Maybe I'm Right
Pete Yorn Lyrics


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Cadillac Boy
And all he wants to do is work
How can you make him feel?
I was let down in your photographic whirl
I was in love with it
It's so much harder
Than this
So much harder
Than this
I was in the door
Didn't feel like doing work
We're staring out
We're starting now
You see me go
You feel like doing work
We're starting now
We're starving now
I let you go, you never put me out
Stop it now
Just stop now
And say, "I will"
Say, "I will"
Maybe I'm right
Maybe I'm right
Maybe I'm right on, right on, right on
You see me go and you feel like doing work
We're staring now
We're starting now
I let you go, you never put me out
Stop it now
Just stop now
And say, "I will"
Just say, "I will"
Maybe I'm right
Maybe I'm right
Maybe I'm right on, right on, right on
I said, "Hey, baby, baby, baby, I'll take you tonight"
And I'll see you on the other side, sugar
Your pleasant face, your crooked smile
Maybe tomorrow is a lifetime away

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Pete Yorn's song "Maybe I'm Right" seem to be about a relationship that may be on the rocks. The first lines mention a "Cadillac Boy" who wants to work but seems to be feeling down. The singer then talks about being let down in a "photographic whirl" which suggests he may have had some expectations that were not met. Despite that, he admits being in love with it, whatever "it" may be. The chorus "Maybe I'm right on, right on, right on" suggests that the singer is feeling confident about something, perhaps his view of the situation in the relationship. The rest of the verses are somewhat nonsensical but seem to be conveying a feeling of being stuck or not sure what to do. The line "maybe tomorrow is a lifetime away" could be interpreted as feeling like the resolution to the problems in the relationship may be far off.


The repetition of "we're starting now, we're starving now" adds to the sense of feeling stuck and is a piece of a larger theme in the song of doing work. There is also an interesting juxtaposition of wanting to do work, but not feeling up to it when at the door, while at the same time after seeing someone else go, feeling motivated to do work. The lines "I let you go, you never put me out, stop it now, just stop now, and say 'I will'" suggests that there may be some communication issues going on and perhaps the singer is feeling like they're not being heard. The song ends with an admission that things may not be resolved quickly, with "maybe tomorrow" being "a lifetime away".


Line by Line Meaning

Cadillac Boy
Referring to someone with an air of luxury and status


And all he wants to do is work
Despite his privileged background, he is willing to put in effort


How can you make him feel?
Asking how someone can inspire a sense of motivation


I was let down in your photographic whirl
Feeling disappointed by the superficiality of the situation


I was in love with it
Initially enamored by the glamour and allure


It's so much harder
Acknowledging the difficulty of the task


Than this
Than what was anticipated or expected


I was in the door
Just arriving at the scene


Didn't feel like doing work
Not initially motivated to start the task at hand


We're staring out
Pausing to take in the surroundings


We're starting now
Beginning to put in effort and work on the task


You see me go
Observing the progress being made


You feel like doing work
Motivated to put in effort alongside the other person


We're starving now
Working hard and feeling the intensity of the effort


I let you go, you never put me out
Allowing the other person to leave and not following them


Stop it now
Stopping to take a break or pause in the effort


Just stop now
Urging a cessation of activity or effort


And say, "I will"
Giving oneself a pep talk to continue putting in effort


Say, "I will"
Repeating the pep talk as a mantra


Maybe I'm right
Suggesting that one's instincts or decisions may be correct


Maybe I'm right
Repeating and reinforcing the idea of being correct


Maybe I'm right on, right on, right on
Emphasizing the idea of being on the right track or making the right choices


I said, "Hey, baby, baby, baby, I'll take you tonight"
Making a romantic or sexual advance towards someone


And I'll see you on the other side, sugar
Implying a potentially risky endeavor and promising a reward


Your pleasant face, your crooked smile
Appreciating the physical appearance of the other person


Maybe tomorrow is a lifetime away
Acknowledging the uncertainty of the future and the possibility of things changing




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Peter J. Yorn, Eric Johnson

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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