Promise
Echo & the Bunnymen Lyrics

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You said something will change
We were all dressed up
Somewhere to go
No sign of rain
But something will change
You promised

You said nothing will change

We were almost near
Almost far
Down came the rain
But nothing will change
You promised

A promise a promise a promise

It's exactly the same
You said
It's always the same
But I'll make it change
Into something the same
I promise

A promise a promise a promise

Light on the waves
Light on the waves
Light on the waves
Light on the waves
A promise a promise a promise a promise
(Light on the water)
(We could sail on forever) a promise
A promise
(There's light on the water)
(We could sail on forever) a promise
(There's light on the water) a promise
(There's light on the water) a promise
(We could sail on forever) a promise
(There's Light on the water) a promise

(There's Light on the water) a promise
(We could sail on forever)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Echo & the Bunnymen's song A Promise are filled with contrasts and contradictions, leaving the listener to ponder the nature of promises, change, and sameness. The opening lines, "You said something will change, We were all dressed up, Somewhere to go, No sign of rain," suggest a hopeful anticipation for a positive transformation. However, this is immediately contradicted in the next lines, "But something will change, You promised," leaving the listener to wonder if the promise of change is genuine or just a false hope.

The second verse adds to the contradictions, as the singer is told "nothing will change" and yet they are "almost near, Almost far," indicating a sense of progress towards something elusive. The rain serves as a metaphor for the unchangeable, as it falls despite the promise of change. Again, the lines "But nothing will change, You promised," leave the listener unsure if the promise was sincere or just a cruel deception.

The chorus of "A promise, a promise, a promise," is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the idea of the singer being repeatedly promised something that never comes to fruition. The final lines of the song, "There's light on the water, We could sail on forever, A promise," suggest that the promise of change may still be alluring, even if it seems unattainable.

Overall, the lyrics of A Promise are introspective and contemplative, asking the listener to consider the nature of promises and the human desire for change.

Line by Line Meaning

You said something will change
You thought that there would be a change in the future.

We were all dressed up
We were prepared for what was to come.

Somewhere to go
There was a specific destination in mind.

No sign of rain
The weather seemed fair at that point.

But something will change
Despite the absence of a visible shift, a modification is inevitable.

You promised
You gave your word that it would happen.

You said nothing will change
You expected things to remain the same.

We were almost near
We were making progress towards a goal.

Almost far
But still far enough away to not be within reach.

Down came the rain
Our efforts were challenged by an unexpected force.

But nothing will change
Despite the setback, there would be no difference in the grand scheme of things.

You promised
You gave your word that it would stay the same.

It's exactly the same
The situation hasn't changed at all.

You said
You stated your position.

It's always the same
There is no variance in the circumstances.

But I'll make it change
Despite the perceived permanence of the situation, I will find a way to modify it.

Into something the same
The end result will still be similar, but achieved through different means.

I promise
I am committed to making the change happen.

Light on the waves
The glimmering reflection on the surface of the water.

A promise a promise a promise a promise
A recurring pledge to make a change happen.

(Light on the water)
A reminder of the shimmering brightness on the surface of the water.

(We could sail on forever) a promise
An enduring commitment to what seems like an effortless journey forward.

A promise
An assurance of something to come.

(There's light on the water)
An acknowledgement of the radiance on the surface of the water.

(We could sail on forever) a promise
An enduring commitment to what seems like an effortless journey forward.

(There's light on the water)
An acknowledgement of the radiance on the surface of the water.

(We could sail on forever) a promise
An enduring commitment to what seems like an effortless journey forward.

(There's Light on the water)
An acknowledgement of the radiance on the surface of the water.

(We could sail on forever)
A belief in the possibility of an unobstructed voyage.

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IAN STEPHEN MCCULLOCH, LESLIE THOMAS PATTINSON, PETER LOUIS VINCENT DE FREITAS, WILLIAM ALFRED SERGEANT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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