Gypsy Heart
Elton John (Leather Jackets) Lyrics
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I count the days that we're apart
I sleep alone when you're away
No sense in saying I wish you'd stay
It's all the same, you never change
You come and go just like the rain
I pray each day that you are gone
Your gypsy heart will never find
Any arms as warm as mine
And gypsy, when we meet again
I'll play my part and wrap you up inside my arms
Oh, you gypsy heart
Your gypsy heart can always call
When your back's against the wall
And darling, then I'll just pretend right from the start
You never left me on my own
Oh, you gypsy heart
I pray each day that you are gone
This time, oh, it won't be so long
Your gypsy heart will never find
Any arms as warm as mine
And gypsy, when we meet again
I'll play my part and wrap you up inside my arms
Oh, you gypsy heart
Your gypsy heart can always call
When your back's against the wall
And darling, then I'll just pretend right from the start
You never left me on my own
Oh, you gypsy heart
Your gypsy heart will never find
Any arms as warm as mine
And gypsy, when we meet again
I'll play my part and wrap you up inside my arms
Oh, you gypsy heart
Your gypsy heart can always call
When your back's against the wall
And darling, then I'll just pretend right from the start
You never left me on my own
Oh, you gypsy heart
In "Gypsy Heart," Elton John tells the story of a tortured relationship with someone who has a restless soul, always wandering in and out of his life. He laments the time they spend apart and how he sleeps alone when they're not together. He's resigned to their cycle of love and loss, recognizing that it's always the same and that she never changes. Although he prays for her to be gone, he knows deep down that he will always welcome her back with open arms when she returns.
John refers to his lover's "gypsy heart" - her wandering, free-spirited nature that cannot be tied down to a single place or person. He recognizes that she will never find anyone whose arms are as warm as his own, and in moments of weakness, she can always call on him to be there for her. He opens himself up to the possibility of starting over each time they reunite, pretending that she never left and that they're starting fresh once more.
The song speaks to the universal experience of loving someone who will never settle down, and the pain and longing that comes with that kind of relationship. It's a heart-wrenching ballad filled with emotion and honesty.
Line by Line Meaning
You win again, you gypsy heart
The singer is acknowledging how the person they're speaking to always seems to come out on top, and attributing it to their unpredictable and free-spirited nature.
I count the days that we're apart
The singer is emphasizing how much they miss the other person when they're not around.
I sleep alone when you're away
The singer is conveying how deeply they feel the absence of the other person, and how it affects their ability to sleep.
No sense in saying I wish you'd stay
The artist is acknowledging that the other person is not likely to change their behavior and stay, and accepting that it's pointless to express a desire for them to do so.
It's all the same, you never change
The artist is expressing a sense of frustration or resignation about the other person's refusal to be more consistent or reliable.
You come and go just like the rain
The singer is highlighting the other person's tendency to be fleeting and transitory, like the weather.
I pray each day that you are gone
The singer is suggesting that they would be better off without the other person, but possibly not actually sincere in their prayer.
This time it won't be so long
The artist is expressing a level of hope that the other person's absence won't last as long as it has in the past.
Your gypsy heart will never find any arms as warm as mine
The artist is confident that they can offer a level of affection and comfort that the other person will never find elsewhere, regardless of their wandering nature.
And gypsy, when we meet again, I'll play my part and wrap you up inside my arms
The artist is expressing a desire to be welcoming and affectionate when the other person inevitably returns.
Your gypsy heart can always call when your back's against the wall
The singer is implying that the other person can rely on them even in moments of desperation or need.
And darling, then I'll just pretend right from the start, you never left me on my own
The artist is suggesting that the other person can count on their support no matter how long they've been away, and that they won't hold any grudges or resentments.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERNIE TAUPIN, ELTON JOHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind