Watching the World Go By
Glen Burtnik Lyrics
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And I wake up watching the world go by
I see the sun & the rain from my seat on the train
through the window
Watching the world go by
And I look on at the day unfolding
And the traffic going nowhere
Gazing out on the street and the faces I meet everyday
There are those who don't stop for the hands on the clock
They don't see the way that time can fly
Always running behind with so much on their minds
As for me, I'm watching the world go by
And through it all with the hours passing,
Everybody rushing somewhere
They're all moving so fast, trying hard to get past
As I stand watching the world go by
And in the end when the day is over
When I ask myself just where the world is going
And what's been lost what's been gained
Have our lives really changed
Then I laugh, but sometimes I want to cry
Watching the world go by
The song "Watching the World Go By" by Glen Burtnik depicts the artist's passion about observing the world from an eagle's view. The initial line, "I wipe the dreams from my eyes, face the morning outside," demonstrates the artist's attitude of being awake and witnessing the world as it unfolds before him. He sees the rain and the sun through the windows of his seat on the train as he observes the busy streets, realizing that everyone is trying to get somewhere. Still, he decides to take a moment and stand still; he continues to watch the changing faces of everyday people in his everyday life.
The artist calls out those who don't recognize the importance of time; they run behind, always stressing over something or the other. Meanwhile, the artist is comfortable with his habit of watching the world go by. He doesn't try to speed up, indeed doesn't even care about where the world is going, although the thought makes him want to cry. The closing lines of the song contain a deep meaning. The awareness of lost and gained things, and the uncertainties of life, is what makes him laugh and cry at times while sensitively watching the world go by.
Line by Line Meaning
I wipe the dreams from my eyes, face the morning outside
I clear my eyes of sleep and welcome the morning sunshine
And I wake up watching the world go by
I start my day observing the things happening around me
I see the sun & the rain from my seat on the train through the window
From my seat in the train, I view the bright sun and the pouring rain through the window
Watching the world go by
I observe the surroundings and the everyday activities of others
And I look on at the day unfolding
I continue to observe the day's events as they occur
And the traffic going nowhere
I see the vehicles heading nowhere in particular
Gazing out on the street and the faces I meet everyday
I intently observe the street and the familiar faces I encounter daily
Watching the world go by
I continue my passive observation of my surroundings
There are those who don't stop for the hands on the clock
Some individuals do not acknowledge the importance of time
They don't see the way that time can fly
They fail to realize how quickly time can pass
Always running behind with so much on their minds
These individuals are always lagging behind with numerous thoughts on their mind
As for me, I'm watching the world go by
I, on the other hand, continue to observe the world moving around me
And through it all with the hours passing
As time progresses and the hours slip by
Everybody rushing somewhere
It seems everyone rushes to get somewhere
They're all moving so fast, trying hard to get past
Everyone moves quickly, striving to overcome obstacles
As I stand watching the world go by
As I maintain my passive observation of the world going about its business
And in the end when the day is over
By the end of the day
When I ask myself just where the world is going
When I question the direction the world is headed
And what's been lost what's been gained
Consider the things that have been lost or gained
Have our lives really changed
I ponder whether our lives have undergone significant changes
Then I laugh, but sometimes I want to cry
I find humor in some things, but other times it is distressing
Watching the world go by
I continue my passive observation of the world as it moves on
Lyrics © BIG BRAVE MUSIC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: GLEN BURTNIK, ROBERT JAMES BURGER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind