What Goes Around Comes Around
Bob Marley & The Wailers Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Weren′t you the one who said that you don't want me anymore
And how you need your space and give the keys back to your door
And how I cried and tried and tried to make you stay with me
And still you said your love was gone and that I had to leave

Now you′re talking bout a family
Now you're saying I complete your dreams
Oh
Now you're sayin I′m your everything
You′re confusing me
What you saying to me, don't play wit me, don′t play wit me
Cause...

What goes around comes around
What goes up must come down
Now who's cryin′, desirin' to come back to me
What goes around comes around
What goes up must come down
Now who′s cryin, desirin', to come back

I remember when I was sittin home alone
Waitin for you til 3 o'clock in the ′morn
I remember when I was sittin home alone
Waitin for you til 3 o′clock in the 'morn
Lord knows it wasn′t easy believe me
Never thought you'd be the one that would deceive me
Whatcha doin to me, you′re confusin me
Don't play with me don′t play with me cause

And when you came home you'd always have some sorry excuse
Half explaining to me like I'm just some kind of a fool
I sacrificed the things I wanted just to do things for you
But when it′s time to do for me
You never come thru
Now you wanna be up under me
Now you have so much to say to me
Now you wanna make time for me
Whatcha doin to me, you′re confusin me
Don't play with me don′t play with me cause

What goes around comes around
What goes up must come down
Now who's cryin′, desirin' to come back to me
What goes around comes around
What goes up must come down
Now who′s cryin, desirin', to come back

I remember when I was sittin home alone
Waitin for you till 3 o'clock in the ′morn
Night after night knowing something goin on
Wasn′t long before I be gone
Lord knows it wasn't easy believe me
Never thought you′d be the one that would deceive me
Whatcha doin to me, you're confusin me
Don′t play with me don't play with me cause

What goes around comes around
What goes up must come down
Now who′s cryin', desirin' to come back to me
What goes around comes around
What goes up must come down
Gotta stop trying to come back to me

What goes around comes around
What goes up must come down
It′s called Karma baby and it goes around
What goes around comes around
What goes up must come down
Now who′s cryin', desirin′ to come back to me

I remember when I was sittin home alone
Waitin for you til 3 o'clock in the ′morn





It's called Karma baby and it goes around

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Bob Marley & The Wailers's song What Goes Around Comes Around are reminiscent of a similar phrase about karma that has been in existence for centuries. The song tells a story of a relationship that falls apart, with one person telling the other that the love is gone and that they have to leave. The person who is left behind is heartbroken and tries to make things work but eventually gives up. However, as time passes, the person who left comes back, saying that they want to start a family and that the other person is everything to them. This confuses the singer who is unsure of what to do.


The phrase "what goes around comes around" means that people eventually have to face the consequences of their actions, whether good or bad. The singer in the song is faced with a person who left them and then came back, and they must decide whether to forgive them or not. The song reminds listeners that karma is real and that what we put out into the world will eventually come back to us in some form or another.


Line by Line Meaning

Weren't you the one who said that you don't want me anymore
You previously stated that you desired to end our relationship


And how you need your space and give the keys back to your door
You requested for me to leave and return the keys to my residence


And how I cried and tried and tried to make you stay with me
I attempted to plead and convince you not to end our relationship


And still you said your love was gone and that I had to leave
You declared that your love for me had diminished and that I must depart


Now you're talking bout a family
You are now discussing your desire to start a family


Now you're saying I complete your dreams
You now claim that I am the missing piece to your dreams


Now you're sayin I'm your everything
You now assert that I am the most significant person in your life


You're confusing me
Your mixed messages are causing me to experience inner turmoil


What you saying to me, don't play wit me, don't play wit me
I am requesting that you communicate with me honestly and sincerely, instead of playing games


Cause...


What goes around comes around
The consequences of your actions will come back to you


What goes up must come down
Anything that rises will eventually fall


Now who's cryin', desirin' to come back to me
You are now experiencing regret and longing to reconcile with me


I remember when I was sittin home alone
I recall spending many nights alone waiting for you


Waitin for you til 3 o'clock in the 'morn
I anxiously waited for you until the early hours of the morning


Lord knows it wasn't easy believe me
It was extremely difficult for me, trust me


Never thought you'd be the one that would deceive me
I never anticipated that you would be the one to betray my trust


Whatcha doin to me, you're confusin me
Your actions are causing me confusion and bewilderment


And when you came home you'd always have some sorry excuse
Whenever you returned home, you continuously presented excuses that were not sufficient


Half explaining to me like I'm just some kind of a fool
Your explanations were unsatisfactory and indicated that you thought I was gullible


I sacrificed the things I wanted just to do things for you
I neglected my personal desires in order to fulfill your needs and wants


But when it's time to do for me, You never come thru
However, whenever I had needs, you consistently failed to fulfill them


Now you wanna be up under me
You now desire to be close to me and around me constantly


Now you have so much to say to me
You currently have a plethora of things to communicate with me


Now you wanna make time for me
You now have time and are willing to prioritize me


Gotta stop trying to come back to me
You need to cease attempting to rekindle our relationship


It's called Karma baby and it goes around
This is a result of the universal law of cause and effect




Writer(s): A. Paul, L. Pierce

Contributed by Leo C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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