The four-time Grammy winner has acted in a number of films and been a guest-star on television. Lovett was married to actress Julia Roberts for a short time in the mid-1990s. In 2002, he was gored by a bull while working on his uncle's farm in Texas, but soon recovered and resumed touring.
They Don
Lyle Lovett Lyrics
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I can feel it
And I don't like them
It's the same old song
They don't like me
I just know it
But I'd be happy
Just to get along
They try to love me
I know they do
Cause when I tell them I love you
They say we love you too
But I know
They don't like me
I can feel it
And I don't like them
It's the same old song
They don't like me
I just know it
But I'd be happy
Just to get along
She told me
You can call me mother
He said son just call me dad
We'll treat you like the only boy
We wish we never had
But I know
They don't like me
I can feel it
And I don't like them
It's the same old song
They don't like me
I just know it
But I'd be happy
Just to get along
She said you know he doesn't drink much
And we've never heard him curse
And he's really not that ugly dear
She could've done much worse
But I know
They don't like me
And I don't like them
It's the same old song
They don't like me
I can feel it
But I'd be happy
Just to get along
I'd be happy just to get along
I'd be happy just to get along
Lyle Lovett's song "They Don't Like Me" tells the story of a person who feels unwanted and unaccepted by their partner's family. The lyrics clearly convey a sense of discomfort and tension between the singer and their partner's family; however, the singer ignores what they feel and tries to make things work by just getting along, hoping for an eventual change. The words "I can feel it" and "I just know it" suggest that the singer's intuition is telling them that their partner's family cannot accept or appreciate them. Interestingly, the singer acknowledges that they don't like the family as well, but they still try to find common ground.
The chorus emphasizes the feelings of unease and uneasiness repeatedly. The use of repetition emphasizes the message of the song--that the situation is unlikely to change anytime soon. The second verse adds a little more color to the narrative by introducing two characters: a mother and a father figure. They welcome the singer warmly, even if it is rather disingenuous. The mother tries to soften the situation by telling the singer that he doesn't curse or drink, while the father tries appealing to the singer's sense of isolation by telling him that he is being treated like the only boy they wished wasn't theirs.
The heart of "They Don't Like Me" is in its lyrics, which is relatable to anyone who has struggled to get accepted by a partner's family. The song is an excellent example of Lovett's ability to deliver poignant insights that are subtly layered within memorable melodies. The song and its lyrics speak to the feeling of longing to be accepted, no matter how hard one tries. The song shows how it is possible to make the best of what one has by not pressuring or trying to change what we cannot control.
Line by Line Meaning
They don't like me
I can sense the dislike that they hold for me.
I can feel it
My intuition tells me that they aren't fond of me.
And I don't like them
I reciprocate their feelings and don't care for them either.
It's the same old song
This has happened to me time and time again.
I just know it
I am certain of their aversion towards me.
But I'd be happy
Despite their feelings towards me, I would still be content.
Just to get along
All I want is for us to coexist peacefully.
They try to love me
They attempt to show affection towards me.
I know they do
I am aware of their efforts to like me.
Cause when I tell them I love you
The positive emotions I express towards them make them want to reciprocate it.
They say we love you too
Their response to my expression of love for them is a way of showing that they care.
She told me
The female mentioned to me.
You can call me mother
She allowed me to refer to her as my mother.
He said son just call me dad
He informed me to address him as my father.
We'll treat you like the only boy
They promised me to treat me as if I were their one and only son.
We wish we never had
But, in reality, they wish they've never had me as their son.
And we've never heard him curse
They've never heard me use profanity.
And he's really not that ugly dear
I am not physically unattractive, contrary to popular belief.
She could've done much worse
They believed that she could've found herself in an even worse situation.
I'd be happy just to get along
My ultimate goal is for us to simply coexist without any conflict.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: LYLE PEARCE LOVETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind