Other People's Lives
Don Johnson Lyrics


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Where the grass is always greener
Where the grass don't grow
You see everything in colour till you see it close.
Everybody els's street looks like it's painted gold

Don't it always go that way ?
Suzy wanted money to spend
Wanted some rich older man
To take her from the world she was living
In to the world on the other side.
Suzy was bored with her life
Wanted something more to do with her nights

She said: someday I'm just gonna pack it up
And leave this all behind !

She wanted a piece of paradise
She wanted a change of scene

She wanted to live the privileged life and nothing in-between.
Other people's lives always look so easy
When you're standing on the other side
Other people's lives.

Johnny was tired of working all day
Working for the pennies for pay

He said: Anybody's life in the world
Has gotta be better than the life I got.
Johnny had big things in mind
Had big dreams just burning inside

He said: Someday I want to climb my way out of this
Climb my way right to the top !
He wanted a piece of paradise
He wanted to break away

He wanted to live the easy life
You know what people say:

Other people's lives always look so easy
When you're standing on the other side.
Other people's lives always look so easy
When you're seeing them through different eyes
Other people's lives.

Where the grass is always greener
Where the grass don't grow
You see everything in color till you see it close.
Everybody els's street looks like it's painted gold

Don't it always go that way ?
Suzy, she's got the money to spend
Married some rich older man

He gives her everything in the world she needs everything but love.
Johnny he's got the job of his dreams

Now he wonders is this what it all means ?
He sais: Sometimes you can have it all and still it's not enough.

He wanted a piece of paradise
She wanted a change of dreams

But sometimes you know that paradise ain't always what it seems.
Other people's lives always look so easy
When you're standing on the other side.
Other people's lives always look so easy
When you're seeing them through different eyes
Other people's lives.

Other people's lives always look much better
When you're seeing them through different eyes
Other people's lives

Other peoples's lives.
Other people's lives always look much better




When you're seeing them through different eyes
Other people's lives

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Don Johnson's song "Other People's Lives" explore the phenomenon of people observing the lives of others and thinking that they have it much better than themselves. The grass is always seen as greener on the other side, as illustrated by the first line of the chorus. The verses present two characters - Suzy and Johnny - who both feel dissatisfied with their present lives and crave something more. Suzy wants money and the privileges that come with it, while Johnny dreams of climbing his way to the top.


However, by the end of the song, both Suzy and Johnny have achieved what they wanted – Suzy has married rich and Johnny has landed his dream job. But even with their goals attained, they still feel a sense of emptiness, questioning if what they strove for is truly what they desired. Thus, the song warns the listener to be careful of the pitfalls of comparing their lives with others, as what one sees may not necessarily represent true happiness or fulfillment.


Overall, "Other People's Lives" is a reflective piece that explores a common human sentiment of coveting the lives of others. Through the stories of Suzy and Johnny, the lyrics show that it's easy to be swept away by what seems desirable but is not necessarily what one truly wants.


Line by Line Meaning

Where the grass is always greener
There's always something better out there


Where the grass don't grow
The reality of the situation is different from what it looks like


You see everything in colour till you see it close.
Things aren't always how they seem


Everybody els's street looks like it's painted gold
Other people's lives look perfect from the outside


Don't it always go that way ?
This is how things always seem to happen


Suzy wanted money to spend
Suzy was looking for something more in life


Wanted some rich older man
She thought that money could buy happiness


To take her from the world she was living
She wanted to escape her current situation


In to the world on the other side.
To experience something new


Suzy was bored with her life
She was unhappy with her current situation


Wanted something more to do with her nights
She was looking for excitement and adventure


She said: someday I'm just gonna pack it up And leave this all behind !
She was determined to make a change


She wanted a piece of paradise
She was looking for a better life


She wanted a change of scene
She was tired of her current surroundings


She wanted to live the privileged life and nothing in-between.
She was looking for a life of luxury


Other people's lives always look so easy When you're standing on the other side
It's easy to think that other people have it better than you do


Johnny was tired of working all day Working for the pennies for pay
He was unhappy with his job and felt underpaid


He said: Anybody's life in the world Has gotta be better than the life I got.
He believed that anyone else's life would be better than his own


Johnny had big things in mind Had big dreams just burning inside
He had big aspirations for his life


He said: Someday I want to climb my way out of this Climb my way right to the top !
He was determined to succeed


He wanted a piece of paradise
He was looking for a better life


He wanted to break away
He wanted to escape his current situation


He wanted to live the easy life You know what people say:
He wanted a life of ease and comfort


Now he wonders is this what it all means ?
He's questioning whether he's really happy now


He sais: Sometimes you can have it all and still it's not enough.
Having everything doesn't necessarily bring happiness


But sometimes you know that paradise ain't always what it seems.
The grass isn't always greener on the other side


Other people's lives always look much better When you're seeing them through different eyes
Our perception of other people's lives is often distorted


Other peoples's lives.
Comparison is the thief of joy




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DIANE EVE WARREN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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