Yorn started as a drummer who also played guitar. In 1990, he was drumming for his band in a high school talent contest when someone suggested he sing the Replacements song "Talent Show." That went over so well, a competing band asked him to sing Neil Young’s "Rockin' In the Free World" with them.
He was first recognized when the Farrelly brothers picked "Strange Condition" for their film Me, Myself & Irene.
He has gained increasing popularity following the use of his song "Just Another" on popular WB television show Dawson's Creek.
Another of his songs, Murray was used in the credits of the film Igby Goes Down
The song "Undercover" was used in the first Spiderman movie and appears on the soundtrack.
The song "Lose You" was used in the closing of an episode of House on Fox.
For Nancy
Pete Yorn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's not the way you would have wanted to be
Convince yourself that everything is alright
'Cos it already is
Don't sell your heart and break just anyone
I want to run with you through moorland fields
Convince yourself that everything is alright'Cos it already is
'Cos it already is
So take your lessons hard and stay with him
When your car crash comes, don't be misled
Convince yourself that everything is alright
'Cos it already is
'Cos it already is
So take your lessons hard and stay with him
And when your car crash comes, don't be misled
Convince yourself that everything is alright
'Cos it already is
Yeah it already is
So take him home
So take him home
So take him home
Take him, take him home
Take him, take him home
The lyrics to Pete Yorn's song For Nancy are quite emotional and introspective. He seems to be addressing someone, possibly a woman he once had feelings for, who has told him that he cannot stay with her. The first verse suggests that this news is not what she would have wanted and that it's difficult for him to accept. However, he tries to convince himself that everything is alright because "it already is." This repetition of "convinced yourself that everything is alright" seems to suggest that he's trying to reassure himself that he'll be okay, despite the disappointment he may be feeling.
In the second verse, he warns her not to sell her heart and break just anyone. It's unclear whether he's talking about himself or someone else, but he seems to be urging her to be careful with her heart. He then says "I want to run with you through moorland fields," which suggests that he still has feelings for her and wishes they could be together. However, he repeats the refrain "convince yourself that everything is alright" once again, perhaps to remind himself that he's accepted that they cannot be together.
In the final verse, he tells her to stay with the person she's currently with and to take her lessons hard. He advises her not to be misled when her car crash comes, which could be interpreted as a metaphor for a difficult or painful time in her life. Once again, he urges her to convince herself that everything is alright because "it already is."
Overall, the song seems to be a bittersweet reflection on a past relationship and the attempts to move on and find peace with the way things are.
Line by Line Meaning
And when you said I could not stay with you
When you told me I couldn't stay with you
That's not the way you would have wanted to be
You didn't mean to hurt me
Convince yourself that everything is alright
Try to believe that everything is okay
'Cos it already is
Because it already is
Don't sell your heart and break just anyone
Don't give your love to just anyone and end up hurt
I want to run with you through moorland fields
I want to be with you and experience the beauty of nature
So take your lessons hard and stay with him
Don't give up when things get tough in your relationship
When your car crash comes, don't be misled
When things go wrong, don't lose your way
So take him home
Take him back to your heart
Take him, take him home
Make him a permanent part of your life
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Peter J. Yorn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@420fries
And when you said I could not stay with you
That's not the way you would have wanted to be
Convince yourself that everything is alright
'Cos it already is
Don't sell your heart and break just anyone
I want to run with you through moorland fields
Convince yourself that everything is alright
'Cos it already is
'Cos it already is
So take your lessons hard and stay with him
When your car crash comes, don't be misled
Convince yourself that everything is alright
'Cos it already is
'Cos it already is
So take your lessons hard and stay with him
And when your car crash comes, don't be misled
Convince yourself that everything is alright
'Cos it already is
Yeah it already is
So take him home
So take him home
So take him home
Take him, take him home
Take him, take him home
@irweaponx
This song brings back a delicious pain in my heart, makes me go back to when I lost my first love. One of the greatest albums you'll ever listen to from beginning to end, thank you Mr. Yorn, I've bought the CD at least 5 different times from handing it out to others and wear and tear. It's such a beautiful arrangement.
@stranger-hascandy8600
This song brings me back to MY first lost love! And the misheard lyrics she wrote in a card to me - “I want to run with you through more than fields,” (instead of moorland fields).
The achy irony of taking her lessons and staying with him. Yep. She did!
TWENTY YEARS later, it still comes back. Love hits hard, my friend.
@cordelletsitty4734
Seen himself many times in Tempe/Scottsdale, I too remember it as a good lost. Such a masterpiece the album was
@tommy7743
Me2
@garrettsouthmayd1722
We all burned and healed from this song. It is beautiful.
@DreadKingSaucer
I agree. One of the best albums I've ever experienced. This song got me out of my depression after my parents died in 2001. It already is.
@courtneytheriault5705
20 years ago, this song drove me to figure out a meaningful relationship. 20 years later, it's doing it again.
@The4thWatchman
Run, run, run....❤
@CasiodorusRex
Seriously underrated song.
@cellistry
seriously! I got the musicforthemorningafter the year it came out, and it's my all-time indie pop fave.