Never the Same
Gavin DeGraw Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I wake up in the middle of the night
From a dream that is troubling me
The affair of an emotional fool
If it doesn't hurt me it will have to hurt you

So I sweat, and I toss and turn
Can't relax, is this a heart attack?
What is true that only two things exist
And I have difficulty selecting that over this

You know why
You know why

What you want, what you need ain't never the same
All's fair when you're out there playing the game
You're going to hear that there are better places under the sun
Someone told me that gold is knowing love

So I drive down a line in the road
With a heart that's been torn from the start
There you were, the bottle you did bring
I only needed a sip, but I drank the whole thing

You know why
Because

What you want, what you need ain't never the same
All's fair when you're out there playing the game
You're going to hear that there are better places under the sun
Someone told me that gold is knowing love

You can do what you want to when you're wishing
You can feel love is real
Time will tell, it always does

What you want, what you need ain't never the same
All's fair when you're out there playing the game
Going to hear that there are better places under the sun
Someone told me that gold is knowing love

What you want, what you need ain't never the same
All's fair when you're out there playing the game




Going to hear that there are better places under the sun
Someone told me that gold is knowing love

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Gavin DeGraw's song "Never the Same" explores the theme of complicated relationships and the emotional turmoil that comes with them. The first verse talks about waking up in the middle of the night from a troubling dream about an emotional affair. The singer is struggling with the decision on whether to choose what is true or what he wants. He's having difficulty finding a balance between the two.


The chorus talks about how what we want and need is never the same. The lyrics suggest that we're all out there playing a game where all's fair, and we're going to hear that there are better places under the sun. But at the end of the day, someone told him that "Gold is knowing love." The second verse talks about driving down a road with a heart that's been torn from the start. There's someone with a bottle who's there to offer comfort, and he drinks it all in one go.


Overall, the song explores the idea that relationships are complicated, and the choices we make aren't always easy. It's hard to balance what we want with what's true, but ultimately, love is what really matters.


Line by Line Meaning

I wake up in the middle of the night
I am disturbed from my sleep at a crucial moment


From a dream that is troubling me
A disturbing dream is the reason behind my loss of sleep


The affair of an emotional fool
A foolish emotional connection is the root cause of my troubles


If it doesn't hurt me it will have to hurt you
Either way, pain is inevitable for one of us


So I sweat, and I toss and turn
I am restless and uncomfortable, unable to find peace


Can't relax, is this a heart attack?
I am unable to calm down, questioning my physical health


What is true that only two things exist
There are only two clear options to choose from


And I have difficulty selecting that over this
I struggle to choose the better option


You know why
You understand the reason behind my struggle


What you want, what you need ain't never the same
What you desire and what you require are not always synchronized


All's fair when you're out there playing the game
There are no rules to follow, anything goes when you are in competition


You're going to hear that there are better places under the sun
People will suggest that there are more desirable options elsewhere


Someone told me that gold is knowing love
I was told that the greatest treasure is understanding true love


So I drive down a line in the road
I am taking a clear and determined path


With a heart that's been torn from the start
My heart has been broken since the beginning


There you were, the bottle you did bring
You arrived with alcohol to offer


I only needed a sip, but I drank the whole thing
I intended to take a small amount, but ended up indulging excessively


Because
The reason for my actions or thoughts follows


You can do what you want to when you're wishing
You are free to pursue your desires when you truly want it


You can feel love is real
You can experience the true nature of love


Time will tell, it always does
The truth of a situation inevitably becomes clear over time


Going to hear that there are better places under the sun
There will always be suggestions of more desirable options elsewhere


Someone told me that gold is knowing love
I was advised that the ultimate treasure is understanding the nature of love itself




Contributed by Stella M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@tjschmitz5439

Thank you for putting this up! Couldn't find this one on YouTube for the longest time. One of my favorites!

@rikhuiskamp1405

Someone tell me why this song is not on Spotify. I love this song

@markedzenuasia9969

Man! I totally forgot bout this song and now im blown away by how good it really is. Wht a gem!

@jojobarnes-jones5909

One of my favorites. Love the organ!!!! Looking forward to some new music and shows in the future.

@benmatthews7069

Please release this on iTunes and not just Album Only. It wasn’t on the CD way back when.

@ghoulbeansz

Hell ya!

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