just to see you smile
Bonnie 'Prince' Billy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But I was far from being made of gold
I don't know how but I scraped up the money
I just never could quite tell you no
Just like when you were leaving Amarillo
To take that new job in Tennessee
And I quit mine so we could be together
Just to see you smile, I'd do anything
That you wanted me to
When all is said and done, I'd never count the cost
It's worth all that's lost
Ah, just to see you smile
When you said time was all you really needed
I walked away and let you have your space
Cause leaving didn't hurt me near as badly
As the tears I saw rolling down your face
And yesterday I knew just what you wanted
When you came walkin' up to me with him
So I told you I was happy for you
And give him the chance, I'd like him
Just to see you smile, I'd do anything
That you wanted me to
When all is said and done, I'd never count the cost
It's worth all that's lost
Ah, just to see you...
Just to see you smile, I'd do anything
That you wanted me to
When all is said and done, I'd never count the cost
It's worth all that's lost
Ah, just to see you smile
The song "Just to see you smile" by Bonnie 'Prince' Billy is a heart-wrenching ballad about a man who will do anything just to make the woman he loves happy. The singer describes how he has always been the less wealthy one in the relationship, but he has never let that get in the way of making her happy. He reminisces about the times when he has made sacrifices for her, including quitting his job so they could be together and letting her go when she needed time apart. The pain of seeing her leave him for someone else is still fresh in his mind, but he tells her that he is happy for her and even wishes her new relationship well, just to make her smile.
The song is a beautiful and tender love letter, but it is also a reflection on the complexities of relationships and the lengths we will go to for the people we care about. The singer's willingness to put his own feelings aside for the sake of the woman he loves shows a deep sense of selflessness and devotion.
It's worth noting that the song is an acoustic cover of a country song by Tim McGraw. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy's version is slower and more mournful, putting an emphasis on the emotional weight of the lyrics. The song has become a popular wedding song and is often used to honor loved ones who have passed away.
Line by Line Meaning
You always had an eye for things that glittered
You were always attracted to things that sparkled and gleamed
But I was far from being made of gold
But I myself was not valuable or precious like gold
I don't know how but I scraped up the money
I am not sure how, but I managed to gather the funds
I just never could quite tell you no
I was unable to refuse you anything you asked of me
Just like when you were leaving Amarillo
Just as when you were departing from Amarillo
To take that new job in Tennessee
To accept the job opportunity offered in Tennessee
And I quit mine so we could be together
And I resigned from my own job to be with you
I can't forget the way you looked at me
I remember vividly the way you gazed into my eyes
Just to see you smile, I'd do anything
I would do absolutely anything just to witness the sight of your smile
That you wanted me to
Any request of yours would be fulfilled forthwith
When all is said and done, I'd never count the cost
Once everything is concluded, I would not tally up the expenses
It's worth all that's lost
Whatever might have been given up would still be worth it in the end
Ah, just to see you smile
Oh how beautiful it would be just to catch sight of your radiant smile
When you said time was all you really needed
When you expressed that all you required was time
I walked away and let you have your space
I retreated and provided you the requisite personal room and freedom
Cause leaving didn't hurt me near as badly
Since departing did not affect me as deeply
As the tears I saw rolling down your face
As much as the tears that streamed down your cheeks
And yesterday I knew just what you wanted
And recently I had an understanding of what you desired
When you came walkin' up to me with him
When you approached me while walking alongside him
So I told you I was happy for you
Therefore, I informed you that I was delighted for your sake
And give him the chance, I'd like him
And if given the opportunity, I would like to get to know him
It's worth all that's lost
Whatever might have been given up would still be worth it in the end
Ah, just to see you smile
Oh how beautiful it would be just to catch sight of your radiant smile
Contributed by Grayson R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.