I Don't Know Much
Billy Pilgrim Lyrics


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Picking up stones on Saturdays
Stuffing them in my jeans
It's old habit, anyways
I don't know what that means

Oh the teachers think there's a problem
Is there something wrong at home?
I made it up that Mama was drunk
Just so they'd leave me alone

Oh but I don't much, anyways
I don't know much, anyways
I don't know much, anyways at all

Billy comes over on Tuesdays
We play video games
And we take turns lying 'bout whose been trying to
Marry our mamas and change our names

Well the doctors think there's a problem
Is there something wrong inside?
Of course there is everyone's got
Some kind of scar to hide

Oh but I don't much, anyways




I don't know much, anyways
I don't know much, anyways at all

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Billy Pilgrim's "I Don't Know Much" tell a relatable story of a child's habit of picking up stones and stuffing them in their pockets unknowingly that they are constantly developing a problem-solving approach. But the child is clueless about what it could mean. The lyrics go on to describe how teachers and doctors have questioned the singer's behavior and mental state, but the singer has created false stories and defense mechanisms to protect themselves from scrutiny.


The second verse takes a different turn, with Billy Pilgrim discussing the innocent and imaginative bond of friendship, as two kids engage in video games and telling tall tales about marrying their mothers and changing their own names. However, as with the first verse, the theme of hiding or masking is ever-present, with doctors suspecting something is amiss inside.


Overall, the lyrics seem to be telling a story of a protagonist who is grappling with their complicated inner world, attempting to navigate childhood and adulthood without the tools or resources to fully understand themselves. The singer is struggling to make sense of their environment, often feeling misunderstood or abnormal, but ultimately disconnecting from this reality by creating their own narratives and worlds to live in.


Line by Line Meaning

Picking up stones on Saturdays
On Saturdays, I have a habit of collecting stones and storing them in my jeans.


Stuffing them in my jeans
I put the stones in my jeans' pockets to keep them safe.


It's old habit, anyways
This behavior is not new; I have been doing it for a long time.


I don't know what that means
I do not understand the reason for my actions.


Oh the teachers think there's a problem
The teachers suspect that something is wrong with me.


Is there something wrong at home?
They imagine that my home life may be troubled.


I made it up that Mama was drunk
I fabricated a story that my mother was an alcoholic, so that the teachers would stop questioning me.


Just so they'd leave me alone
I wanted them to stop asking me about my behavior and home life so that I could be left alone.


Oh but I don't know much, anyways
Regardless, I do not know much about myself or my actions.


I don't know much, anyways
There is so much I do not know about myself and the world around me.


I don't know much, anyways at all
I am woefully ignorant of the complexities of life.


Billy comes over on Tuesdays
My friend Billy visits me on Tuesdays.


We play video games
We enjoy playing video games together.


And we take turns lying 'bout whose been trying to
We pretend that someone is attempting to marry our mothers and rename us, taking turns making up stories.


Marry our mamas and change our names
We imagine that our mothers may want to remarry and give us new names, which we find both amusing and alarming.


Well the doctors think there's a problem
Doctors suspect that there may be something wrong with my mental health.


Is there something wrong inside?
They believe that there may be something wrong with my mind or body.


Of course there is everyone's got
Certainly, every person has issues or struggles in their life.


Some kind of scar to hide
People try to conceal their emotional or physical wounds with various coping mechanisms.


Oh but I don't much, anyways
Despite this reality, I still do not know much about my own struggles or the world around me.


I don't know much, anyways
I am often ignorant or apathetic about life.


I don't know much, anyways at all
I have a lot to learn and understand about myself and the broader world.




Writer(s): Andrew Hyra, Kristian M Bush

Contributed by Riley K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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