baby' s got a bad idea
Justin Townes-Earle Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Her eyes she wanna hide it but she cant
No matter how hard she tries
Baby's acting like a kid, lord she's
Playing games with me, oh but, I'm
Much too old a man these days
To play hide and seek
Maybe if I were a better man she wouldn't
Walk away from me, yeah I could
Keep her close to me
Baby's got a hold on me yeah
She's tearing me in two
I know there's nothing
There's nothing I can do
Sometimes when she sleeps
I like to listen to her breathe
I wish that could know what
She's dreaming but I don't know
Baby's got a cold embrace and
She just don't feel the same
Yeah she did when she use
To call me by my name, yeah
Yeah she did when she use
To call me by my name
Oh, damn
The lyrics of Justin Townes Earle's song "Baby's Got A Bad Idea" seem to depict the struggle of a man who is in a relationship with a woman who is not completely honest with him. He can sense that she is hiding something from him, but she cannot bring herself to speak it out, no matter how hard she tries. The man considers himself too old to play games and seek her out, but he also acknowledges that he might have played a role in her silence. He wishes he were a better man to keep her close to him, but he knows that she has a hold on him, even if it hurts him.
The man's love for her is clear, demonstrated by his observation of how she breathes in her sleep and his desire to know what she dreams about. He is aware that there was a time when she used to call him by his name, indicating a level of closeness and intimacy in their relationship that has waned. The last line, "Oh, damn," suggests frustration and a sense of helplessness in the situation.
Overall, the song seems to touch on themes of love, honesty, and vulnerability. It highlights how difficult it can be to navigate a relationship when one partner is struggling to communicate their innermost thoughts and feelings, and the pain it can cause the other person. At the same time, it recognizes the strength of love to hold on, even in difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby's got a bad idea I can see it in
The girl has an idea which is bad, and the singer can tell from her eyes that she thinks it's a bad idea. She tries to hide her thoughts, but her face gives it away.
Her eyes she wanna hide it but she cant
The girl is trying to conceal her ideas from everyone, but she's failing at it. The singer can guess it from her eyes.
No matter how hard she tries
Despite her best efforts, the girl can't hide her intentions. Her emotions keep getting in the way.
Baby's acting like a kid, lord she's
The girl is behaving like a child, playing games with the singer's feelings. It's frustrating to him because of his maturity.
Playing games with me, oh but, I'm
She is playing games with his emotions, but he's too old to be a part of them anymore. He has outgrown such childish behavior.
Much too old a man these days
The singer has matured beyond the point of playing games with people. He can't participate in the girl's immature games with him.
To play hide and seek
The girl wants to hide her feelings from him, but the singer can't afford to play along with her. He needs open and honest communication from her.
Maybe if I were a better man she wouldn't
If the singer were a better person, the girl might not want to walk away from him. He blames himself for how things are going between them.
Walk away from me, yeah I could
The girl is thinking of walking away from him, and the singer knows it. He's afraid that she might act on her thoughts.
Keep her close to me
The singer wants the girl to stay with him. He is hoping that things can be worked out between them and she won't leave him.
Baby's got a hold on me yeah
The girl has a tremendous influence on the singer. He's emotionally attached to her, and it affects him greatly.
She's tearing me in two
Even though the girl means everything to him, she's also hurting him badly. Her actions are causing him to doubt his feelings for her.
I know there's nothing
The singer has realized that he can't force the girl to love him. He's worried that she might leave him for someone else.
There's nothing I can do
The singer is helpless against the girl's wishes. He can't force her to love him if she doesn't want to.
Sometimes when she sleeps
While the girl is sleeping, the singer listens to her breathing. He's trying to figure out what's going on in her mind.
I like to listen to her breathe
The singer finds comfort in listening to the girl's breathing. It's a reminder of their closeness and the bond that they share.
I wish that could know what
The singer wishes he could understand what the girl is dreaming about. He's curious about her thoughts and feelings towards him.
She's dreaming but I don't know
The girl's dreams are a mystery to the singer, and he can't figure out what's going on in her mind. He can only guess what she's thinking.
Baby's got a cold embrace and
The girl's love for him has cooled down, and he's feeling neglected. He wishes she would care for him more than she does.
She just don't feel the same
The girl doesn't feel the same way about him as she did before. Her feelings for him have changed, and he's struggling to come to terms with it.
Yeah she did when she use
At one point, the girl was very much in love with the singer. She would call him by his name, and that gesture meant something to him.
To call me by my name, yeah
Now, the girl has stopped calling him by his name, and it means that she's not as close to him as she was before. The singer senses that something has changed in their relationship.
Oh, damn
The singer is expressing his frustration with the girl and the situation that they're in. He's upset that he can't make her love him like he wants her to.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind