Something's Wrong
Hurray For The Riff Raff Lyrics


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Something’s wrong that my heart can’t fix
I got stuck in this big old ditch
Try to climb my way out this hole
Singing something’s wrong I just can’t control

Forty nights and forty days
Some survive some just washed away
And we listen to those church bells toll
Singing something’s wrong we just can’t control

But cheer up brother, don’t you cry
We’ll understand it all in the by and by
I hear the shots ring out and it hurts my soul
Singing something’s wrong we just can’t control

Oh something’s wrong and I’m feeling strange
Nothing seems to be the same




And we hear that white muddy river flow
Singing something’s wrong we just can’t control

Overall Meaning

In Hurray For The Riff Raff's "Something's Wrong," the lyrics reflect on feelings of being stuck in a difficult place with seemingly no escape. The repetition of the phrase "something's wrong" emphasizes this sense of unease and frustration. The imagery of being stuck in a big old ditch and trying to climb out highlights the difficulty of the situation, while the mention of church bells tolling and shots ringing out suggest larger societal issues at play.


The reference to "forty nights and forty days" could be interpreted as a Biblical allusion to the story of Noah's Ark, where the rains lasted for forty days and forty nights and only those on the ark survived. This further emphasizes the idea that some are able to survive difficult situations while others are washed away.


The final lines about feeling strange and hearing the white muddy river flow create a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty, as if the singer is trying to make sense of something they can't quite grasp. The chorus of "something's wrong we just can't control" speaks to the feeling of being powerless in the face of problems that are too big to solve alone.


Line by Line Meaning

Something’s wrong that my heart can’t fix
There's a problem that's making me feel uneasy, and I can't find a way to fix it no matter how much I want to.


I got stuck in this big old ditch
My life took a turn for the worse and I'm now feeling trapped and unable to move forward.


Try to climb my way out this hole
I'm trying my best to overcome the situation that I'm in, but it's proving to be a difficult challenge.


Singing something’s wrong I just can’t control
I feel a deep sense of unease and uncertainty that I can't seem to shake off, no matter how hard I try.


Forty nights and forty days
This line is a reference to the biblical story of Noah's Ark, which is said to have endured a flood of this duration. It alludes to the idea of enduring a long and arduous challenge.


Some survive some just washed away
The challenge that I and others are facing is so difficult that some people are able to overcome it, while others succumb to it and don't make it through.


And we listen to those church bells toll
This line suggests that the situation is difficult and challenging on a spiritual level, and that people are turning to religion for solace and hope.


Singing something’s wrong we just can’t control
Despite our best efforts to deal with the situation, there's a persistent sense that something is deeply wrong and we can't seem to overcome it.


But cheer up brother, don’t you cry
This line is a message of hope and encouragement, urging listeners to stay positive and stay strong through the tough times.


We’ll understand it all in the by and by
The difficulty and uncertainty that we're currently experiencing will eventually make sense and become clear in the future.


I hear the shots ring out and it hurts my soul
This line references violence and tragedy, which is causing deep emotional pain and distress among those who are affected by it.


Oh something’s wrong and I’m feeling strange
The situation is causing intense feelings of discomfort and unease, and it's hard to pinpoint exactly what's wrong.


Nothing seems to be the same
The situation has caused a significant change in circumstances and things no longer feel familiar or stable.


And we hear that white muddy river flow
This line suggests that the situation is ongoing, like a river that continues to flow, regardless of how challenging or difficult it may be.


Singing something’s wrong we just can’t control
Despite our attempts to deal with the situation, there's an underlying sense that something is deeply wrong and we're unable to change or overcome it.




Contributed by Blake B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Dream to Awake

Something's wrong that my heart can't fix
I got stuck in this big old ditch
Try to climb my way out this hole
Singing something's wrong I just can't control
Forty nights and forty days
Some survive some just washed away
And we listen to those church bells toll
Singing something's wrong we just can't control
But cheer up brother, don't you cry
We'll understand it all in the by and by
I hear the shots ring out and it hurts my soul
Singing something's wrong we just can't control
Oh something's wrong and I'm feeling strange
Nothing seems to be the same
And we hear that white muddy river flow
Singing something's wrong we just can't control



All comments from YouTube:

tullsongs

beautiful !such a soulful voice..

Dream to Awake

Something's wrong that my heart can't fix
I got stuck in this big old ditch
Try to climb my way out this hole
Singing something's wrong I just can't control
Forty nights and forty days
Some survive some just washed away
And we listen to those church bells toll
Singing something's wrong we just can't control
But cheer up brother, don't you cry
We'll understand it all in the by and by
I hear the shots ring out and it hurts my soul
Singing something's wrong we just can't control
Oh something's wrong and I'm feeling strange
Nothing seems to be the same
And we hear that white muddy river flow
Singing something's wrong we just can't control

SCHY MARK

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE SWEET LITTLE SMILE AT THE END
she's a treasure

Mark Schisler

This song ,this girl ,that voice
that delivery..Just beautiful

skylark183

Does my heart good that beautiful music like this still exist in some of the young musicians today

Schy Mark

Amen

SCHY MARK

Such a sweet sweet little spirit.Big powerful lyrics.
BEAUTIFUL

jonw12

love the riff raff. sometimes I can't write the song I want to but someone else can. thank you guys for the beautiful song

SCHY MARK

Absolutely love Alynda Lee

Harvey the paragliding chaser

What a beautiful song. Personal and now political Nine years later and suddenly amazingly topical.
Support the Ukrainian people 🇺🇦

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