Watching You
Melissa Etheridge Lyrics
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Why am I standing out here alone
I guess I don't know enough to come in from the rain
I was watching your window
From here below
I think I just might stay here all day
Cause I gotta do something
I don't want to love you
If I can't hold you
I don't want to be thinking of you
And if you don't want me
I don't want to want you
And if you won't see me
I don't know what to do
But oh keep watching you
Until I see right through
Oh I keep watching you
You could throw me down a cigarette
I smoked my last one quite a while ago
No, I gave it to the man that swore he had no need
You know sometimes if I listen real close
I can hear the dark side of the moon
And there's always yesterday's Times if I care to read
And I gotta do something
If I can't love you
I don't want to love you
If I can't hold you
I don't want to be thinking of you
And if you don't want me
I don't want to want you
And if you won't see me
I don't know what to do
But oh keep watching you
Until I see right through
Oh I keep watching you
Sure I'm alright
No I'm not very cold
Every now and then I can feel the subway heat
So go on inside
I'll leave you alone
Anyway Bogart's on in the window down the street
And I gotta do something
If I can't love you
I don't want to love you
If I can't hold you
I don't want to be thinking of you
And if you don't want me
I don't want to want you
And if you won't see me
I don't know what to do
But oh keep watching you
Until I see right through
Oh I keep watching you
The lyrics to "Watching You" by Melissa Etheridge describe a person standing outside in the rain, watching the window of someone they love. The person doesn't know why they're standing alone outside in the rain, but they feel like they have to do something. The lyrics suggest that this person may be struggling with wanting to love and be with someone who doesn't want them back, and the repetition of the chorus emphasizes this internal struggle.
The first verse of the song paints a picture of a person standing outside in the rain, watching the window of someone they love. The metaphor of standing in the rain implies a sense of sadness, and the person's confusion about why they're standing there underscores their emotional turmoil. The second verse reveals some of the person's inner thoughts and feelings, including a desire to be close to the person they love, and a sense of resignation that they may never be able to make that happen.
The chorus of the song drives home the message of the lyrics, repeating the sentiment that if the person can't be with the one they love, they don't want to love them at all. There's a sense of desperation in the repetition of the chorus, as if the person is trying to convince themselves of this fact. Overall, "Watching You" is a poignant and emotional ballad about the pain of unrequited love.
Line by Line Meaning
That's a good question
I'm wondering about something
Why am I standing out here alone
I'm feeling isolated
I guess I don't know enough to come in from the rain
I'm feeling lost
I was watching your window
I'm spying on you
From here below
I'm standing outside your house
I think I just might stay here all day
I'm considering staying here all day
Cause I gotta do something
I don't know what else to do
If I can't love you
I don't want to love you
I don't want to be thinking of you
I don't want you on my mind
And if you don't want me
I don't want to want you
And if you won't see me
I don't know what to do
But oh keep watching you
I'll keep spying on you
Until I see right through
Until I figure out what's going on
You could throw me down a cigarette
I need a cigarette
I smoked my last one quite a while ago
I'm out of cigarettes
No, I gave it to the man that swore he had no need
I gave my cigarette away to someone who claimed they needed it more
You know sometimes if I listen real close
I hear things others might not
I can hear the dark side of the moon
I hear eerie, strange sounds
And there's always yesterday's Times if I care to read
I have a newspaper to read if I get bored
Sure I'm alright
I'm okay
No I'm not very cold
I'm not too cold
Every now and then I can feel the subway heat
I can feel the warmth of the subway
So go on inside
You should go inside
I'll leave you alone
I'll stop spying on you
Anyway Bogart's on in the window down the street
A movie is playing in a nearby window
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, CTM Publishing
Written by: ROBERT PLANT, CHRISTOPHER BLACKWELL, PHILIP MERRIAM JOHNSTONE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind