What Goes Around
Philip Selway Lyrics
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Look at you so complicated Playing games and planting doubts
Cut me up in conversation Roll your eyes and cross your arms
There you go you're always messing with things that are best left in the past
Do you cry in the night?
Do you sleep well at night?
Or do you Do you lye awake and fret all night?
Save your best face for the weekend, save your smile and your conscience too
Does anybody know whats happened in here? Well in time they'll see through you
So I've been going round in circles I've been trying to work you out
Look at you so complicated, playing games and planting doubts
Do you sleep well at night?
Do you cry in the night?
Do you sleep well at night?
Or do you, Do you lye awake and fret all night?
What goes around, comes around, comes around,
What goes around, comes around, comes around,
What goes around, comes around, comes around,
Oh sleep tight, Oh sleep tight
What goes around, comes around, comes around,
What goes around, comes around, comes around,
What goes around, comes around, comes around,
Oh sleep tight, oh sleep tight
Oh sleep tight
The song "What Goes Around" by Philip Selway is a reflection on the complexities of human relationships, particularly romantic relationships. The song acknowledges the difficulty in understanding one's partner and trying to navigate the games and doubts that can come with them. The lyrics are filled with questions asking if the subject of the song sleeps well at night, if they cry in the night, or if they stay awake fretting about their actions. The chorus repeatedly emphasizes the idea of karma, that what goes around comes around, suggesting that the subject's actions will eventually catch up with them.
One of the standout themes in the song is the idea of complexity. The subject is described as "complicated," and we see this complexity manifest in their tendency to play games, plant doubts, and mess with things best left in the past. This complexity is further emphasized by the use of repetition in the lyrics, with phrases like "going round in circles" and "what goes around comes around" repeating throughout the song.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been going round in circles, I've been trying to work you out
I've been trying to understand you, but you're too complex for me to figure out.
Look at you so complicated Playing games and planting doubts
You're playing manipulative games, trying to make me doubt myself and my feelings.
Cut me up in conversation Roll your eyes and cross your arms
You belittle and disrespect me in conversation and body language.
There you go you're always messing with things that are best left in the past
You keep bringing up past traumas and stirring up pain instead of moving forward and healing.
Do you sleep well at night?
Do you have a clear conscience about how you treat me?
Do you cry in the night?
Do you feel any emotion or guilt for how you treat me?
Save your best face for the weekend, save your smile and your conscience too
You put on a façade to look good in public, even though you know you treat me poorly.
Does anybody know what has happened in here? Well in time they'll see through you
People will eventually see how you truly are and what you're doing to me.
What goes around, comes around, comes around
Karma will catch up to you eventually.
Oh sleep tight
Sarcastic and menacing way of wishing someone good night, implying they won't be sleeping well due to their actions.
Contributed by Caroline W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
luchob19
this is great
Lorena Rosales
my favorite!!!! :O
Jose Antonio Garcia Pedrotti
Hola Lorena!
krista mul
A very happy birthday mr. Selway :-)
Andreas Martin Mørch
@tzjc24 Hmm.. At least, it could easily be interpreted as if.