Other Side Of The Fence
Jonny Lang Lyrics

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The grass always look greener
On the other side of the fence, yeah, yeah
But the dog over there might be meaner
On the other side of the fence, yeah, yeah

The car in the driveway looks longer
On the other side of the street, yeah, yeah
Does anything ever go wrong there

On the other side of the street, yeah, yeah?

Stay in your own yard, play in your own yard
Be happy in your own yard
'Cause everything glitters it really ain't gold, yeah

Future always look brighter
On the other side of the tracks, yeah, yeah
But then everybody wants to go over
But they don't want to come back, no, no

They live like kings and queens
On their side of the town, yeah, yeah
But they're gonna have to make room for me and you
On their side of the town, sho' 'nough

To be jealous is a cold thang
With the ice water in your viens
All it brings is misery and pain
Everything glitters it really ain't gold, no
It's not what it looks like, it really ain't gold

No!

'Stead of worry 'bout what you're lacking
Gotta make the most of what you got
'Stead of keepin' up with Mr. Jones
Gotta look out for your own

Stay in your own yard, play in your own yard
Be happy in your own yard, yeah, your own yard

Stay in your own yard, play in your own yard

Happy in your own yard
Everything glitters it really ain't gold

Overall Meaning

The song "Other Side of the Fence" by Jonny Lang is about the human tendency to compare oneself to others and believe that their lives might be happier and more fulfilling than our own. The lyrics suggest that while things might appear better on the surface, there is often a downside to what we perceive. The grass on the other side of the fence might be greener, but there could be a mean dog waiting to attack you there. The car in the driveway might appear longer, but we don't know what problems or troubles the people on that side of the street might be facing. The future might look brighter on the other side of the tracks, but everyone wants to go over there, no one wants to come back.

The chorus encourages the listener to stay in their own yard, play in their own yard, and be happy with what they have. It cautions us against being jealous of others and chasing after things that might not be what they appear to be, warning that everything that glitters isn't gold.

Overall, the song's message is about contentment, urging us to appreciate what we have rather than being envious of what we don't have. It reminds us that while other people's lives might seem better than our own, they have their own challenges and difficulties that we might not be aware of.

Line by Line Meaning

The grass always look greener
Things always appear better on the other side

On the other side of the fence, yeah, yeah
In the place not belonging to you

But the dog over there might be meaner
However, one might not face the same troubles on their side

The car in the driveway looks longer
Objects on the other side are perceived differently and seem better

On the other side of the street, yeah, yeah
In another place, someone else's property

Does anything ever go wrong there
However, problems and issues exist everywhere

Stay in your own yard, play in your own yard
One should be content with their own possessions

Be happy in your own yard
You should find happiness with what you have

'Cause everything glitters it really ain't gold, yeah
Appearances can be deceptive and so everything isn't as it seems

The future always look brighter
The future always seems better in some other places

On the other side of the tracks, yeah, yeah
On the other side of the barrier that separates two different worlds

But then everybody wants to go over
However, people tend to be attracted to these places

But they don't want to come back, no, no
but rarely they don't wish to come back

They live like kings and queens
People living in some places seem to live a luxurious life

On their side of the town, yeah, yeah
On the side of the town where they belong

But they're gonna have to make room for me and you
We will make our own place there

To be jealous is a cold thang
Being envious is not good

With the ice water in your veins
It can freeze you up internally

All it brings is misery and pain
It causes only suffering and agony

It's not what it looks like, it really ain't gold
Things aren't always what they seem to be

Instead of worrying 'bout what you're lacking
Rather than thinking about what you don't have

Gotta make the most of what you got
You should make the most of what you already have

Instead of keeping up with Mr. Jones
Don't worry about competing with others

Gotta look out for your own
Take care of yourself

Stay in your own yard, play in your own yard
Make the best of what you have

Happy in your own yard
Find contentment with your own life

Everything glitters it really ain't gold
Looks can be deceiving

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: SHANNON SANDERS, JONNY LANG, DREW RAMSEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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