After Don Cherry's death in 1995, Eagle-Eye moved to Stockholm with his girlfriend, and he began to focus on songwriting. He soon recorded 'Desireless' (1997), and it became a hit across Scandinavia and the rest of Europe, with an American release coming in 1998. "Save Tonight" proved a major hit, and made Cherry into an international star. His second album came in 2000 (titled 'Living in the Present Future') and was remixed for the States (where it was released as 'Present/Future'), but it saw disappointing sales. Cherry's success has waxed and waned since his late 90s heyday
Been Here Once Before
Eagle-Eye Cherry Lyrics
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Now you know that after all
When you make mistakes like that
There´s no more turning back
Now we've gone and we lost our head
You´re better off just playing dead
Once you´re wearing that black hat
There´s no point in turning back
I know, I know, I know
We've been here once before
I know, I know, I know
We've been here once before
All you know is you need to win
Should you go when your call comes in?
Once you see all the blood that flows
I don't think you´ll be wanting more
Now I thought that was all in the past
And that peace would come at last
Once again we are at war
Yes I know we've been here before
I know, I know, I know
We've been here once before
I know, I know, I know
We've been here once before
And I don't think you´ll be wanting more
We've been here once before
We've been here that´s for sure
And I don't think you´ll be wanting more
We've been here once before
We've been here that´s for sure
In "Been Here Once Before," Eagle-Eye Cherry speaks of the regrets that come with making decisions that lead to unintended consequences. He begins the song by stating, "You got you back up against the wall, now you know that after all when you make mistakes like that, there's no more turning back." This serves as a warning to the listener that the decisions we make may have lasting implications. Cherry's use of the phrase 'black hat' in the second stanza is interesting because, throughout American cinema history, villains often wear black hats. The phrase is used to describe someone who 'veers off into the dark side' and whose actions are irreversible. Cherry makes it clear that once someone is wearing a black hat, there's no turning back, suggesting that one should take great care in their life decisions.
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "I know, I know, we've been here once before," emphasizing that these types of situations have occurred before and can happen again. Cherry's verse about "seeing all the blood that flows" suggests that too often, people become desensitized to violence, and it becomes normalized. The last verse suggests that peace may be the ultimate goal, but sometimes war happens, and we find ourselves in the same situation again. Cherry comes full circle with the song, stating that we have been in this situation before, and we don't want to be in it again.
Line by Line Meaning
You got your back up against the wall
You are in a difficult situation with limited options
Now you know that after all
You realize that there are consequences for your actions
When you make mistakes like that
Your errors have led you to this difficult position
There's no more turning back
You cannot change what has already happened
Now we've gone and we lost our head
We acted impulsively and made things worse
You're better off just playing dead
It's best to avoid confrontation or resistance
Once you're wearing that black hat
When you are seen as the enemy by others
There's no point in turning back
It is too late to try and make amends
I know, I know, I know
I am aware and understand
We've been here once before
We have faced similar situations in the past
All you know is you need to win
All that matters to you is coming out on top
Should you go when your call comes in?
Is it worth answering the call to a potentially dangerous situation?
Once you see all the blood that flows
When you witness the violence and harm caused by conflict
I don't think you'll be wanting more
You will realize the true cost of victory and will not seek it again
Now I thought that was all in the past
I believed we had moved on from such dangerous situations
And that peace would come at last
I hoped for lasting tranquility and security
Once again we are at war
We find ourselves in another conflict
Yes, I know we've been here before
I am familiar with the situation and its risks
And I don't think you'll be wanting more
You will learn from your mistakes and avoid further harm
We've been here once before
We have experienced this before
We've been here, that's for sure
We know from experience the dangers of such situations
And I don't think you'll be wanting more
You will see the futility of repeating past mistakes
We've been here once before
We have previously faced the same challenges
We've been here, that's for sure
We know what we are up against
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: EAGLE-EYE CHERRY, KLAS AHLUND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind