I've Been Down
Hanson Lyrics


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[Chorus]
I've been down
I've been down
I've been down before
I've been down
I've been down
But never this low
I've been down
I've been down
I've been down before
I've been down
I've been down
But never this low

You know that even a strong man falls
And even a wise man has to learn
Ooo, ooo, ooo
Yes, it's true that some men have it all
While me and the rest just crash and burn
Ooo, ooo, Ooo

You keep telling me something
But I heard it once or twice
You've been taking every turn wrong
I've been taking your advice

[Chorus]

I know the day will come
When all my worries now are dead and gone
Ooo, ooo, ooo
But assume tomorrow by what's gone
But I'll be right here holding on
Ooo, ooo, ooo

Well, you keep telling me something
But I've heard it once or twice
You've been taking every road that's wrong
And I've been taking your advice

[Chorus]

Said, ooo
Said, ooo
Never this low

I've been down
I've been down
Said, ooo
I've been down
I've been down
Never this low
I've been down
I've been down
No, no, no, no
Oh yeah
I've been down
I've been down
Oh yeah

Sing it now
I've been down
I've been down
I've been down before
I've been down
I've been down
But never this low
I've been down
I've been down
I've been down before
I've been down




I've been down
But never this low

Overall Meaning

The chorus of Hanson's song "I've Been Down" speaks to the experience of feeling low, having gone through difficult times before, but never having experienced such a depth of despair. The repetition of the phrase "I've been down" underscores the sense of weariness and exhaustion that comes from struggling to rise above adversity. Despite having gone through hard times in the past, the lyrics suggest that the singer is facing something new and particularly challenging in the present.


The second verse reiterates the idea that even strong and wise people can fall and, in so doing, perhaps learn something new. The line "it's true that some men have it all" acknowledges the reality that not everyone is dealt the same hand, and that some people seem to thrive even in difficult circumstances while others falter. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the feeling of being at a low point.


The final verse suggests that the singer is looking forward to a time when their current worries are behind them, but also implies that they are holding on for the present. The repetition of the phrase "you keep telling me something" suggests that the singer is receiving advice from someone, but that they may not be taking it to heart. Overall, the song presents an emotionally charged reflection on the experience of facing adversity, struggling to stay afloat, and hoping for a better tomorrow.


Line by Line Meaning

I've been down
I have been in a difficult and troubling situation


I've been down before
I have faced similar difficulties in the past


But never this low
However, this time is worse than any previous experience


You know that even a strong man falls
It is a known fact that even the seemingly strongest people can experience failure and hard times


And even a wise man has to learn
Even the wisest among us can encounter challenging situations that require them to learn something new


Yes, it's true that some men have it all
It is true that some people seem to have everything going for them in life


While me and the rest just crash and burn
However, many of us struggle and fail in our pursuits


You keep telling me something
You have been offering some advice or guidance


But I heard it once or twice
But I have heard it before and perhaps do not need to hear it again


You've been taking every turn wrong
Your advice has not been helpful and has perhaps led me in the wrong direction


I've been taking your advice
I have been following your guidance, even if it has not been effective


I know the day will come
I believe that one day my current struggles will end


When all my worries now are dead and gone
On that day, I will no longer have to worry about my current problems


But assume tomorrow by what's gone
However, I cannot predict what the future will bring based solely on the past


But I'll be right here holding on
Regardless of what happens, I will persevere and hold on to hope


Never this low
I have never felt this low or defeated before


Said, ooo
Ad-lib vocalization of emotion


No, no, no, no
Expressing a negative response or disagreement


Oh yeah
Informal affirmation or agreement


Sing it now
Encouragement to sing or perform the song




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ISAAC HANSON, TAYLOR HANSON, ZAC HANSON, ZACHARY WALKER HANSON

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