For All I Know
James McMurtry Lyrics


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Last time I saw you
it could've been Christmas eve
it could've been someone's birthday
it could've been make believe for all I know
it could've been make believe
last time I saw you
you had the room upstairs
I never knew for certain
what went on up there
no I never did know
what went on up there
'course you had that boyfriend
with the Chevrolet
he never met Will Rogers
I'd be willing to say
yeah it's safe to say
he never met Will Rogers
I guess it must have been a thousand years
since I changed my number
does it mean a thing
when the phone don't ring
and I don't call back
can't help but wonder sometimesI never got to know you
like I wanted to
you never seemed to notice
how I looked at you for all I know
you never even noticednow that crowd's all scattered
to here and yon
everybody graduated
or they just moved onfor all I know
they just moved onI guess it must have been a thousand years
since I lost your number
gonna rest my soul
by this fishing hole
gonna watch that pole
'till that float goes underlast time I saw you
it could've been Christmas eve
it could've been someone's birthday




it could've been make believefor all I know
could've been make believe

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to James McMurtry's song "For All I Know" speak of reminiscences of the past, the uncertainties of the present, and the passing of time. The singer recalls the last time he saw the person he's singing to in vague terms, as it "could've been Christmas eve, someone's birthday, or make-believe." He never knew what went on in the room upstairs, where she had her last known address, but he had heard that she had a boyfriend with a Chevrolet who never met Will Rogers. The singer then reflects on how long it has been since he changed his number and last saw this person, noting that he never got to know her as "like I wanted to." The last verse speaks of how everyone has moved on and graduated, and the singer is left alone with his fishing pole; he will watch it until it goes under.


The song speaks to the theme of regret and missed opportunities, as the singer expresses feeling like he never got to know this person as well as he wished he could have. The sense of uncertainty and ambiguity in the lyrics hint at the idea that the singer may not have wanted to know this person, or it may have been a missed connection due to circumstances that were out of their control.


Line by Line Meaning

Last time I saw you
The most recent moment of encounter.


it could've been Christmas eve
A possible time of the year.


it could've been someone's birthday
A possible occasion or event.


it could've been make believe for all I know
The possibility that the encounter was imaginary.


it could've been make believe
An additional emphasis on the possibility that it was an illusion.


last time I saw you
The latest period of seeing each other.


you had the room upstairs
The location where one of the people stayed.


I never knew for certain
A lack of clear understanding or knowledge.


what went on up there
The activities or events that transpired in the room upstairs.


no I never did know
A repeated acknowledgement of ignorance.


course you had that boyfriend
Referring to the other person's romantic relationship.


with the Chevrolet
A specific car brand owned by the other person's partner.


he never met Will Rogers
The tendency for the boyfriend to not meet certain people.


I'd be willing to say
An expression of confidence in the singer's assumption.


yeah it's safe to say
An additional affirmation towards the previous statement.


he never met Will Rogers
A recapitulation or restatement of the knowledge gained.


I guess it must have been a thousand years
An exaggerated or figurative sense of time.


since I changed my number
The duration since the singer modified their contact information.


does it mean a thing
A rhetorical question regarding the significance of an event or a lack of it.


when the phone don't ring
The absence of contact from the other person.


and I don't call back
The inaction of the artist.


can't help but wonder sometimes
An admission of curiosity or contemplation.


I never got to know you
The singer not attaining a level of familiarity desired.


like I wanted to
An expression of desire or yearning.


you never seemed to notice
The other person possibly being oblivious to the singer's behavior or emotions.


how I looked at you for all I know
The possibility that the other person was not aware of how the singer regarded them.


you never even noticed
An additional emphasis on the other person's ignorance towards the singer's admiration.


now that crowd's all scattered
A group of people separated or dispersed.


to here and yon
A figurative expression to describe a wide range of places.


everybody graduated
Many people achieved an educational milestone.


or they just moved onfor all I know
The uncertainty of where people went after their time together ended.


they just moved on
The possibility that people left their past experiences behind and pursued new opportunities.


I guess it must have been a thousand years
An exaggerated or figurative sense of time (repeated).


since I lost your number
The duration since the artist misplaced or dropped the other person's contact information.


gonna rest my soul
The singer's decision to decompress or relax.


by this fishing hole
The location of the artist's fishing activity.


gonna watch that pole
Observing the fishing rod for activity.


till that float goes under
The action of waiting for fish to catch the bait (or 'float').


last time I saw you
The most recent period of time where the singer and the other person encountered each other (repeated).


it could've been Christmas eve
A potential date of the last encounter (repeated).


it could've been someone's birthday
A probable occasion where the two individuals might have crossed paths (repeated).


it could've been make believefor all I know
An acknowledgement of the possibility of the last encounter being an illusion.


could've been make believe
An additional emphasis on the possibility of the last encounter being fabricated.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: JAMES MCMURTRY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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