I Only Want To Be Alone
James McCartney Lyrics


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Whatever I've said is in my head
And all it sums up to is everything
Searching my mind for that ultimate find
Walking without the knowledge of doing so

One is one and I'm still on the run
From this place of complete pretension
All I want is a real life mind
With thoughts that go off in a tangent

I only want to be alone
So pick up the rest

I don't believe you, I don't deceive you
I never do anything you want
Are you receiving what you're believing?
Are you sure just what you are?

Two is two and I'll love you
If you don't give me what I want
I don't believe you, I don't believe you
I don't believe you anymore





I only want to be alone
So pick up the rest

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to James McCartney's song "I Only Want To Be Alone" are about the desire for true authenticity and individuality, while feeling weighed down by societal expectations and pressures. The opening lines suggest that what he says is limited by his thoughts and that everything he thinks sums up to be everything. The search for a new thought or a fresh way of thinking is all-consuming as he feels he is walking blindly, without realizing what he is doing. The next section conveys a sense of disillusionment with society, where he feels he is on the run from a place full of pretension, and he desires a real, independent mind that thinks with freedom.


In the chorus, James McCartney expresses his burning desire for solitude, emphasizing his need to escape from the rest of society. He only wants to be alone, and he encourages others to pick up whatever else is left behind. The second verse expresses his aversion towards conforming to societal norms and how he rejects it and chooses to be alone. Using the phrase "I don't believe you," he expresses his general disinterest in conforming to the norms of society, and in reality, he may be advocating for individualism. Going against the grain and doing as he truly desires is what drives him.


Overall, the song is a powerful and thought-provoking testimony of the struggles of modern-day society and the yearning for true authenticity and independence. McCartney highlights the importance of being true to one's self even if it isolates one from societal norms.


Line by Line Meaning

Whatever I've said is in my head
All the things that I have said before are simply a product of my thoughts.


And all it sums up to is everything
All my thoughts and words seem to encompass everything and nothing at the same time.


Searching my mind for that ultimate find
My mind is preoccupied with finding that one ultimate thing that will help me make sense of everything.


Walking without the knowledge of doing so
I am walking aimlessly without any direction or intention.


One is one and I'm still on the run
I am still running away from this world where everyone is treated as one and the same.


From this place of complete pretension
I want to distance myself from this world that is full of false appearances and insincerity.


All I want is a real life mind
All I desire is a mind that is genuine and authentic.


With thoughts that go off in a tangent
I want my thoughts to wander and explore different paths without any limitations or boundaries.


I only want to be alone
I seek solitude and isolation from this world.


So pick up the rest
Please collect everything else and leave me alone.


I don't believe you, I don't deceive you
I cannot trust you, and I don't try to deceive you either.


I never do anything you want
I won't do what you ask me to do.


Are you receiving what you're believing?
Are you aware of the truth or are you being deceived?


Are you sure just what you are?
Are you confident in your own identity?


Two is two and I'll love you
If you give me what I want, then I will love you in return.


If you don't give me what I want
If you fail to provide me what I desire, then I won't care about you.


I don't believe you, I don't believe you
I still cannot trust you.


I don't believe you anymore
I have lost faith in you completely.


I only want to be alone
Once more, I long for solitude and isolation.


So pick up the rest
Please remove everything else and leave me alone.




Contributed by Isabella L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Joanne Gem

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!

CB Fall

Wonderful song!! James is a great singer!!!

MATTY WRAY

i like his style. very original ,the son of a genius emerging from his shadow .

Von Greco bis Goya

What a great song, James! It sounds very much like Wings in the 70ties.. Paul as producer, maybe that is partly why..
I have to listen to it over and over again, perfect harmonies.

Tom D.

This is great. Sounds like a late-Beatlesque indie type of song. Something more that would come from John though instead of Paul.

Helen Wheels McCartney

Amazing voice!!!!

Jenny Queen

I'm in total love with this man!

Helen Wheels McCartney

Great James! You have a great voice :)

Jorge Astudillo

muy buena cancion de james,muy buena voz tambien

Fire Temple Records

this is amazing, one of my top tunez!

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