See You When You're 40
Dido Lyrics


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I've driven round in circles for three hours
It was bound to happen that I'd end up at yours
I temporarily forgot there's better days to come
I thought that I would give it just one more chance

'cause I want, tonight, what I've been waiting for
But I found, tonight, what I'd been warned about
You think you are complicated, deep mystery to all
Well it's taken me a while to see, you're not so special
All energy no meaning, with a lot of words
So paper thin that one real feeling, could knock you down

And I've seen, tonight, what I'd been warned about
I'm gonna leave, tonight, before I change my mind

So see you when you're 40, lost and all alone
Being comforted by strangers you'll never need to know
Not sad because you lost me
But sad because you thought it was cool to be sad

You think misery will make you stand apart from the crowd
Well if you had walked past me today I wouldn't have picked you out
I wouldn't have picked you out
I wouldn't have picked you out

Now I've seen, tonight, how could I waste my time
And I'll be on my way, and I won't be back




'Cause I've seen, tonight, what I've been warned about
You're just a boy, not a man, and I'm not coming back

Overall Meaning

The song "See You When You're 40" by Dido is about the realization of the singer that the person she was waiting for and expecting to fulfill her desires is not worth her time. The singer seems to have driven around in circles for three hours and ends up at that person's house. She had forgotten that there are better days to come and gives it another chance. She had been waiting for what she wanted, but found what she had been warned about, implying that the person she was waiting for turned out to be a disappointment. The singer calls out the person, stating that they think they are special and complicated, but in reality, they are shallow, with no real meaning or depth.


The singer decides to leave, realizing that waiting for this person is pointless, and tells them that they will see them when they are 40 and lost and all alone, being comforted by strangers they will never need to know. The singer acknowledges that she is not sad about losing the person, but sad that they thought it was cool to be sad. The singer further expresses that the person wanted to stand apart from the crowd by being miserable, but if she had walked past them that day, she wouldn't have picked them out. The singer finally departs with the resolve that she has seen what she had been warned about, and the addressee was just a boy, not a man, and she would not be coming back.


Overall, the song's message is a powerful one: the singer had been waiting and hoping for something or someone that was not worth her time. The person she was waiting for was shallow, and their words had no real meaning. The singer's decision to leave and not look back is an inspiring one for those who may find themselves in a similar situation.


Line by Line Meaning

I've driven round in circles for three hours
I have been aimlessly driving around for three hours to end up at your doorstep.


It was bound to happen that I'd end up at yours
It was inevitable that I would end up at your place eventually.


I temporarily forgot there's better days to come
I momentarily forgot that there will be brighter days in the future.


I thought that I would give it just one more chance
I decided to give this situation one more opportunity to succeed.


'cause I want, tonight, what I've been waiting for
I am desirous of what I have been waiting for tonight.


But I found, tonight, what I'd been warned about
Unfortunately, I discovered tonight what I had been cautioned against.


You think you are complicated, deep mystery to all
You assume that you are an intricate enigma that nobody truly understands.


Well it's taken me a while to see, you're not so special
After some time, I realized that you are not particularly unique or exceptional.


All energy no meaning, with a lot of words
You possess a lot of vitality, but it lacks significance, and you use too many words to convey it.


So paper thin that one real feeling, could knock you down
You are so flimsy that a single genuine emotion could easily defeat you.


And I've seen, tonight, what I'd been warned about
Unfortunately, I witnessed tonight what I had been cautioned against.


I'm gonna leave, tonight, before I change my mind
I have decided to depart tonight before I have second thoughts.


So see you when you're 40, lost and all alone
I will only see you once you are forty, when you are alone and in distress.


Being comforted by strangers you'll never need to know
You will derive solace from unfamiliar strangers who you will not have to meet again.


Not sad because you lost me
You are not upset because you lost me.


But sad because you thought it was cool to be sad
Your sadness is simply an affectation that you believe is fashionable.


You think misery will make you stand apart from the crowd
You believe that suffering will differentiate you from others.


Well if you had walked past me today I wouldn't have picked you out
However, if you had passed by me today, I would not have noticed you at all.


Now I've seen, tonight, how could I waste my time
Now that I have observed the truth tonight, I am questioning why I wasted my time before.


And I'll be on my way, and I won't be back
I will be leaving now, and I will not return.


'Cause I've seen, tonight, what I've been warned about
Because I have witnessed tonight what I had been cautioned against.


You're just a boy, not a man, and I'm not coming back
You are only a child, not a grown man, and I will not return.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DIDO ARMSTRONG, AUBREY VERNON NUNN, ROLLO ARMSTRONG

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@user-ip9yu7lp1q

I've driven round in circles for three hours
It was bound to happen that I'd end up at your
I temporarily forgot there's better days to come
I thought that I would give it just one more chance

Cos' I want, tonight, what I've been waiting for
But I found, tonight, what I'd been warned about

You think that you are complicated, deep mystery to all
Well it's taken me a while to see, you're not so special
All energy no meaning, with a lot of words
So paper thin that one real feeling, could knock you down

And I've seen, tonight, what I'd been warned about
I'm gonna leave, tonight, before I change my mind

So see me when your 40, lost and all alone
being comforted by strangers you'll never need to know
not sad because you lost me
but sad because you thought it was cool to be sad

You think misery will make you stand apart from the crowd
well if you had walked past me today I wouldn't have picked you out
I wouldn't have picked you out

now I've seen, tonight, how I could waste my time
and I'll be on my way, and I won't be back
cos I've seen, tonight, what I've been warned about
your just a boy, not a man, and I'm not coming back



@valerianeufeld

I've driven around in circles for three hours
It was bound to happen that I'd end up at yours
I temporarily forgot there's better days to come
I thought that I would give it just one more chance
'Cause I want, tonight, what I've been waiting for
But I found, tonight, what I'd been warned about
You think you are complicated, deep mystery to all
Well, it's taken me a while to see, you're not so special
All energy, no meaning with a lot of words
So paper thin that one real feeling could knock you down
And I've seen, tonight, what I'd been warned about
I'm gonna leave, tonight, before I change my mind
So see you when you're 40, lost and all alone
Being comforted by strangers you'll never need to know
Not sad because you lost me
But sad because you thought it was cool to be sad
You think misery will make you stand apart from the crowd
Well if you had walked past me today, I wouldn't have picked you out
I wouldn't have picked you out
I wouldn't have picked you out
Now I've seen, tonight, how could I waste my time?
And I'll be on my way, and I won't be back
'Cause I've seen, tonight, what I've been warned about
You're just a boy, not a man, and I'm not coming back
And I'm not coming back
What I'd been warned about



All comments from YouTube:

@leighannwestwood8280

I was 15years old going back and forth to Manchester and normanton still listening to dis right now and it my 36th birthday today..how time fly's Dido is still on my playlist ❤❤❤❤..

@jochenjeroensmet4729

Turning 40 tomorrow this kicks in.. Dido is easily 1 of the most beautiful voices of the last 20 years..

@patty109109

This song is so good. Been listening for years!!

@Francis-qf2hr

Masterpiece...
Remember playing this years back, on repeat all through the night, just beautiful!

@obreymutsambi7763

I thought i was the only one, its an absolute masterpiece indeed

@justice5171

U just spoke to me directly. I repeat it always

@DJ-st6qk

Beautiful!!! Almost 20 years in love with you and your songs!!!

@CanonNikonMan241

One of my favorite Dido songs. Beautiful.

@jessicaonuorah3330

Me too

@LucianoPinhoBsBSP

Dido proved that it was possible to create pop music with differentiated quality in the 2000s.

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