They Weren't There
Missy Higgins Lyrics
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And time was lost up in a cloud and in a whirl.
We dug a hole in the cool grey earth and lay there for the night.
Then you said, "wait for me we'll fly the wind,
We'll grow old and you'll be stronger without him" but oh,
Now my world is at your feet. I was lost and I was found,
But I was alive and now I've drowned.
So now I will be waiting for the world to hear my song
But they weren't there beneath your stare,
And they weren't stripped 'till they were bare of
Any bindings from the world outside that room.
And they weren't taken by the hand
And led through fields of naked land
Where any pre-conceived ideas were blown away
So I couldn't say "no".
You sighed and I was lost in you, weeks could've past for all I knew.
You were there blanket of the over-world and so I couldn't say,
I wouldn't say "no". But they all said, "you're too young to even know,
Just don't let it grow and you'll be stronger without him"
But oh, now, my world is at your feet. I was lost and I was found,
But I was alive and now I've drowned.
So now I will be waiting for the world to hear my song
So they can tell me I was wrong
But they weren't there beneath your stare,
And they weren't stripped 'till they were bare
Of any bindings from the world outside that room.
And they weren't taken by the hand and led through fields
Of naked land where any pre-conceived ideas were blown away
But they weren't there beneath your stare,
And they weren't stripped 'till they were bare
Of any bindings from the world outside that room.
And they weren't taken by the hand and led through fields
Of naked land where any pre-conceived ideas were blown away
So I couldn't say "no".
The song "They Weren't There" by Missy Higgins is a poignant and emotional ballad about falling in love with someone who changes your entire world. The opening lines speak of how this person "breathed infinity" into the singer's world, causing time to stand still and losing herself in the moment. The two of them even dug a hole to lay down and spend the night together. The person assures the singer that they will "fly the wind" and grow old together, with the singer growing stronger without her past.
However, as the song progresses, it becomes clear that this love affair has brought the singer more pain than happiness. She feels lost and drowned, waiting for the world to judge her but knowing that they weren't there to experience the same things. Despite the warnings of others, she couldn't say no to this person and feels trapped in a world where her love is not understood.
The repeated refrain of "they weren't there beneath your stare, and they weren't stripped 'till they were bare" emphasizes the idea that no one else could understand the intense connection the singer had with this person. The singer feels alone and uncertain about her decisions but knows that her love was real and intense.
Overall, the song is a beautiful exploration of the complexities of love and how it can change your entire world. It touches on the pain and confusion that can come from such a passionate connection, highlighting the fact that sometimes love can be both wonderful and overwhelming at the same time.
Line by Line Meaning
You breathed infinity into my world
You brought so much passion and depth into my life
And time was lost up in a cloud and in a whirl.
I lost track of time in the whirlwind of our romance
We dug a hole in the cool grey earth and lay there for the night.
We found solace and comfort in each other's embrace
Then you said, "wait for me we'll fly the wind, We'll grow old and you'll be stronger without him" but oh,
You promised me a better future without my previous love
Now my world is at your feet. I was lost and I was found, But I was alive and now I've drowned.
I gave my all to you and lost myself in the process
So now I will be waiting for the world to hear my song So they can tell me I was wrong...
I need validation from others that what I did was okay
But they weren't there beneath your stare,
People don't understand the intensity of the connection we shared
And they weren't stripped 'till they were bare of Any bindings from the world outside that room.
They haven't experienced the freedom and vulnerability we allowed in our relationship
And they weren't taken by the hand And led through fields of naked land Where any pre-conceived ideas were blown away
They weren't led into the unknown where we had to challenge our preconceptions
So I couldn't say "no".
I was so deep in love that I couldn't resist
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: MELISSA HIGGINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind