I Wanna Marry You
Bruce Springsteen Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I see you walking, baby, down the street
Pushing that baby carriage at your feet
I see the lonely ribbon in your hair
Tell me I am the man for whom you put it there

You never smile girl, you never speak
You just walk on by, darlin' week after week
Raising two kids alone in this mixed up world
Must be a lonely life for a working girl

Little girl, I want to marry you
Oh yeah, little girl, I want to marry you
Yes I do
Little girl, I want to marry you

Now honey, I don't want to clip your wings
But a time comes when two people should think of these things
Having a home and a family
Facing up to their responsibilities
They say in the end true love prevails
But in the end true love can't be no fairytale
To say I'll make your dreams come true would be wrong
But maybe, darlin', I could help them along

Little girl, I want to marry you
Oh yeah, little girl, I want to marry you
Yes I do
Little girl, I want to marry you

Oh, my daddy said right before he died
That true, true love was just a lie
He went to his grave a broken heart
An unfulfilled life, makes a man hard

Oh, darlin'
There's something happy and there's something sad
'Bout wanting somebody, oh so bad
I wear my love darlin', without shame
I'd be proud if you would wear my name

Oh
My darlin'
Ooh my darlin'




My darlin'
Oh oh

Overall Meaning

In Bruce Springsteen's song "I Wanna Marry You," the singer sees a woman pushing a baby carriage down the street with a lonely ribbon in her hair. The woman never speaks or smiles as she walks past the singer week after week. The singer assumes that she is a working mother raising her two children alone in a mixed-up world. He wants to marry her and provide a stable home for her and her children.


Although the singer does not want to clip her wings, he believes that there comes a time when two people must think about having a home and a family and taking responsibility for their actions. Although true love can't be a fairytale, he believes that he can help her achieve her dreams. The song ends with the singer expressing his love for the woman and his desire to marry her.


The song speaks about the longing for love and companionship in a world that can be lonely and cruel. The singer sees the woman's loneliness and wants to offer her a better life. The song's themes resonate with many people who are looking for love and dreaming of a better life.


Line by Line Meaning

I see you walking, baby, down the street
I observe you walking down the street, pushing a baby carriage at your feet


Pushing that baby carriage at your feet
You are pushing a baby carriage as you walk


I see the lonely ribbon in your hair
I notice the solitary ribbon decorating your hair


Tell me I am the man for whom you put it there
Inform me that I am the reason why you adorned your hair with the ribbon


You never smile girl, you never speak
You never smile or talk when you pass by


You just walk on by, darlin' week after week
You simply continue to walk past me, week after week


Raising two kids alone in this mixed up world
You are bringing up two children by yourself in a turbulent world


Must be a lonely life for a working girl
It must be a lonely existence for a woman laboring all alone


Little girl, I want to marry you
Young lady, I wish to espouse you


Oh yeah, little girl, I want to marry you
Oh yes, young lady, I desire to make you my spouse


Yes I do
Indeed, I do


Now honey, I don't want to clip your wings
Sweetheart, I do not desire to limit your freedom


But a time comes when two people should think of these things
Nevertheless, there comes a point where two individuals must consider these matters


Having a home and a family
Establishing a household and having children


Facing up to their responsibilities
Accepting and fulfilling their obligations


They say in the end true love prevails
It is said that ultimately true love endures


But in the end true love can't be no fairytale
However, genuine love cannot be likened to a fairy tale


To say I'll make your dreams come true would be wrong
Proclaiming that I can make your aspirations a reality would be erroneous


But maybe, darlin', I could help them along
However, perhaps, my dear, I could aid you in achieving them


Oh, my daddy said right before he died
Oh, my father said a short time before passing away


That true, true love was just a lie
That authentic love is nothing but a falsehood


He went to his grave a broken heart
He expired with a heart shattered into pieces


An unfulfilled life, makes a man hard
An unsatisfying existence causes a person to become hardened


There's something happy and there's something sad
There is something joyful and melancholic


'Bout wanting somebody, oh so bad
Regarding longing for a person intensely


I wear my love darlin', without shame
I display my affection, my dear, without embarrassment


I'd be proud if you would wear my name
I would take pride if you adopted my last name


Oh
Oh


My darlin'
My dear


Ooh my darlin'
Oh my dear


My darlin'
My dear


Oh oh
Oh oh




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bruce Springsteen

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions