Circle
EdieBrickell&NewBohemians Lyrics

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Me, I'm a part of your circle of friends
And we notice you don't come around
Me, I think it all depends on you
Touching ground with us but

I quit, I give up, nothing's good enough for anybody else
It seems
And I quit, I give up, nothing's good enough for anybody else

It seems

And being alone is the, is the best way to be
When I'm by myself it's the best way to be
When I'm all alone it's the best way to be
When I'm by myself, nobody else can say goodbye

Everything is temporary anyway
When the streets are wet, the colors slip into the sky
But I don't know why that means you and I are
That means you and I

I quit, I give up, nothing's good enough for anybody else
It seems
And I quit, I give up, nothing's good enough for anybody else
It seems

And being alone is the, is the best way to be
When I'm by myself, it's the best way to be
When I'm all alone, it's the best way to be
When I'm by myself, nobody else can say
Me, I'm a part of your circle of friends
And we noticed you don't come around

La la la la la la la

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Edie Brickell & New Bohemians' song "Circle" tell the tale of being part of a social group, but feeling at odds with the expectations of others within it. The song begins by introducing the singer as a member of a "circle of friends", but noting that someone is missing from their usual meeting spot. The singer suggests that this absence may be related to the person's own reluctance to engage with the group, rather than any of the behaviors of other members. The chorus then repeats the sentiment that nothing seems to satisfy anyone and that this might be why someone has withdrawn from the circle.

The second verse takes a different turn in tone, as the singer confesses that they have given up trying to please others with their behavior. They declare that being alone is the best way to be, as it eliminates the need to conform to the wishes of others. In fact, the singer goes as far as to assert that being alone is the only way to avoid the pain of being rejected by others. The song concludes by returning to the opening verses and the idea that someone is missing from the circle, implying that the tensions between the singer and others within the group have not been resolved.

Overall, the lyrics of "Circle" speak to the difficult and often conflicting desires that people experience in social relationships. On one hand, we crave the comfort and security of being part of a group, but on the other hand, we can feel oppressed by the expectations of others within that group. The song acknowledges the pain of feeling out of sync with others, while also celebrating the freedom that comes with being true to oneself.

Line by Line Meaning

Me, I'm a part of your circle of friends
I am included in the group of people you consider your friends

And we notice you don't come around
However, we have noticed that you have been absent from our group

Me, I think it all depends on you
I believe that your absence is solely dependent on your own actions and choices

Touching ground with us but
You may have interacted with us in the past, but currently you are disconnected

I quit, I give up, nothing's good enough for anybody else
The singer feels defeated by the notion that nothing they do pleases anyone else

It seems
This feeling is pervasive and seemingly unchangeable

And being alone is the, is the best way to be
The singer believes that being isolated is more desirable than interacting with others

When I'm by myself it's the best way to be
Being alone makes the singer feel most comfortable and secure

When I'm all alone it's the best way to be
The singer finds no need for the presence of others in their life

When I'm by myself, nobody else can say goodbye
The singer is spared from the pain of losing someone when they are alone, as there is no one to leave or abandon them

Everything is temporary anyway
The singer acknowledges that all things in life are fleeting and have an end, including relationships and emotions

When the streets are wet, the colors slip into the sky
The world is constantly changing and one never knows what will happen next

But I don't know why that means you and I are
The singer is unsure of the connection between this fact and their relationship with the absent friend

That means you and I
It is unclear what this means for the singer and their friend

La la la la la la la
The song repeats its chorus with nonspecific syllables

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brandon Aly, Edie Arlisa Brickell, John Bradley Houser, John Walter Bush, Kenneth Neil Withrow

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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