The Best Inside You
David Baerwald Lyrics
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You wanted some peace
You wanted exemption from longing
You wanted fine clothes
And a powerful engine
And most of all a sense of belonging
So you did what you did
And you were only a kid
To haunt you
All those promises that you made
All you've taken in trade
You gave away
The best inside you
But what else could you do
The streets are so lonesome and empty
The best inside you
But nobody blames you
You come from the land
Of hope and plenty
Mornings are lonely
Nights are cold neon
You own all you ever dreamed of
Turn away from the past
And move on ever faster
A slave to the name of your freedom
You do what you can
But you are only one man
And right now you feel like less than nothing
All those promises that you made
All you've taken in trade
You gave away
The best inside you
But what else could you do
The streets are so lonesome and empty
The best inside you
But nobody blames you
You come from the land of plenty
The best inside you
So what are you gonna do
Are you desperate enough for repentance
The best inside you
Mocking you as you sleep
The secrets that you keep inside you
What you want is what you get
What you get ain't what you want
What you want is what you get
What you get ain't what you want
The best inside you
But what else could you do
The streets are so lonesome and empty
The best inside you
But nobody blames you
You come from the land of plenty
The lyrics to David Baerwald's "The Best Inside You" speak to the human desire for security, belonging, and material possessions. The song's subject longs for a stronghold, exemption from feeling lonely or unfulfilled, fine clothes, a powerful engine, and, above all, a sense of belonging. These desires lead him to make choices in his youth that come back to haunt him as an adult. The promises he made and the things he has taken in exchange for these desires now weigh heavy on him. The chorus highlights the conflict between his inner self, still holding on to the best inside of him, and his outward actions that have led him down a different path.
Ultimately, the song speaks to the struggle between the desire for material wealth and the need for inner peace and fulfillment. It's a poignant exploration of the human condition that many people can relate to. Despite the mournful undertones of the song, the lyrics suggest that redemption is still possible with repentance and a willingness to confront one's past mistakes.
Line by Line Meaning
So you wanted your stronghold
You desired a place where you could feel secure and protected
You wanted some peace
You yearned for a sense of calm and tranquility in your life
You wanted exemption from longing
You sought relief from the constant ache of unfulfilled desires
You wanted fine clothes
You craved the trappings of material success and status
And a powerful engine
You aspired for strength and control in your life
And most of all a sense of belonging
You hoped to find a place where you felt accepted and valued
So you did what you did
You acted in pursuit of your desires
And you were only a kid
You were young and inexperienced at the time
Now your actions rise up now
Your past actions have consequences that resurface in the present
To haunt you
To torment and trouble you with regret and guilt
All those promises that you made
You made commitments that you did not or could not keep
All you've taken in trade
You have gained material success at a cost to your own values
You gave away
You sacrificed your own true desires and self for external rewards
The best inside you
Your true self and potential for greatness
But what else could you do
Your choices were limited or difficult at the time
The streets are so lonesome and empty
The world can be a cold and isolating place
But nobody blames you
Others don't hold you responsible for your past actions
You come from the land of hope and plenty
You were raised in a culture of optimism and abundance
Mornings are lonely
You wake up feeling isolated and disconnected
Nights are cold neon
The artificial lights of the city feel bleak and empty
You own all you ever dreamed of
You have achieved your material goals
Turn away from the past
Let go of your regrets and move on with your life
And move on ever faster
Keep going forward with speed and urgency
A slave to the name of your freedom
You are trapped by the very concept of individualism and independence
You do what you can
You act to the best of your current ability
But you are only one man
You are limited by your individual human capacity
And right now you feel like less than nothing
You feel insignificant and overwhelmed by your problems
What you want is what you get
You receive the outcomes of your actions, whether desired or not
What you get ain't what you want
You may achieve your goals, but still feel unfulfilled or unsatisfied
The best inside you
Your true potential and capacity for greatness
So what are you gonna do
How will you respond to your current situation?
Are you desperate enough for repentance
Are you willing to make significant changes and seek forgiveness?
Mocking you as you sleep
Your inner demons taunt and torment you even in your dreams
The secrets that you keep inside you
The hidden truths and regrets that you hold onto in your heart
Contributed by Alexander A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.