Good Thing
Patty Larkin Lyrics


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Well I've heard enough
And I've seen enough
And I know enough to know...
I know a good thing when I see it
And it's a bad thing to let go.

Well I've been around
I've been up and down
Until I bent out of control.
With your world all in motion,
Gotta put a ball
And a chain on your soul.

All those angels running,
Picking up the pieces,
Putting back together
Hearts broke long ago.
I know a good thing when I see it,
And it's a bad thing to let go

There will always be lovers
With borders of their own,
And you may charge across
In a golden chariot,
But you will never be at home

'Cause I had dreams
Like distant thunder;
I had hope like a prayer unheard.
And this nothing less than perfect
In a less than perfect world.

All those angels running,
Picking up the pieces,
Putting back together
Hearts broke long ago.




I know a good thing when I see it,
And it's a bad thing to let go.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Patty Larkin's song "Good Thing" are about recognizing a valuable and rare relationship and being willing to fight for it. The singer has seen and experienced a lot in life, and as a result, they have become adept at identifying what is truly important, and they don't want to let it slip away from them. The opening verses suggest that the singer may have made mistakes in the past by pursuing temporary or superficial pleasures, but they now understand that they need to prioritize the "good thing" in their life. The chorus repeats the mantra that "it's a bad thing to let go," emphasizing the message that the singer is committed to holding onto something special.


Later in the song, the singer acknowledges that even though they may encounter many other people in life, they will never feel as comfortable or satisfied as they do when they're with this particular person. The lines "you may charge across / In a golden chariot, / But you will never be at home" suggest that the singer believes that true contentment comes from being with someone who truly understands them. The final verse is perhaps the most significant as it talks about the singer's realization that their relationship is "nothing less than perfect / In a less than perfect world." This line suggests that the singer recognizes the rarity of finding someone who is truly compatible and understands that they need to be willing to fight for it.


Line by Line Meaning

Well I've heard enough
I have gathered sufficient evidence and information.


And I've seen enough
I have witnessed enough with my own eyes.


And I know enough to know...
I am certain and confident in my knowledge.


I know a good thing when I see it
I am able to recognize and appreciate excellence and positivity.


And it's a bad thing to let go.
It would be a regrettable decision to lose something worthwhile.


Well I've been around
I have had a diversity of experiences and situations.


I've been up and down
I have experienced both success and failure.


Until I bent out of control.
I reached a point of instability and chaos.


With your world all in motion,
With your life in constant change,


Gotta put a ball
You need to impose a restriction,


And a chain on your soul.
To preserve your inner balance and harmony.


All those angels running,
All those benevolent beings exerting effort,


Picking up the pieces,
Gathering the broken fragments,


Putting back together
Rebuilding and restoring,


Hearts broke long ago.
Emotions that have been shattered in the past.


There will always be lovers
There will continuously exist individuals in relationships,


With borders of their own,
Who have their own boundaries and limitations,


And you may charge across
You may attempt to cross their lines,


In a golden chariot,
With your material possessions and wealth,


But you will never be at home
However, you will always feel disconnected and out of place.


'Cause I had dreams
Because I possessed personal aspirations,


Like distant thunder;
As loud as thunder echoing far away.


I had hope like a prayer unheard.
I had a desire for something unachieved and unfulfilled.


And this nothing less than perfect
And this, no less than something of utmost excellence,


In a less than perfect world.
In a world that is not ideal or flawless.


All those angels running,
All those benevolent beings exerting effort,


Picking up the pieces,
Gathering the broken fragments,


Putting back together
Rebuilding and restoring,


Hearts broke long ago.
Emotions that have been shattered in the past.


I know a good thing when I see it,
I am able to recognize and appreciate excellence and positivity.


And it's a bad thing to let go.
It would be a regrettable decision to lose something worthwhile.




Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Written by: ROBBEN FORD

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

@AzzamFarah

Well I've heard enough
And I've seen enough
And I know enough to know...
I know a good thing when I see it
And it's a bad thing to let go.

Well I've been around
I've been up and down
Until I bent out of control.
With your world all in motion,
Gotta put a ball
And a chain on your soul.

All those angels running,
Picking up the pieces,
Putting back together
Hearts broke long ago.
I know a good thing when I see it,
And it's a bad thing to let go

There will always be lovers
With borders of their own,
And you may charge across
In a golden chariot,
But you will never be at home

'Cause I had dreams
Like distant thunder;
I had hope like a prayer unheard.
And this nothing less than perfect
In a less than perfect world.

All those angels running,
Picking up the pieces,
Putting back together
Hearts broke long ago.
I know a good thing when I see it,



All comments from YouTube:

@markbajbuj7038

Just seen the movie

A true jewel ... Heart touching ...emotions all over the spots

@keithochsner5165

There's a summer music venue near Bayfield, Wisconsin, called Big Top Chautauqua, at which Ms. Larkin performed--opened for Emmy Lou Harris, actually--circa August '95. Amazing sold-out show beginning to end. My wife and I hosted Larkin and Harris, too, at our inn (Bayfield is a tourist mecca in summer), meeting Patty's mom the following morning. Such genuine, lovely people. Giving this a listen now reminds me fondly of that concert and the small part we played to make it a success. Happy Valentine's Day, Patty. You stole our hearts.

@coleymoke6709

Everyone needs to listen to this song at least once.

@annifanful1

I do like this song. Had not heard it before. It was on the movie"Random Hearts". GOOD! Shared it with my baby!!!!

@hfa89properties

Same here. I just watched "Random Heart", then, I came to look for the song.

@mikemacdavy8086

She is amazing. First saw her in the 1990's at the Great American Music Hall (San Francisco) and have loved her work ever since.

@macritis

Patty is just so wonderful!

@susanhesketh7101

Should be heard more. Superb song and singer.

@lostnfound777

a true artist. I own quite a few of her CD's and have listened to them all a myriad of times. Angels Running remains my favorite, but anything with her name on it is worth investigating/buying. Her CD's remain favorites of mine years and years after their release. The sonics are phenomenal, the writing mesmerizing, and the performances, beyond reproach.

@d01t18n52

what a sweet loving song !!

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