulty of forming connections with others. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the intensity of the singer's feelings, and the song ends with the plea to their loved one to stay and talk it over, even if they've been let down before.

Overall, the lyrics of I Wonder speak to the universal experience of emotional pain and the difficulty of forming and maintaining connections with others. It's a powerful expression of vulnerability and a universal longing for deeper connection.

Line by Line Meaning

There's a fire in my heart
I feel intense passion and emotion.

And it's burning all the time
It never fades or goes away.

And I wonder, and I wonder
I am filled with curiosity and questions.

How you ever sleep at night
I don't understand how you can be at peace with the things you do.

I've been calling in the dark
I have been reaching out for help, but in secret.

I've been counting on your time
I have been relying on you and your support.

And I wonder, and I wonder
The curiosity and questioning does not stop.

Why it hurts to be alive
I find existence and living to be painful.

Got a message on my phone
I received a communication on my mobile device.

I wasn't keeping count
I was not keeping track of the number of messages.

I know you like to talk in code
I understand that you communicate indirectly.

I've got you figured out
I have deciphered your communication technique.

Nobody said it was easy
No one promised that it would be simple.

Yeah, but you gotta believe me
However, you must trust me.

Because I'm losing out
I am experiencing a disadvantage.

Yeah, I gotta tell ya
I need to communicate this to you.

What is the chance of making life?
What are the odds of creating existence?

Pick up the panic stations
React with urgency and prepare for the worst.

And I can only sympathize
I can only empathize with your situation.

With your hesitations
I understand your reservations.

You can dance the night away
You have the ability to lose yourself in enjoyment.

You can force yourself to stay
You can push yourself to remain in a situation.

When you're easing on the brakes
When you are trying to slow down and take things more easily.

And taking care of things
Attending to responsibilities and being responsible.

No one sends letters anymore
People do not write physical letters anymore.

That's what we've got computers for
People use computers for communication.

Cleaning the shit up from the floor
Taking care of unpleasant and necessary tasks.

That's what I live for
I find purpose in taking care of responsibilities.

Let me down and leave me hopeless
Stop supporting me and abandon me.

Stay around and talk it over
Remain and discuss the situation.