The Bouncer
Elo Lyrics
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"That you would wait, wait for me eternally?"
I've been wondering, and I've been hoping
You're still the same, only you can say
I'll be so glad to be back with you
I'll do anything you want me to.
That's what I want, I'll be so happy, back home.
I see your light shine in my window
And I know I am coming home
And as the light grows, grows ever brighter
I see your face, you are alone
And when I tell you all the things I have seen
You'll say that, darling, you must have been dreaming.
That's what I want, I'll be so happy, back home.
Electric visions have crossed, strange decisions have crossed
I thank the stars above me, I have someone to love me
That's what I want, I'll be so happy, back home.
Believe me, baby, when I say
I wish I never, never, never, never, never be away
For the things that I see
Be meant for the eyes of a time
And when we walk alone together
That's how I want it to be, want it to be forever.
That's what I want, I'll be so happy
That's what I want, I'll be so happy
That's what I want, I'd be so happy, back home.
The lyrics of "The Bouncer" by Electric Light Orchestra express the yearning to return home and be with someone who is still waiting there. The song's melancholic tune is complemented by lyrics that speak of longing and regret. The first verse captures the singer's memory of a promise made long ago by the person they are addressing. The use of the word "eternally" suggests this promise was meant to last forever, implying that the separation has been long and the singer is anxious to reconnect. The second verse reveals the singer's yearning to be reunited, and the desperation to know if the person they left behind is still the same. This desire to know if they are still loved is a core theme of the song.
The chorus reveals the gravity of the singer’s desire to return home. The repetition of the phrase "That's what I want, I'll be so happy, back home" emphasizes the importance of returning to a place of familiarity and affection. The lyrics also demonstrate the weight of loneliness felt by the singer when they are away from home. The final verse shows the singer acknowledging the strange and unfamiliar experiences they had while away, but how all they want now is to be with the person they left behind.
Overall, "The Bouncer" conveys the longing to return home to loved ones and leave the strange and unfamiliar behind. The song’s focus on memories and nostalgia for the past evokes a feeling of desire to preserve simplicity and comfort.
Line by Line Meaning
Do you remember," you said to me,
The singer is being reminded of a statement made by the person being spoken to.
"That you would wait, wait for me eternally?"
The person being spoken to made a commitment to wait for the singer for all time.
I've been wondering, and I've been hoping
The singer has been curious and optimistic.
You're still the same, only you can say
The artist believes the person being spoken to may still be the same and needs confirmation.
I'll be so glad to be back with you
The artist will be happy to return to the person being spoken to.
I'll do anything you want me to.
The singer is willing to fulfill any requests made by the person being spoken to.
That's what I want, I'll be so happy, back home.
Returning to the person being spoken to is the singer's desire and will bring them happiness.
I see your light shine in my window
The artist can see the person being spoken to's light shining into their window.
And I know I am coming home
This sighting affirms to the artist that they are heading home.
And as the light grows, grows ever brighter
The light from the person being spoken to's home is getting brighter as the artist approaches.
I see your face, you are alone
The singer can clearly see the person being spoken to's face and they appear to be by themselves.
And when I tell you all the things I have seen
The artist plans to recount their experiences to the person being spoken to.
You'll say that, darling, you must have been dreaming.
The person being spoken to will likely not fully believe the singer's experiences.
Electric visions have crossed, strange decisions have crossed
The singer has encountered strange things in their travels.
I thank the stars above me, I have someone to love me
The singer is grateful to have the person being spoken to in their life.
That's what I want, I'll be so happy, back home.
Returning to the person being spoken to is the artist's desire and will bring them happiness.
Believe me, baby, when I say
The artist wants the person being spoken to to trust them.
I wish I never, never, never, never, never be away
The singer regrets having been away from the person being spoken to for so long.
For the things that I see
The singer has seen things that are difficult to explain or understand.
Be meant for the eyes of a time
The experiences the artist has had are best kept to themselves or those living in the era in which they occurred.
And when we walk alone together
The artist envisions spending time alone with the person being spoken to.
That's how I want it to be, want it to be forever.
The artist desires to spend the rest of their life in the company of the person being spoken to.
That's what I want, I'll be so happy
Returning to the person being spoken to is the singer's desire and will bring them happiness.
That's what I want, I'll be so happy
Returning to the person being spoken to is the artist's desire and will bring them happiness.
That's what I want, I'd be so happy, back home.
Returning to the person being spoken to is the singer's desire and will bring them happiness.
Contributed by Makayla W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@donaldstrump911
Four!
[Instrumental]
[Verse 1]
Do you remember, you said to me, that you would wait, wait for me eternally?
I've been wondering and I've been hoping you're still the same, only you can say
I'll be so glad to be back with you, I'll do anything you want me to
[Hook 1]
That's what I want (What I want)
I'll be so happy (Happy)
Back home
[Instrumental]
[Verse 2]
I see the light shine in my window, and I know I am coming home
And as the light grows, grows ever brighter, I see your face, you're all alone
And when I tell you all things I've seen, you'll say, "Darling, you must have been dreaming."
[Hook 1]
That's what I want (What I want)
I'll be so happy (Happy)
Back home
[Bridge]
Electric visions may cross
Strange decisions of course
I felt the stars above me
I have someone to love me
[Hook 2]
That's what I want
I'll be so happy back home
[Verse 3]
Believe me baby, when I say, "I wish I'd never, never, never, never been away."
For the things that I see they are meant for the eyes of a time
And when we walk alone together, that's how I want it to be, want it to be forever
[Outro]
That's what I want (What I want) I'll be so happy (Happy)
That's what I want (What I want) I'll be so happy (Happy)
Back home
[Instrumental Outro]
@dylanjames7857
What gets me about ELO is that even their B-sides and outtakes from their albums are still amazing. Most band's outtakes are just shoddy songs or just watered down variants of what appears on the album, but ELO's outtakes could have easily become hits. Absurd and amazing.
@flowerenby
ikr!!!!
@cavallogianni
Back in those days they had a certain amount of space for the songs it's not like now so they have to make decisions what to leave out I guess to be able to feed the songs on the vinyl
@cavallogianni
Just look at what happened to secret messages, when you here every single song that was supposed to be on the album it takes the entire album to a whole different level it's absolutely magical
@Gene_o
One of the best concept albums of all time
@mr.blue7357
correct!
@Cosmo-Kramer
ELO has two of the best concept albums of all time. The other one's even better than this one. Amazing.
@brandonszpot8948
By far the best track on Time. Absolutely in love with this, through and through. Really disappointed you guys took this one off of Spotify.
@ChrisNeufeldMusic
It was one of three bonus tracks on the album’s 2001 reissue (also released on “Afterglow” box set in 1990). Why the ELO catalog reverted to the original albums without bonus tracks, I don’t think we know.
@redspice55
When I originally bought this album the bonus tracks weren't on it. Not even on the CD. Sad really. They're great songs, too.