The Scientist
Danny Lohner/Johnette Napolitano Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell you I'm sorry,
You don't know how lovely you are,
I had to find you,
Tell you I need you,
Tell you I set you apart,
Tell me your secrets,
And ask me your questions,
Running in circles,
Calling tails, heads on a silence apart.
Nobody said it was easy,
It's such a shame for us to part,
Nobody said it was easy,
No one ever said it would be this hard,
Oh take me back to the start.
I was just guessing,
At numbers and fingers,
Pulling the puzzles apart,
Questions of science,
Science and progress,
Did not speak as loud as my heart,
Tell me you love me,
Come back and haunt me,
I want to rush to the start,
Running in circles,
Chasing tails,
Coming back as we are.
Nobody said it was easy,
Oh it's such a shame for us to part,
Nobody said it was easy,
No one ever said it would be so hard,
I'm going back to the start.
In "The Scientist", Danny Lohner tells a story of reconciliation and wanting to go back to the start of a relationship to make things right. The first verse is an apology to a lover who the singer has hurt, but also a tribute to the lover's beauty and how important they are. The singer then seeks to learn more about the lover and asks them to share their secrets and ask questions. The singer wants to go back to the beginning of their relationship, recapturing that spark and excitement they once had. The second verse continues to explore the emotions surrounding the break-up, with the singer lamenting how hard it all is and how much they wish things were easier. The last line repeats the desire to return to the beginning of the relationship with the hope of making things right.
This song speaks to the universal experience of wanting to go back and fix mistakes in a relationship. It is a deeply emotional ballad, with a sense of urgency and yearning throughout. The lyrics are simple, but packed with meaning, and the music is understated, allowing the words to come to the forefront of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Come up to meet you,
Approaching you with affection and intention.
Tell you I'm sorry,
Apologizing for past mistakes or behavior.
You don't know how lovely you are,
Expressing admiration and appreciation for someone's beauty and qualities.
I had to find you,
Searching for and seeking out someone who was missing or lost.
Tell you I need you,
Acknowledging and expressing a deep desire or reliance on someone.
Tell you I set you apart,
Promising to prioritize and value someone above others.
Tell me your secrets,
Asking and inviting someone to share personal information and experiences with you.
And ask me your questions,
Encouraging someone to seek answers and understanding from you.
Ah let's go back to the start,
Longing to return to a previous time or situation, to reset or start anew.
Running in circles,
Going around and around in repetition and confusion.
Calling tails, heads on a silence apart.
Making random and arbitrary choices while feeling distant and disconnected.
Nobody said it was easy,
Acknowledge that achieving and maintaining something is difficult.
It's such a shame for us to part,
Feeling regretful and saddened by a separation or ending.
No one ever said it would be this hard,
Feeling unprepared or surprised by a challenge or difficulty.
Oh take me back to the start.
Desiring to return to a previous state, a simpler or happier time.
I was just guessing,
Admitting to not having sure or accurate knowledge or information.
At numbers and fingers,
Attempting to solve a puzzle or problem through trial and error or random methods.
Pulling the puzzles apart,
Disassembling and analyzing a problem or situation to gain understanding.
Questions of science,
Inquiring about and examining the nature and principles of the world through research and analysis.
Science and progress,
The pursuit of knowledge and innovation through scientific endeavor and exploration.
Did not speak as loud as my heart,
Feeling that personal emotions and feelings are more powerful and influential than logic and reason.
Tell me you love me,
Asking for validation and affection from someone else.
Come back and haunt me,
Wishing for someone from the past to return or reappear, even if it is in a negative or ghostly form.
I want to rush to the start,
Desire to quickly revert back to a previous time or state.
Chasing tails,
Pursuing something that is unattainable or illusory.
Coming back as we are.
Returning to a situation or relationship without any significant changes or improvements.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Christopher Anthony John Martin, Guy Rupert Berryman, Jonathan Mark Buckland, William Champion
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@kangfesher
Johnette just has one of the most gorgeous, powerful and distinctive voices in rock. Love her so much.
@vanessajensen5470
Isn’t she awesome listen to her version of mother of pearl , totally different from Bryan Ferry/Roxy Music version
@jiljoup9960
When I was about 2-5 my mom would play this on casset on her car radio- I was born in 2007 btw we used cassettes because we were poor and this brings me nostalgia.......on every level.
@cynthiahollars4720
Her vocals just made me fall in love with this song
@leticiaviaro
This is just better than the original. I just spent a good half hour looking for this specific version because i used to have it on my phone years ago. I just can't listen to the original, good work guys.
@floyd2222
this cover is so CRAZY AMAZING.
@jsdouglas83
It's from the Wicker Park soundtrack
@AnthonyWilliams1337
I had a hell of a time finding this version too and I remembered that it was on the Wicker Park soundtrack
@chrisdavis7031
@@AnthonyWilliams1337 that whole soundtrack rocks and tugs at the emotions
@MistyRain7001
i friggin love Johnette....amazing voice...unheralded talent