Your Thesaurus Won't Help You Now
Paper Moon Lyrics


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This is easily the hardest thing I've ever had to do
I struggle over every word
But I think it's safe to say that I owe this much to you
I've gotten more than I deserve

I close my eyes and in my head
I see you walk away, panic washes over me
I know it could be different if I found something to say
But how can I possibly wrestle phrases from a frozen mind

Extract the necessary lines to ensure continuance
Of what I've taken for granted all this time?
I'm usually more articulate, why do words fail me now?
Just when I need them the most, words fail me

For the last few years
I've placed my fate in the hands of anyone who cared
Never thinking that my expectations were unfair




Now the ultimatum has been given and I find myself so unprepared
To spill emotions that have remained undeclared

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Your Thesaurus Won't Help You Now reflect the difficulty of expression and communication in a critical moment. The singer confesses that they have taken something for granted, but now must confront the possibility of losing it. The first stanza establishes the singer's anxiety about articulating their thoughts and feelings, compounded by the fear of losing the object of their affections. The second stanza describes the impossibility of finding the right words to preserve a relationship, and the frustration of facing one's own limitations when it is most important to succeed.


The final stanza reveals that the singer has been passive in their approach to love and intimacy, leading them to inadequately express their feelings when it matters the most. The singer now acknowledges that they must put themselves on the line and risk vulnerability in order to save what they have. The song thus confronts the listener with the challenge of overcoming the limitations of language and communicative barriers in order to fully express oneself, especially in moments of crisis.


Line by Line Meaning

This is easily the hardest thing I've ever had to do
I'm finding it extremely difficult to express what I want to say


I struggle over every word
I'm having a hard time finding the right words


But I think it's safe to say that I owe this much to you
I feel indebted to you for something


I've gotten more than I deserve
I've received more than I should have


I close my eyes and in my head
I try to imagine what could happen


I see you walk away, panic washes over me
The thought of losing you scares me


I know it could be different if I found something to say
I believe things could be better if I just spoke up


But how can I possibly wrestle phrases from a frozen mind
I can't seem to come up with the right words


Extract the necessary lines to ensure continuance
Pick the right words to make things last


Of what I've taken for granted all this time?
Of the things I've overlooked and never given enough credit to?


I'm usually more articulate, why do words fail me now?
I'm usually better with words, why am I struggling now?


Just when I need them the most, words fail me
I need the right words, but I can't seem to find them


For the last few years
Over the past couple of years


I've placed my fate in the hands of anyone who cared
I've trusted anyone who showed any interest in me


Never thinking that my expectations were unfair
I never considered that I might be asking too much


Now the ultimatum has been given and I find myself so unprepared
I wasn't ready for this and I don't know what to do


To spill emotions that have remained undeclared
To finally express feelings I've kept hidden




Writer(s): Christopher Hiebert, Allison Shevernoha, Robert Somers, Heather Campbell

Contributed by Caroline O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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