Spell It Out
Embrace Lyrics


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Here's my list of all the things I should have said and done.
The boats I missed and all the fights I lost I really should have won.
And I'm not the only one. But I won't bow or take the world as you would hand it down.
So leave me out of all your plans 'cause I don't need them now I'll find my own way out.
'Cause when you're left with nothing there's nothing left to lose.
That's when they'll come looking for me and you.
Once we wanted nothing and everything was new.
It was all laid out just for me and you now.
Wave goodbye I know that I'll believe if you spell it out for me, spell it out so everyone can see.
All that really matters not to me is that I could set you free. But my hands are tied and I can't find my feet.
Sit by me for long enough and watch your enemies float downstream one by one until you realize you're free.
There's no one left but me.
'Cause when you're left with nothing there's nothing left to lose.

That's when they'll come looking for me and you. Once we wanted nothing and everything was new.
It was all laid out just for me and you now.
Wave goodbye 'cause I know I'll believe if you spell it out for me spell it out so everyone can see.
All that really matters now to me is that I could set you free. But my hands are tied and I can't find my feet.
This sweet old world will give it out until it's time to leave.
I won't hurt for you when all you want's a flawless victory.
How wrong could anyone be? 'Cause when you're left with nothing there's nothing left to lose.
That's when they'll come looking for me and you. Once we wanted nothing and everything was new.
It was all laid out just for me and you now.




Wave goodbye I know that I'll believe if you spell it out for me spell it out so everyone can see.
All that really matters not to me is that I could set you free but my hands are tied and I can't find my feet.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Embrace's "Spell It Out" speak about missed opportunities and lost chances, but also about the determination to find one's own way despite the expectations of others. The singer admits to having a list of things they should have said and done, but instead missed boats and lost fights, and wonders what could have been. However, they won't conform to the expectations of others and refuse to be part of their plans because they want to find their own path and be true to themselves. The chorus speaks about being left with nothing and therefore having nothing to lose, which leads to a sense of liberation and the realization that the singer and their partner are the only ones who matter. The bridge explains that the world can be both beautiful and cruel, and that it gives out until it's time to leave, but the singer won't hurt for someone who only wants the perception of perfection. The song ends with a sense of optimism and the belief that spelling out the truth for everyone to see will set them free.


Overall, "Spell It Out" is a powerful statement about the importance of staying true to oneself and not conforming to societal expectations. The lyrics are relatable and evoke a sense of nostalgia for lost opportunities, but also inspire the listener to look forward and chart their own course in life.


Line by Line Meaning

Here's my list of all the things I should have said and done.
This is a reflection on the past and a recognition of missed opportunities.


The boats I missed and all the fights I lost I really should have won.
There are specific instances where the singer feels they should have come out on top but didn't.


And I'm not the only one. But I won't bow or take the world as you would hand it down.
Others have likely experienced similar disappointments, but the singer won't succumb to societal standards or expectations.


So leave me out of all your plans 'cause I don't need them now I'll find my own way out.
The artist is rejecting the plans of others and asserting their independence.


'Cause when you're left with nothing there's nothing left to lose.
When there's nothing left to lose, there's freedom to take risks and make choices based on personal desires.


That's when they'll come looking for me and you. Once we wanted nothing and everything was new.
Others may be drawn to the singer and their carefree attitude, reminiscent of when everything was new and exciting.


It was all laid out just for me and you now.
At one point, things seemed to be predestined and easy for the singer and someone else.


Wave goodbye I know that I'll believe if you spell it out for me, spell it out so everyone can see.
The artist needs clear communication and honesty to believe in something, and wants it to be shared publicly.


All that really matters not to me is that I could set you free. But my hands are tied and I can't find my feet.
The artist values freedom for others, but feels constrained themselves and unable to act.


Sit by me for long enough and watch your enemies float downstream one by one until you realize you're free.
By staying beside the artist, someone else may come to understand that they're also free from their own personal struggles and obstacles.


There's no one left but me.
The singer may have lost connections with others, or is simply emphasizing their own individuality.


This sweet old world will give it out until it's time to leave.
The world will continue to give opportunities and experiences until the end of life.


I won't hurt for you when all you want's a flawless victory.
The singer won't suffer on behalf of someone else's desire for perfection.


How wrong could anyone be? 'Cause when you're left with nothing there's nothing left to lose.
The singer questions the logic of societal expectations and points back to the freedom of having nothing to lose.


That's when they'll come looking for me and you. Once we wanted nothing and everything was new.
Reiteration of the earlier lines, emphasizing the attraction of carefree attitudes and new experiences.


It was all laid out just for me and you now.
Reiteration, suggesting perhaps that the artist and someone else were meant to experience this freedom together.


Wave goodbye I know that I'll believe if you spell it out for me spell it out so everyone can see.
Reiteration, emphasizing the need for clear communication and public understanding.


All that really matters not to me is that I could set you free but my hands are tied and I can't find my feet.
Reiteration, emphasizing the singer's desire for others to experience freedom but their own personal constraints.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: DANIEL MCNAMARA, RICHARD MCNAMARA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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