You Always Let Me Down
Coxon Graham Lyrics

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You talk about money
You talk about soul
I guess you better get some before you get too old
Lay down on your side and say bye bye

You talk about money
You talk about soul
I guess you'd better get some before you get too too too old

Lay down on your side and say bye bye

I know they're sayin' that I never tried to stay by your side
Oh baby baby they'll take you for a ride

You always let me down (x3)
You always

You talk about money
There ain't none around
You can't seem to let me have the freedom that I found
Drop your foolish pride and say bye bye

What you sayin' that you haven't tried to say before?
Oh baby you know you been had before

You always let me down (x2)

Yeah yeah yeah yeah!

I know they're sayin' that I never tried to stay by your side
Well baby baby they'll take you for a ride

You always let me down (x3)

You always let me down, first chance you get (x4)
You always let me down

Overall Meaning

The song “You Always Let Me Down” by Coxon Graham is a song about disappointment and the relationship between money and soul. The first verse talks about how the person being addressed talks about money and soul, but also notes the importance of actually having those things before getting too old. The repetition of “lay down on your side and say bye bye” could be seen as a kiss off or final goodbye. The chorus repeats “you always let me down” three times, which highlights the amount of disappointment felt towards this person.

In the second verse, the person continues to “talk about money” but there’s none around. The singer wants to have freedom but is unable to with this person in their life. The phrase “drop your foolish pride and say bye bye” is repeated as another indication that the singer wants to end the relationship. The bridge reiterates how the singer has tried to stay by this person’s side, but in the end, they’ll take them for a ride - suggesting that this person may not have the singer's best interests at heart.

Overall, the song seems to be a commentary on how money and selfishness can ruin relationships. The singer is fed up with this person who always lets them down and brings them down. There's a sense of finality with the repeated "say bye bye" which emphasizes how little the singer wants to do with this person anymore.

Line by Line Meaning

You talk about money
You focus too much on material things.

You talk about soul
You claim to care about spirituality and emotions.

I guess you better get some before you get too old
You should prioritize gaining soulful experiences before it's too late.

Lay down on your side and say bye bye
Give up and leave.

I know they're sayin' that I never tried to stay by your side
There are rumors that I didn't try hard enough in our relationship.

Oh baby baby they'll take you for a ride
People will deceive you and manipulate you.

You always let me down (x3)
You consistently disappoint me.

There ain't none around
There is no money available.

You can't seem to let me have the freedom that I found
You are controlling and don't let me do what I want.

Drop your foolish pride and say bye bye
Stop being stubborn and leave.

What you sayin' that you haven't tried to say before?
Why are you suddenly speaking as if it's a new idea?