What We Want What We Get
Dave Barnes Lyrics


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Baby, we are lying here
Pretending that we're both asleep
I can hear your broken heart
In every single breath you breathe

It's hard to find the words to say
When we both hurt like this
So, I close my eyes and pray
Time will heal what we're bound to miss

No one can ever say
Why it goes this way

Sometimes what we want isn't what we get
Sometimes what we get, ain't really what we want
Sometimes what we want isn't what we get
Sometimes what we get, ain't really what we want

It seems for every one we win
There's another three we lose
We've waited for the answer here
Only just to leave confused

You know you're forever mine
And baby, I'm forever yours
I've waited in the darkest rooms
Waiting on the open door

We've been so long wishing for things
We just keep forgetting that we
Got all we'll ever need in you and me

Everything we have, anything we got
It was given baby. It was given baby




There ain't a thing we need that heaven forgot
It was given baby. It was given baby

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Dave Barnes's song "What We Want What We Get" depict a relationship in a state of turmoil and uncertainty. The singer and their partner are lying together, pretending to be asleep, but the singer can sense the brokenness in their partner's heart through the sound of their breath. Both individuals are hurting and finding it difficult to express their emotions. The singer acknowledges the struggle to find the right words and instead chooses to close their eyes and pray, hoping that time will eventually heal the pain they are experiencing.


The lyrics touch upon the unpredictability of life, emphasizing that sometimes what we desire and strive for is not what we ultimately receive. In relationships, there can be disappointment and the realization that what is obtained may not align with what was desired. The line "Sometimes what we want isn't what we get, sometimes what we get ain't really what we want" encapsulates this sentiment. It highlights the complexities and uncertainties of love and how things don't always work out as planned.


The song also alludes to the idea of gratitude and contentment. While the singer and their partner have faced challenges and setbacks, they recognize that they have each other and all they truly need is in their relationship. The lyrics express the belief that everything they have, everything they've been given, is enough. Despite their longing for certain outcomes, they should not overlook or forget the value they already possess.


Overall, "What We Want What We Get" explores the struggles and contradictions within relationships, the unpredictability of life, and the importance of appreciating what one already has.


Line by Line Meaning

Baby, we are lying here
We are lying here together, physically close but emotionally distant


Pretending that we're both asleep
Acting as if we are unaware of the problems and pain between us


I can hear your broken heart
I can feel the pain and sadness in your heart


In every single breath you breathe
It is evident in each and every breath you take


It's hard to find the words to say
Expressing our feelings is difficult and challenging


When we both hurt like this
Because we are both experiencing emotional pain


So, I close my eyes and pray
I turn to prayer as a way to cope and seek solace


Time will heal what we're bound to miss
As time passes, our emotional wounds will slowly heal


No one can ever say
Nobody can explain or understand why things happen this way


Why it goes this way
Why our lives take this particular direction


Sometimes what we want isn't what we get
Occasionally, our desires and reality do not align


Sometimes what we get, ain't really what we want
Sometimes, what we receive is not truly what we desire


It seems for every one we win
For every victory we achieve


There's another three we lose
We experience multiple losses and setbacks


We've waited for the answer here
We have been patiently waiting for a solution or resolution


Only just to leave confused
But unfortunately, we end up feeling even more bewildered


You know you're forever mine
You are aware that you will always belong to me


And baby, I'm forever yours
And I want you to know that I am yours forever as well


I've waited in the darkest rooms
I have endured times of emotional darkness and uncertainty


Waiting on the open door
Anticipating a new opportunity or chance for happiness


We've been so long wishing for things
We have spent a significant amount of time desiring certain outcomes


We just keep forgetting that we
But we often fail to remember that


Got all we'll ever need in you and me
We already possess everything we could ever need in our relationship


Everything we have, anything we got
All of our possessions and achievements


It was given baby. It was given baby
They were bestowed upon us, not obtained through our own efforts


There ain't a thing we need that heaven forgot
There is not a single thing we require that has been overlooked by heaven


It was given baby. It was given baby
Everything has been granted to us, my love




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dave Barnes

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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