Ivory Layne started songwriting at age six and by her teenage years had taught herself music production, working from her bedroom and posting demos online until she caught the attention of Grammy award-winning producer, Ed Cash (Dolly Parton, Amy Grant). The two wrote, produced, and released her first EP, Volume One.
The critical acclaim and industry buzz following Ivory’s debut EP led to her move to Music City to begin her professional songwriting career, joining a stellar cast of Nashville’s finest writers and producers in the studio (from Jimmy Robbins and Shane McAnally to Lori McKenna) and working with London based producer Liam Howe (Lana Del Rey, Marina and the Diamonds, FKA Twigs, Tom Vek). Her sharpness in the writer's room in turn landed her two global ad campaigns, including one for prestigious jewellery house Swarovski and another for cable giant, HBO. It also gave her opportunities to collaborate with artists such as Andrew McMahon In The Wilderness and Needtobreathe. While the likes of Matt Nathanson, Andy Grammar, Ben Rector, and The Script enlisted her to support them on tour.
At the start of 2021, Ivory released her much anticipated EP, Confetti with production duo Nick Atkinson and Edd Holloway (Lewis Capaldi, James Bay). Her single Lonely Hearts secured a highly coveted spot on BBC Radio 2’s A playlist. Displaying remarkable brilliance as well as inspiring vulnerability and candor on every new offering, rising powerhouse Ivory Layne is ready to leave her mark.
Green
Ivory Layne Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I should be overjoyed
I should be satisfied
Celebrating, making noise
But I feel so bla bla bla
I feel so underwhelmed
I thought I had it all and now I′m craving something else
I′m wanting what I see, oh
If I get it I'll be so golden
'Cause everybody I know′s
Got every little thing, oh
Got it in their pocket and I got to have it
Do you wanna be like me?
′Cause I just wanna be like you
Seeing everything in green
Wanting something fresh and new
Do you wanna be like me?
Green
I got a wishlist yeah
That never seems to end
I check it off and then it always seems to start again
Stuck in a vicious cycle I can never stop
I want what you want but I got
Do you wanna be like me?
'Cause I just wanna be like you
Seeing everything in green
Wanting something fresh and new, oh
So gimme what I don′t got
Then I'll grab another one ′cause
I'm never gonna get enough
Do you wanna be like me?
Green is the colour of the grass on the other side
Everything I ever wanted, I can′t hide it
Green is the colour of the money that I'm gonna have
One day, some day, till I'm dying
Green is the colour of the grass on the other side
Everything I ever wanted, I can′t hide it
Green is the colour of the money that I′m gonna have
One day, some day, till I'm dying
Green is the colour of the grass on the other side
Everything I ever wanted, I can′t hide it
Green is the colour of the money that I'm gonna have
One day, some day, till I′m dying
I'm looking in the window
I′m wanting what I see
Do you wanna be like me?
'Cause I just wanna be like you
Seeing everything in green
Wanting something fresh and new, oh
So gimme what I don't got
Then I′ll grab another one ′cause
I'm never gonna get enough
Do you wanna be like me?
Green is the colour of the grass on the other side
Everything I ever wanted, I can′t hide it
Green is the colour of the money that I'm gonna have
One day, some day, till I′m dying
The lyrics to Ivory Layne's "Green" explore the idea of always wanting more and never being satisfied with what one has. The song begins by acknowledging the societal expectation of being happy and content with one's life, but the singer admits to feeling underwhelmed and wanting more. She looks upon what she doesn't have and desires it, seeing the grass as greener on the other side.
The chorus repeats the phrase "Do you wanna be like me?" as the singer questions if others also feel the same sense of inadequacy and desire for more. She describes wanting something fresh and new, yet feeling stuck in a cycle of always wanting more. The second verse introduces the concept of a wishlist that never ends, as the singer constantly craves what others have.
The bridge repeats the importance of green as the color of the grass and money, symbolizing the never-ending desire for more material possessions. The song ends with the singer still wanting what she doesn't have and asking the question of whether others feel the same way.
Overall, "Green" is a commentary on the struggle of always wanting more and never being content with what one has, ultimately questioning if this is a universal experience.
Line by Line Meaning
I should be happy, yeah
I am expected to feel happy
I should be overjoyed
I am expected to be extremely happy
I should be satisfied
I should be content with what I have
Celebrating, making noise
I should be celebrating and making noise to show my happiness
But I feel so bla bla bla
However, I don't feel that way
I feel so underwhelmed
I feel disappointed and unimpressed
I thought I had it all and now I'm craving something else
I thought I had everything I wanted, but now I want something more
I'm looking in the window
I am looking through a window
I'm wanting what I see, oh
I want what I see through the window
If I get it I'll be so golden
If I get what I want, I will be very happy
'Cause everybody I know's
Because everyone I know
Got every little thing, oh
Has everything they want
Got it in their pocket and I got to have it
They have it within reach and I want it too
Do you wanna be like me?
Do you want to feel the way I do?
'Cause I just wanna be like you
Because I want to feel the way you do
Seeing everything in green
Seeing everything through the lens of wanting more
Wanting something fresh and new
Wanting something different and exciting
I got a wishlist yeah
I have a list of things I want
That never seems to end
That list never stops growing
I check it off and then it always seems to start again
Once I acquire something, I always want something else
Stuck in a vicious cycle I can never stop
Trapped in a never-ending cycle of wanting more
I want what you want but I got
I want what you have, but I don't have it yet
So gimme what I don't got
Give me what I don't have yet
Then I'll grab another one 'cause
After I get what I want, I will immediately want something else
I'm never gonna get enough
No matter how much I get, it will never be enough
Green is the colour of the grass on the other side
Green represents what others have that I want
Everything I ever wanted, I can't hide it
I can't hide my desire for everything I want
Green is the colour of the money that I'm gonna have
Green represents the money I want to have
One day, some day, till I'm dying
I will continue to want it until I die
Contributed by Hailey Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@bread2122
I love this song,
@ebbng9964
this song has such strong lyrics and it just BANGS i love it soooooo much
@IvoryLayne
Agh! Thank you, Phoebe! I appreciate you reading the lyrics!!✨
@deaderror3660
Love this! So lucky I got it as an insta ad!!
@livyluv800
Spotify recommended this song to me and I CANNOT get it out of my head, love it!
@FilledToThyBrim
This is SUCH A GOOD SONG!!! It’s a BOP and I love it sm
@IvoryLayne
This is such a NICE COMMENT!! Thank you! 🙏🏻
@deismuarti
I just found this song from an add on instagram and i really like it ^^
@StudioHannah
My sister and I will see you in concert later this year :D She introduced me to your music and I have to say I'm really digging it.
@IvoryLayne
YAYYAAY!! I love when sisters connect over my songs (I happen to have two wonderful sisters!)! Can't wait to have you and yours come dance with us at a show soon! Thank you so much for listening + loving!!✨