By The Way
Built to Spill Lyrics


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OK and by the way
I wanna say that I think you're great
And I know what people say
I'm on my breaker it's just my way
But you know how those rumors last
Always judged by what's in your past
But their not true
That wasn't you

I want you
Could it be that simple?
I tried to only ask before
I was thinking this one
This place
This dream
So sure
And I often wonder
About this time of mine
Oh I get your answer
Inside your shiny eyes

It's you and by the way
I've never been this happy before
You turning on my way
When I get out the words
I adore you

I look at you
Your eyes are wet
You tell me you're not ready yet
To give it all
Feel my heart fall

I want you
It truly is that simple
But you want to go back
It makes my whole world
Crash down just feel so black
And I often wonder
About this time of mine
But it seems your answers
Just a few behind

Cause I want you
It truly is that simple
But you want to go back
It makes my whole world
Crash down just feel so black
And I often wonder
About this time of mine




It seems my eyes just flew by
The lies behind your eyes

Overall Meaning

The song "By the Way" by Built to Spill is a beautiful expression of a man's love for someone he is unsure about. The song is written in an intimate and vulnerable manner. The opening lines of the song seem to address a rumor that is going around about the subject of the song, and the singer's desire to reassure her that he does not believe it. He lets her know that despite what other people might be saying, he appreciates her and thinks that she is great.


The chorus is a simple declaration of his love for her. He says that he wants her, and he wonders if it could really be that simple. He has asked her before, but he is still unsure if she feels the same way.


In the second verse, the singer's emotions become more tumultuous. He talks about his dreams and how sure he was about them, but he wonders if things will change when he finally gets what he wants. He wonders if he is ready for the relationship to move forward, and if she is, too. When he looks at her, he can see that she is not sure if she is ready to commit fully to him. The song ends with him singing about how he still wants her, but he can see that there are lies behind her eyes.


Line by Line Meaning

OK and by the way
Starting the conversation with the listener


I wanna say that I think you're great
Expressing admiration for the listener


And I know what people say
Acknowledging negative rumors surrounding the listener


I'm on my breaker it's just my way
Admitting to being emotionally guarded


But you know how those rumors last
Recognizing the lasting impact of rumors


Always judged by what's in your past
Commenting on the tendency to judge people based on their past


But their not true
Refuting the rumors and acknowledging their inaccuracy


That wasn't you
Asserting that the listener is not defined by their past


I want you
Expressing desire for the listener


Could it be that simple?
Reflecting on the possibility of a straightforward romantic relationship


I tried to only ask before
Hinting at previous attempts to pursue the listener


I was thinking this one
Considering the current romantic interest


This place
Referring to the current setting


This dream
Referring to the romantic ideal


So sure
Feeling confident about the romantic feelings


And I often wonder
Reflecting on personal thoughts and feelings


About this time of mine
Pondering one's current state of mind


Oh I get your answer
Anticipating a response from the listener


Inside your shiny eyes
Interpreting the listener's body language


It's you and by the way
Declaring the listener as the romantic interest


I've never been this happy before
Expressing extreme happiness


You turning on my way
Noticing the listener's romantic interest


When I get out the words
Struggling to articulate one's feelings


I adore you
Reiterating romantic feelings


I look at you
Observing the listener


Your eyes are wet
Noticing the listener's emotional state


You tell me you're not ready yet
Learning that the listener is not ready for a relationship


To give it all
Committing to a relationship


Feel my heart fall
Experiencing heartbreak


It truly is that simple
Reiterating the simplicity of one's desires


But you want to go back
Learning that the listener wants to return to a previous state


It makes my whole world
Expressing emotional devastation


Crash down just feel so black
Describing the depth of emotional pain


It seems your answers
Acknowledging the listener's prior confessions


Just a few behind
Realizing the listener's reluctance to commit


It seems my eyes just flew by
Expressing surprise at the revelation


The lies behind your eyes
Doubting the listener's sincerity




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: CATHY MAJESKI, STEPHONY SMITH

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Roiy Benkel

On the way to Mars
We can reminisce a lot
Let's talk about the darkness and the stars
Talk about the people we might miss on earth

Untethered Moon

Now is all that matters
There's nothing in the past
But that's alright
We can see the stars in all directions
Now we see a tangled blur of white

Maltesian riot, Maltesian riot
Maltesian riot, Maltesian riot
Maltesian riot, Maltesian riot
Maltesian riot, Maltesian riot, riot, riot, riot

Now I guess I'll finally see
The kind of calmness chaos brings
I got so tired of going round and round
Waiting for gravity to bring me down



All comments from YouTube:

Knut Kniffte

Nice album. Very underrated. Keep it like a secret...

Matthew Ryan

You're funny Hayley

Matthew Ryan

@Hayley B lmao

Hayley B

@Matthew Ryan shhhhh ;)

1 More Replies...

stirgy

2:29 - that build, then into the crescendo... Chills everytime i hear it. God Bless the BTS.

XAV GRUO

I love this song!! thank you, my favorite rock band!!!

Havis Stepp

Such a great album, but this song is on repeat!

Now is all that matters. There's nothing in the past but that's alright.

Roiy Benkel

On the way to Mars
We can reminisce a lot
Let's talk about the darkness and the stars
Talk about the people we might miss on earth

Untethered Moon

Now is all that matters
There's nothing in the past
But that's alright
We can see the stars in all directions
Now we see a tangled blur of white

Maltesian riot, Maltesian riot
Maltesian riot, Maltesian riot
Maltesian riot, Maltesian riot
Maltesian riot, Maltesian riot, riot, riot, riot

Now I guess I'll finally see
The kind of calmness chaos brings
I got so tired of going round and round
Waiting for gravity to bring me down

Grant Frazer

wow, great song. 2:55 gives me goosebumps. can't wait to see them back to back in colorado

MrGEK444

Agree - Built to Spill's build / tension / resolution moments will always keep me coming back!! Like the 1-min mark of Some Other Song on this album, or Good Ol' Boredom and Life's a Dream (both also in 2-3 min mark) on album There Is No Enemy

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