Crazy
Dave Matthews Lyrics


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Crazy as I may make my way
Through this world
It's for no one but me to say
Which direction I should turn in

Because I am the captain of this ship
Eyes, eyelids and kissing lips
The same as it was
We should be forever again

You give but you don't know
Away you give and you
You give to roll me back again
You give for me again, you leave

And people say, "Oh look at the way
The girl dances her life away
Oh, even more than that
All the crazy, crazy things she does"

She sings, "I am the captain of this ship
Eyes, eyelids and kissing lips
Just the same as it was away to me
And I coming back to you"

Why should I bend myself around to make you smile?
Why should I wear your blinders to give you style?
Why should I compromise my high, so that you can?

You give and roll, the hand is back again
And reign me along
You give, play, I won't be here too long
You give, so wait and see

Waiting me along, you give the reigns
To roll me back again
You give, play me around, you give

And why, why you give, play
Play me again by your side




We're the same as we were and wait
Dance, dance, do your thing, you while away

Overall Meaning

In "Crazy," Dave Matthews reflects on the nature of control and independence. He sings of wanting to carve his own path in life, even if it means going against the expectations of others. Matthews asserts his agency as the captain of his own ship, determined to steer his life in his own chosen direction. Alongside this resolve to make his own choices comes a weariness towards those who seek to influence him. He asks why he should bend to the will of others, compromising his high for the sake of their comfort. Despite this, Matthews acknowledges the criticisms that he and others who assert their independence face. The lyrics depict a girl dancing through life in a way that others may view as reckless or unusual. However, Matthews remains firm in his convictions, asserting that he will continue to be the captain of his own ship, regardless of the opinions of others.


One way to interpret the lyrics of "Crazy" is as a message of empowerment. Matthews encourages listeners to take control of their destinies, to be the captain of their own ships. He acknowledges that this may be a difficult process, that one may face criticism or resistance from others. However, he encourages listeners to push through and hold fast to their own convictions. In this way, the song can be seen as an anthem of individualism, celebrating the importance of following one's own path in life.


Line by Line Meaning

Crazy as I may make my way Through this world
Even though I may act in peculiar ways as I navigate through my life's journey


It's for no one but me to say Which direction I should turn in
It's up to me alone to decide on the path I should follow


Because I am the captain of this ship Eyes, eyelids and kissing lips The same as it was We should be forever again
I am in control of my life, with my bodily organs and features intact, and I wish things could be the way they were in the past


You give but you don't know Away you give and you You give to roll me back again You give for me again, you leave
You offer your support, but you're unaware of my needs or wants, and you give to hinder my progress and ultimately leave me


And people say, "Oh look at the way The girl dances her life away Oh, even more than that All the crazy, crazy things she does"
The observers comment on how I dance through life and behave in an insane fashion


She sings, "I am the captain of this ship Eyes, eyelids and kissing lips Just the same as it was away to me And I coming back to you"
The person sings about being in control of their life, with their bodily attributes still intact, and how they're returning to someone special


Why should I bend myself around to make you smile? Why should I wear your blinders to give you style? Why should I compromise my high, so that you can?
Why must I contort to make you happy, adopt your values to be in vogue, or lower my standards to meet your expectations?


You give and roll, the hand is back again And reign me along You give, play, I won't be here too long You give, so wait and see
You extend an offer or gesture, but take control to manipulate, entertain, or distract me, however, I won't tolerate it lasting too much longer, and you should expect what comes next


Waiting me along, you give the reigns To roll me back again You give, play me around, you give
You lie in wait to take the control back and steer me towards regression, while you keep amusing yourself by pushing me around


And why, why you give, play Play me again by your side We're the same as we were and wait Dance, dance, do your thing, you while away
Why do you manipulate me and try to get me back, as if nothing has changed, and wait for me to dance through life unconcernedly?




Contributed by Luke E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@brandi6087

Does anyone else HAVE to listen to this at least 3 times in a row before they can move on? I'm just never ready for the song to end.

@souldragonfli

Straight up YES!

@jenniferbannach7402

Same here!

@chrissanders2562

Me

@ltwilley77

YES!

@afshinsharifi6

totally!

51 More Replies...

@Lisa.pizzza

This song is still just as beautiful as it was 22 years ago! <3

@p1dru2art

Two thumbs up for all Dave Matthew fans

@ashoknair8993

Am 60 and enjoy DM

@rhett_snyder

@Ashe _n Are 60 bad grammar (sry if you’re not primarily an English speaker)

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