I Told You So
Ill Lit Lyrics
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You can see the lines where their smiles don't go
You can hang around when I want to be alone
Have I told you so?
I have told you so
You've got impossible dreams and you seem
To be holding your seams in the sweetness of an old
Sweet dream, and you have what all your friend's
What all you're friends won't pay attention to.
We're going to have to cover
All those things we can't clear - now we talk
For hours about the cost of the year
I heard you worked it out
With all those things that you hear
Have I told you so?
I have told you so
And i'm holding my hands at the airport
Watching you never arrive. Hearing the sounds
Of air and car traffic, i'm whistling “i will survive”
And i'm whispering all of the time.
The lyrics of Ill Lit's song I Told You So are packed with vivid imagery that paints a picture of the singer's emotional state. The opening line, "My friends are all starting to look old," is a commentary on the passage of time and the feeling of nostalgia that sometimes comes with it. The reference to "the lines where their smiles don't go" suggests that although his friends may be aging, they are not necessarily happy about it. The next lines, "You can hang around when I want to be alone" and "Have I told you so?" convey a sense of frustration with a relationship that may have become too close for comfort. The singer seems to be struggling to find his own path, and the presence of others may be hindering his progress. The repetition of the phrase "I have told you so" underscores this feeling of being misunderstood, suggesting that he has tried to express his desires but has not been heard.
The second verse shifts to the subject of the singer's friend, who has "impossible dreams" and is "holding [her] seams in the sweetness of an old / Sweet dream." The contrast between these two phrases - the sense of fragility conveyed by the word "seams" and the sweetness of the dream - highlights the bittersweet nature of pursuing one's aspirations. The line "and you have what all your friend's / Want to pay attention to / And you've got / What all you're friends won't pay attention to" suggests the difficulty of finding balance between the approval of others and being true to oneself. The verse finishes with the singer acknowledging the need to confront the things they cannot change and the cost of the passing year.
The final section of the song takes on a more surreal tone, with the singer at the airport watching someone who never arrives. The imagery of the air and car traffic and the whistling of "I Will Survive" create a sense of disconnection from reality, with the singer lost in their own thoughts. The final line, "And i'm whispering all of the time," suggests that this moment is something internal, a whisper to oneself that may never be expressed outwardly.
Line by Line Meaning
My friends are all starting to look old
The people I surround myself with have aged and it's becoming more apparent
You can see the lines where their smiles don't go
The wrinkles on their faces show that their happiness is not genuine
You can hang around when I want to be alone
You have a presence that is comforting and needed at times when I need solitude
Have I told you so?
I hope you understand the impact you have on my life, have I mentioned this before?
I have told you so
Yes, I have expressed this sentiment towards you previously
You've got impossible dreams and you seem
To be holding your seams in the sweetness of an old
Sweet dream
Your aspirations are lofty and you seem to be holding on to a past idea of success tightly
and you have what all your friend's
Want to pay attention to
Your accomplishments or qualities are things that others desire to obtain
and you've got
What all you're friends won't pay attention to.
However, what is often overlooked is the effort you put forth to achieve those accomplishments
We're going to have to cover
All those things we can't clear - now we talk
For hours about the cost of the year
We need to address issues that have been left unresolved and have an extensive conversation about the struggles of the past year
I heard you worked it out
With all those things that you hear
I understand you have thought through and processed your thoughts about the situation
Have I told you so?
I want to make sure I have expressed my appreciation for your resilience and perseverance
I have told you so
Yes, I have acknowledged your strength previously
And i'm holding my hands at the airport
Watching you never arrive. Hearing the sounds
Of air and car traffic, i'm whistling “i will survive”
And i'm whispering all of the time.
I am thinking of you while waiting at the airport and even though you are not here, I find myself reciting a song and thinking of you constantly.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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