83
John Mayer Lyrics


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I've these dreams of
Walking home
Home where it used to be
And everything is
As it was
Frozen in front of me

Here I stand
6 feet small
Romanticizing years ago
But it's a bitter sweet feeling hearing
"Wrapped Around Your Finger" on the radio

And these days
I wish I was 6 again
Oh make me a red cape
I wanna be Superman

Oh, if only my life was more like 1983
All these things would be more like they
Were at the start of me
Had it made in 83

Thinking bout my brother Ben
I miss him every day
He looks just like his brother John
But on an 18 month delay

Here I stand
6 feet small
And smiling cause I'm scared as hell
Kind of like my life is like a sequel to a movie
Where the actor's names have changed
Oh well

Well these days
I wish I was 6 again
Oh make me a red cape
I wanna be Superman

Oh, if only my life was more like 1983
All these things would be more like they
Were at the start of me
If my life was more like 1983
Plot a course to the source of the
Purest little part of me

And most my memories
Have escaped me
Or confused themselves within dreams
If heaven's all we want it to be
Send your prayers to me
Care of 1983

You can paint that house a rainbow of colors
Rip out the floorboards
Replace the shutters but
That's my plastic in the dirt

Whatever happened to my
Whatever happened to my
Whatever happened to my lunchbox
When came the day that it got
Thrown away and don't you think I should have had some say
In that decision





If only my life (repeated till fade)

Overall Meaning

In John Mayer's song 83, the artist reflects on his childhood and longs for the simplicity and innocence he experienced growing up. The dreams he has of walking home where it used to be and everything being as it was frozen in front of him speak to his desire to return to a time when life was easier to navigate. He stands 6 feet small, romanticizing years ago, and hears "Wrapped Around Your Finger" on the radio, bringing back bitter sweet memories of the past. He wishes he was 6 again and able to don a red cape like Superman, longing for the days when life was carefree and full of endless possibilities.


Mayer also reminisces about his brother Ben, who looks just like John but on an 18-month delay. The emotions surrounding his brother's absence suggest a sense of loss and a desire to turn back time to when they were together. The actor's names have changed, which leaves Mayer afraid, but despite this fear, he longs for a life more like 1983, where everything was new and full of wonder. He dreams of finding the purest little part of him and knowing who he truly is. He speaks of his memories escaping him or confusing themselves within his dreams, and he yearns for the simplicity of childhood, where he had more control over his life.


Line by Line Meaning

I've these dreams of
I often dream of


Walking home
Walking back to my old home


Home where it used to be
The home where I used to live


And everything is
And everything is as it


As it was
Was in the past


Frozen in front of me
Stuck in time, unchanging


Here I stand
I'm standing here


6 feet small
I feel insignificant


Romanticizing years ago
Looking back with romanticized nostalgia


But it's a bittersweet feeling hearing
However, it's a mixture of happiness and sadness to hear


"Wrapped Around Your Finger" on the radio
The song "Wrapped Around Your Finger" playing on the radio


And these days
Lately


I wish I was 6 again
I want to be young again


Oh make me a red cape
Let me be a superhero


I wanna be Superman
Specifically, Superman


Oh, if only my life was more like 1983
If only my life was like it was in 1983


All these things would be more like they
Everything would feel the same way they


Were at the start of me
When I was just getting started


Had it made in 83
Life was easier in 1983


Thinking bout my brother Ben
I'm thinking about my brother Ben


I miss him every day
I miss him all the time


He looks just like his brother John
Ben looks like his brother John


But on an 18 month delay
Ben is 18 months younger than John


Here I stand
I'm still standing


6 feet small
I feel small and insignificant


And smiling cause I'm scared as hell
I'm smiling but actually really scared


Kind of like my life is like a sequel to a movie
My life feels like a sequel to a film


Where the actor's names have changed
But with different actors playing the characters


Oh well
Oh well, it is what it is


Well these days
These days


I wish I was 6 again
I want to be a kid again


Oh make me a red cape
Let me be a superhero


I wanna be Superman
Specifically, Superman


Oh, if only my life was more like 1983
If only my life was like it was in 1983


All these things would be more like they
Everything would feel the same way they


Were at the start of me
When I was just getting started


If my life was more like 1983
If my life was like it was in 1983


Plot a course to the source of the
Trace my life back to the


Purest little part of me
The most innocent part of myself


And most my memories
Most of my memories


Have escaped me
Are gone or unclear


Or confused themselves within dreams
Or blended together in my dreams


If heaven's all we want it to be
If heaven is what we want it to be


Send your prayers to me
Pray for me


Care of 1983
And send them back to 1983


You can paint that house a rainbow of colors
They can paint that house different colors


Rip out the floorboards
Tear up the floor


Replace the shutters but
Switch out the shutters but


That's my plastic in the dirt
That's my toy in the dirt


Whatever happened to my
What happened to my


Lunchbox
Lunchbox?


When came the day that it got
When did the day come that it was


Thrown away and don't you think I should have had some say
Thrown away without my permission, don't you think I should have had a say


In that decision
In that choice?


If only my life (repeated till fade)
If only my life




Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: JOHN CLAYTON MAYER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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