Don't Ask Me
Mrs. Robinson Lyrics


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I was doing my best to keep the waves at the bay
Feral as they were, I wouldn't let them have their say
Some shimmering hues twirled into the room
And from that flicker of blue, I knew it had to be you

The hem of your dress turned to greet me
I knew all its folds and the way that it moves
But I left my old friend, I slunk out of the room
Thinking what is the point when my heart goes boom

Don't you ask me what I'm thinking
Cause I'm not allowed to say
And you know full well babe I'm still under your spell
So please, be gentle, be gentle with me

I took a deep breath and I halted
Where should I go and what should I do?
Calm the fuck down and just go do some rounds
Try to find something that won't make you think

Of the swirl of her planets as she's stroking your chest
Or the way that she dances sleeping in your bed
Sooner or later you're gonna cross paths
So go say hello, go on move your ass

Don't you ask me what I'm thinking
Cause I'm not allowed to say
And you know full well babe I'm still under your spell
So please, be gentle, be gentle with me

Don't ask me what I'm thinking cause you already know
And you don't want to hear cause you've heard if before
And if started explaining, who knows when I'd stop?
Sometime around midnight? Maybe
And then just to catch my breath, before talking your ears off
Drawing some diagrams, trying to make you understand how it really works in my mind
So we can be closer

Don't ask me what I'm thinking
If you're not prepared
To talk about what you are thinking of as well

Cause you never seem to know
What you're thinking, how you feel
But what ticks me off the most is you don't seem to try for me

And I'll leave feeling drained like I've given my all
Like I've put in some effort for nothing at all
And until I can see that you're trying, I've got to move on

Don't you ask me what I'm thinking
Cause I'm not allowed to say
And you know full well babe I'm still under your spell
So please, be gentle, be gentle today

Don't you ask me what I'm thinking
Cause I'm not allowed to say
And you know full well babe I'm still under your spell
So please, be gentle, be gentle today

I spied you from afar at the front door
You were lingering, lurking, pretending not to hide




I gathered my will and steadied my neck
Waited for the last moment to catch a glimpse of my old friend

Overall Meaning

In the song "Don't Ask Me" by Mrs. Robinson, the lyrics express the sadness and desperation of an individual left alone after being abandoned by their loved one. The song starts with the singer telling their lover that they had always needed them and had made the promise to always stay by their side. However, it was their lover who changed and left them. The singer is now left alone and has to follow them and beg them to come back.


The chorus of the song then goes on to say that the singer does not need their lover to say that they love them but just to be close at hand. The singer is okay if their lover does not stay forever, as they understand. The singer admits to loving their lover but assures them that they will never tie them down. The second verse of the song speaks about the emptiness and loneliness that the singer feels after their lover has left them, and how life seems dead and unreal.


The lyrics of the song portray a sense of heartbreak, longing, and desperation that one feels when they lose the person they love. Mrs. Robinson's soulful voice adds to the emotion and brings out the true essence of the song.


Line by Line Meaning

When I said I needed you
I expressed my need for you to stay with me.


You said you would always stay
You promised to never leave my side.


It wasn't me who changed but you and now you've gone away
I did not change, but you did and left me alone.


Don't you see that now you've gone And I'm left here on my own That I have to follow you and beg you to come home
You left me alone and now I have no choice but to chase after you and plead for you to return.


You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
You do not need to profess your love for me, just be near me.


You don't have to stay forever I will understand
You do not have to stay forever, I am aware of your wishes.


Believe me, believe me I can't help but love you
Trust me, I cannot control my love for you.


But believe me I'll never tie you down
However, believe me when I say I will never restrict your freedom.


Left alone with just a memory Life seems dead and quite unreal All that's left is loneliness there's nothing left to feel
Without you, life feels meaningless and empty; the only thing left is loneliness and despair.


You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
Once again, you do not need to declare your love, just be there for me.


You don't have to stay forever I will understand believe me, believe me
I understand if you cannot stay forever; believe me when I say I comprehend your decision.


You don't have to say you love me just be close at hand
Lastly, you do not have to confess love, just stay near me.




Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Henry Colquhoun

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@vincenzol.2813

Lyrics: And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
We'd like to know a little bit about you for our files
We'd like to help you learn to help yourself
Look around you, all you see are sympathetic eyes
Stroll around the grounds until you feel at home
And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hide it in a hiding place where no one ever goes
Put it in your pantry with your cupcakes
It's a little secret, just the Robinson's affair
Most of all, you've got to hide it from the kids
Coo, coo, ca-choo, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Sitting on a sofa on a Sunday afternoon
Going to the candidates debate
Laugh about it, shout about it
When you've got to choose
Every way you look at this, you lose
Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?
Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you
Woo, woo, woo
What's that you say, Mrs. Robinson?
Joltin' Joe has left and gone away
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey



@MondeSerenaWilliams

LYRICS
And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
We'd like to know a little bit about you for our files
We'd like to help you learn to help yourself
Look around you all you see are sympathetic eyes
Stroll around the grounds until you feel at home
And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Hide it in the hiding place where no one ever goes
Put it in your pantry with your cupcakes
It's a little secret just the Robinson's affair
Most of all you've got to hide it from the kids
Koo-koo-ka-choo, Mrs. Robinson
Jesus loves you more than you will know
Whoa, whoa, whoa
God bless you, please, Mrs. Robinson
Heaven holds a place for those who pray
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey
Sitting on a sofa on a Sunday afternoon
Going to the candidates' debate
Laugh about it, shout about it
When you've got to choose
Every way you look at this you lose
Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?
Our nation turns its lonely eyes to you
Woo, woo, woo
What's that you say, Mrs. Robinson?
Jolting Joe has left and gone away
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey, hey



All comments from YouTube:

@ClassicFolkSongs1539

When this song was at its height, my sister was 19 years old, dying from cancer. I was 17, and left school to spend a dreary winter with her in a Chicago hospital where they were doing experimental chemo. Late night, we'd order a pizza to be delivered to the ER in the basement, because nobody was allowed on the 8th floor cancer ward that late. We'd ride the elevator down and back, harmonizing this song together. She died too soon after that. I'm in my 70s now, but when I hear this song, I'm 17, in an elevator with great acoustics, holding a pizza, and singing my heart out with my best friend.

@afgtp0906

thats was beatifully written. Thanks for sharing that.

@angru5oklok

So sorry for your loss!

@alissfrancisDC

😢

@tammythomas975

So sorry for the loss of your sister.Hope those memories make you smile now.

@nyj1949

Thanks

48 More Replies...

@bigboredthing

Had a teacher in primary school called Mrs Robinson. The whole school (only about 100 kids) got together and sung this to her on her 50th birthday. I'll never forget that day.

@MichaelJ44

Unless you get diagnosed with Alzheimer’s

@themoreyouknowfools4974

That is amazing. Sounds like something that would happen in a tv show

@Raccoon469

I want to say r/thathappened but I feel like this REALLY happened

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