On My Mind
J.Y. Lyrics
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That I'd be playing solitaire
Uneasy in my easy chair
It never entered my mind
And once you told me I was mistaken
That I'd awaken with the sun
And ordered orange juice for one
You had what I lack, myself
Now I even have to scratch my back myself
Once you warned me that if you scorned me
I'd say a lonely prayer again
And wish that you were there again
To get into my hair again
It never entered my mind
Once you warned me that if you scorned me
I'd say a lonely prayer again
And wish that you were there again
To get into my hair again
It never entered my mind
The lyrics of J.Y.'s song "On My Mind" tell a story of regret and longing for lost love. The opening lines depict a sense of disbelief and ignorance towards the warnings given about the inevitability of losing love. The singer of the song laughs off a warning that they will be playing solitaire yet ends up in that very position. The line "uneasy in my easy chair" illustrates the ambivalent position they find themselves in. They have a sense of comfort in their easy chair but are uneasy at the same time as they are alone. This is a metaphor for the singer's emotional state. They have grown used to being alone, but at the same time, it makes them uncomfortable.
The next stanza refers to a specific instance when their lover had warned them about waking up alone, ordering orange juice for one, and not being able to find someone to scratch their back. The singer dismisses this warning as unlikely, but now they sit in that very situation. The lines "you had what I lack, myself" depicts the realization that the singer was not complete without their lover. The last stanza repeats the same line from the second stanza to emphasize the inevitability of the lover's warning coming true. The repetition of this line also brings the song full circle.
Line by Line Meaning
Once I laughed when I heard you saying
I found it amusing when you said that I would be playing solitaire while feeling uneasy in my easy chair.
That I'd be playing solitaire
You predicted that I would be lonely and bored, with nobody to spend time with.
Uneasy in my easy chair
You thought that I would feel uneasy in my comfortable chair, as if something were missing from my life.
It never entered my mind
I didn't think that I would ever experience such feelings of loneliness and boredom.
Once you told me I was mistaken
You corrected me when I thought I was right, insisting that I would wake up early and order orange juice for one.
That I'd awaken with the sun
You predicted that I would wake up early in the morning, as if I didn't have any reason to sleep in.
And ordered orange juice for one
You thought that I would only need one glass of orange juice, because there would be nobody else to share it with.
You had what I lack, myself
You had something that I didn't have, such as a sense of self-sufficiency or independence.
Now I even have to scratch my back myself
I now realize that I'm on my own and have to take care of myself, even for the little things like scratching my own back.
Once you warned me that if you scorned me
You warned me that if you disrespected or rejected me, I would feel lonely and isolated again.
I'd say a lonely prayer again
I would pray for a companion or someone to share my life with, because I don't want to feel lonely anymore.
And wish that you were there again
I would wish that you would come back and be a part of my life once more, because you gave me a sense of companionship and purpose.
To get into my hair again
I would even welcome the little annoyances that come with having someone around, like when you used to get into my hair or annoy me.
It never entered my mind
I never thought that I would feel so alone without you, but now I realize how much you meant to me when you were around.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., IMAGEM MUSIC INC
Written by: LORENZ HART, RICHARD RODGERS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind