Been There Before
Hanson(핸슨) Lyrics


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There?s a down town corner
People down town know
And a beat rhythm on the radio
And the girl who listens to a young mans song
On the block I live on
In the place I?m from

Well the young man sitting
On the dock of the bay
He took a long-term trip on a first class plane
Now the whole world listens
To that one mans song
On the block I live on
In the place I?m from

Tell me does it move you
Does it soothe you
Does it fill your heart and soul with the
Roots of rock and roll
Does it move you
Does it soothe you
Does it fill your heart
And soul with the roots of rock and roll

Well the man in black sits
On a screened in porch
Making birthday wishes, 71 almost
You can hear him singing chariot
Swing low
On the block I live on
In the place I know

Tell me does it move you
Does it soothe you
Does it fill your heart and soul with the
Roots of rock and roll
Does it move you
Does it soothe you
Does it fill your heart and soul with the
Roots of rock and roll

Tell me does it move you
Does it soothe you
Does it fill your heart and soul with the
Roots of rock and roll
Does it move you
Does it soothe you
Does it fill your heart and soul with the
Roots of rock and roll

Na na na na na na, I?ve been there before
Na na na na na na, I?ve been there before
Na na na na na na, I?ve been there before
Na na na na na na, I?ve been there before

When you can't get through it
You can listen to it
With a na na na na
Well I?ve been there before

When you can't get through it
You can listen to it




With a na na na na
Well I?ve been there before

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Hanson's song "Been There Before" describe the power of music in bringing people together and evoking emotions. The opening lines describe a specific downtown corner where there is a beat rhythm on the radio that people in the area know well, and a girl who listens to a young man's song. The song seems to be a unifying force in the neighborhood, something that connects people and makes them feel a sense of belonging.


The lyrics then shift to describe how the young man who sang the song has become famous and his music has spread all over the world. He may have even taken a long-term trip on a first class plane, but his music is still heard on the block where he originally came from. The references to Otis Redding and Johnny Cash further emphasize the power and universality of music. The repeated questioning of whether the song moves and soothes the listener, and fills their heart and soul with the roots of rock and roll, is a call to reflect on the emotional impact of music.


Overall, "Been There Before" celebrates the way that music brings people together, transcends borders, and stirs deep emotions. The song invokes nostalgia and a sense of belonging to a community, even as it celebrates the way that music can transport us to new places.


Line by Line Meaning

There’s a down town corner
There is a street corner downtown


People down town know
The people in the downtown area are already familiar with it


And a beat rhythm on the radio
The radio plays music with a consistent tempo


And the girl who listens to a young mans song
There is a girl who regularly listens to music made by a young man


On the block I live on
This is the block where I live


In the place I’m from
This is the place where I'm from


Well the young man sitting
The young man is currently seated


On the dock of the bay
He is on the wooden platform near the water


He took a long-term trip on a first class plane
He traveled far and comfortably on a luxury airplane


Now the whole world listens
Everyone around the world now listens to his music


To that one man’s song
People are listening to a song made by one specific man


Tell me does it move you
Does this music stir your emotions?


Does it soothe you
Does this music bring you peace?


Does it fill your heart and soul with the roots of rock and roll
Does this music give you a deep appreciation for rock and roll history?


Well the man in black sits
There is a man wearing all black clothing seated


On a screened in porch
He is outside on a porch surrounded by screens


Making birthday wishes, 71 almost
He is making wishes for his 71st birthday coming up soon


You can hear him singing chariot
This man is singing "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"


Swing low
The lyrics to the song this man is singing


On the block I live on
This is still the block where I live


In the place I know
This is a place I am familiar with


Na na na na na na, I've been there before
This phrase is repeated four times as a chorus


When you can't get through it
When you're feeling stuck


You can listen to it
You can listen to music


With a na na na na
A repetition of nonsense syllables used in the chorus


Well I’ve been there before
I've experienced this feeling before




Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ISAAC HANSON, TAYLOR HANSON, ZAC HANSON, ZACHARY WALKER HANSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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