All The Things That Are Left Behind
Blue Rodeo Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I was on the sidewalk
As you walked away
I fell from your pocket
As you made your escape
I was on the staircase
As you ran for the train
Like the keys on the nightstand
By a bed left unmade

Like all the things that are left behind
Yeah it hurts for a while but then you find
Some days it’s just better to feel dead inside
Until that day
You want to love again

I wanted to tell you
I could see all along
You pretending to forget
While you’re out on the town
So I sat in half knowing
And I try to forget
The last time you wanted me
And I lay in your bed

Like all the things that are left behind
Yeah it hurts for a while but then you find
Some days it’s just better to feel dead inside
Until that day
You want to love again

So it’s the little things
That cut us so deep
Some things can’t be replaced
Most just come and go
Do you remember
When I was the one
Not tossed in a corner
Forgotten and gone

Like all the things that are left behind
Yeah it hurts for a while but then you find
Some days it’s just better to feel dead inside
Until that day
You want to love again
Until that day




You want to love again
You want to love again

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Blue Rodeo's "All The Things That Are Left Behind" tell the story of a relationship that has ended and the pain of being left behind. The metaphor of the things left behind is used to describe the lingering feelings and memories that the singer has after the relationship has ended. The first verse describes the physical act of being left behind, as if the singer was a possession that was forgotten or lost. The second verse reveals that the relationship was not as perfect as it may have seemed, with the singer having seen through their partner's facade of pretending to forget.


The chorus reflects on the pain of being left behind and how it can feel like a part of oneself is missing. The line "some days it's just better to feel dead inside" speaks to the emptiness and numbness that can come with heartbreak, but also acknowledges the potential for healing and moving forward when the desire for love returns.


The bridge of the song explores the idea that it is often the little things that hurt the most when a relationship ends, and that while some things can be replaced or forgotten, others are deeply felt and never truly go away. The final repetition of the chorus emphasizes the desire to love again, despite the pain of being left behind.


Overall, the song captures the complex emotions and experiences that come with the end of a relationship, from the initial shock to the gradual process of healing and recovery.


Line by Line Meaning

I was on the sidewalk
I was standing outside as you walked away from me.


As you walked away
You were leaving me behind, and I stayed there as you went.


I fell from your pocket
I was forgotten and left behind like something that fell out of your pocket.


As you made your escape
You were trying to get away from me, and I was left behind in the chaos.


I was on the staircase
I was on the stairs as you were running away from me.


As you ran for the train
You were in a hurry to leave, and I was left behind as you caught the train.


Like the keys on the nightstand
I was like the keys left on the nightstand by a bed that was left unoccupied.


By a bed left unmade
The bed was empty, and there was no indication that you had been there before.


Like all the things that are left behind
Just like the other things that are left behind, I was left out of sight and forgotten.


Yeah it hurts for a while but then you find
It's painful at first, but eventually you get used to it.


Some days it’s just better to feel dead inside
Sometimes it's easier to not feel anything and shut out emotion.


Until that day
That time when you feel ready to move on.


You want to love again
You're ready to love again and try to forget what was left behind.


I wanted to tell you
I wished I could tell you how I felt.


I could see all along
I knew all along what you were doing.


You pretending to forget
You were pretending to have forgotten about me, but I knew you hadn't.


While you’re out on the town
While you were out and about, pretending everything was okay.


So I sat in half knowing
I knew the truth, but I pretended that I didn't.


And I try to forget
I tried to forget everything that happened between us.


The last time you wanted me
The last time you showed any interest in me was just a distant memory.


And I lay in your bed
I was in your bed, thinking about what could have been, but wasn't.


So it’s the little things
It's always the small things that hurt the most.


That cut us so deep
The little things that hurt us are the ones that leave a lasting impact.


Some things can’t be replaced
Certain things can't be replaced, no matter how hard we try.


Most just come and go
Most things that come into our lives eventually leave, and we have to learn to let go.


Do you remember
Do you remember the good times we had before everything fell apart?


When I was the one
When I was the one you said you loved and couldn't live without.


Not tossed in a corner
I wasn't just left out of sight, forgotten like an object.


Forgotten and gone
I was gone, and you had forgotten about me.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

LzzBoogie

Love Blue Rodeo!!! My mom just got this album and I can't get it out of my head! Love it!!

Elizabeth Gower

I think this album is fantastic!!! Bravo Blue Rodeo you guys rock!!!

johnny cash

absolutly the best lyrics ever on this 2 disc album !!! my fav band of all time

Mr G

This song is so good. I'd call it the best Blue Rodeo song I've ever heard

Sifis Samos

This and also: Tired of pretending ...

Michelle Gagnon

Easily my favourite song from this amazing album.

Travis The Great

Absolutely beautiful song.

Ka Mac

An awesome album!

Tamasin A

True work of art!!!

Tank Muffin

i love blue rodeo this song speaks to me

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