The band reunited in February 2012, with a new album to be released in 2015.
Weight of the World
Good Riddance Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To assuage my troubled soul
What happened to me
What happened to you
What was it that you said would see us through
I want to know how to feel something real
And I will try no more to run
All this pressure getting closer
Time on my hands
Weight of the world
Laid bare my soul
As I lose control
Run away
You can retrace those steps and find your way once more
I'll wait
Believe in yourself as the cruel world closes in
Take my hand
I'll be a friend for you this weight you bare alone
One day
The light I know will illuminate your heart
The opening lines "And what about the times you did your best to assuage my troubled soul" is a question that reflects the feelings of being lost and needing help. The singer of the song is questioning what happened in the relationship, and where they stand. The lyrics suggest that someone has let the singer down and made them feel that everything is their fault. The lines "What happened to me, what happened to you, what was it that you said would see us through," builds on this idea of questioning the past and the impact it has had on the relationship. These questions help the singer to understand what has gone wrong and why.
The chorus draws from everyday feelings of being burdened, lost and scattered. The lines "All this pressure getting closer, and it seems like I've been here before," reflects on the emotions of being overwhelmed as if it’s familiar. It is something that we can all relate to: the feeling of being overwhelmed by the weight of the world. The chorus repeatedly highlights the theme of time, which further deepens the perspective of the song.
The lines "Take my hand, I'll be a friend for you, this weight you bare alone, one day the light I know will illuminate your heart," provides hope for those who need it most. It gives the idea of finding someone to lean on in times of need, and also the belief that things will get better. The song expresses the need for someone to be supportive, and not judgmental, in times of struggle.
Line by Line Meaning
And what about the times you did your best
You made an effort at certain moments
To assuage my troubled soul
To calm me down when I was upset
What happened to me
I don't recognize who I am anymore
What happened to you
You've changed too and I don't understand why
What was it that you said would see us through
You made promises to help us get past our problems
I want to know how to feel something real
I'm seeking an authentic emotional experience
And I will try no more to run
I won't avoid my problems anymore
All this pressure getting closer
The stress is building up and becoming more intense
And it seems like I've been here before
This situation is familiar and it's repeating
Time on my hands
I have free time
Weight of the world
I feel weighed down by my worries
Laid bare my soul
I'm revealing my innermost thoughts and feelings
As I lose control
I'm becoming overwhelmed and unable to manage
Run away
You may be tempted to leave, but...
You can retrace those steps and find your way once more
It's possible to return to where you started and regain direction
I'll wait
I'm willing to be patient and supportive instead of giving up on you
Believe in yourself as the cruel world closes in
Have confidence in your abilities despite the harsh realities of life
Take my hand
I offer my help and support
I'll be a friend for you this weight you bare alone
You don't have to face this burden by yourself - I will be there for you
One day
In the future, someday
The light I know will illuminate your heart
You'll find happiness and clarity again - I'm confident of that
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BERNIE TAUPIN, ELTON JOHN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Alou
"Weight Of The World"
And what about the times you did your best
to assuage my troubled soul
what happened to me
what happened to you
what was it that you said would see us through
I want to know how to feel something real
and I will try no more to run
all this pressure getting closer
and it seems like I've been here before
time on my hands
weight of the world
laid bare my soul
as I lose control
run away
you can retrace those steps and find your way once more
I'll wait
believe in yourself as the cruel world closes in
take my hand
I'll be a friend for you this weight you bare alone
one day
the light I know will illuminate your heart
Echo L
Listened to this song so much so long ago that when my girlfriend and I sat down to watch They Live the other night I quoted the whole newscast by heart.
El Switchblade
Nov 6, 2020 - this song hits so hard today and is so poignant.
Heavy Metal Gamer
Sonzeira sensacional!
JZA the Jenius
this song still just kicks tremendous amounts of ass.
G K
Bought this album on Groezrock this year, had Chuck and Sean signing it. Chuck wanted to do more than signing alone, he made the CD's cover more awesome then it already was, drawing spikes on the girls, which is sitting on her mothers(?) lap reading a book, and giving her a GBH shirt. Thanks Chuck, got myself a collectors item right here :D
184Films
this was the first Good Riddance song I ever heard... years ago... and it just might be like... one of the best punk tunes ever written... haha
MissFunkuh
I was born is 93 so I missed most of this music, but I had the luck to see them at Groezrock. Probably the tightest band of all weekend, so sick
Alou
"Weight Of The World"
And what about the times you did your best
to assuage my troubled soul
what happened to me
what happened to you
what was it that you said would see us through
I want to know how to feel something real
and I will try no more to run
all this pressure getting closer
and it seems like I've been here before
time on my hands
weight of the world
laid bare my soul
as I lose control
run away
you can retrace those steps and find your way once more
I'll wait
believe in yourself as the cruel world closes in
take my hand
I'll be a friend for you this weight you bare alone
one day
the light I know will illuminate your heart
Echo L
I always imagined the lyrics of this song as two voices. The first, someone going through some shit in their life. The second, the person who is their rock, their strength, in the dark times. I’ll be there to help you through your depression, your shit. Whatever.
Andrew
Mraloucastro means a lot this