Ralph McTell is an English singer/songwriter and acoustic guitar player who… Read Full Bio ↴Ralph McTell is an English singer/songwriter and acoustic guitar player who has been an influential figure on the UK folk scene since the 1960s.
Ralph McTell is probably best known for the song Streets of London which has been covered by over a hundred artists around the world. From Clare to Here has proved almost as popular, during a long and continuing recording and performing career.
McTell's guitar style has been influenced by many of the USA's country blues 'Piedmont- style' guitar players of the early 20th century, including Blind Blake and Blind Willie McTell, from whom he took his name.

I Don't Think About You
Ralph McTell Lyrics

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Not a day goes by
When I don't think about you
Wonder how you're doing still
Not a night goes by
When I don't dream about you
I don't think one ever will

Guess by now you'd think I ought to know

Maybe I just love the holding on
And I won't let go
But when I put it this way i can truly say
That I don't dream about you

Not a morning comes
I don't wait for a letter
To tell me that you're doing fine
Not an evening comes
I don't hope for a phone call
To tell me that you've changed your mind

I guess by now you'd think I ought to know
Maybe I just love the holding on
And I won't let go
But when I put it this way i can truly say
That I don't wait for a phone call

Guess by now you'd think I ought to know
Well, maybe I just love the holding on
And I won't let go when I put it this way
I can truly say that I don't think
About you

Not a month goes by
When I don't think I see you
Somewhere on a crowded street
Not a year goes by
That I don't think that somewhere
Sometime we are bound to meet

Guess by now you'd think I ought to know
Well, maybe I just love the holding on
And I won't let go
But when I put it this way i can truly say

That I don't wait and I don't dream
And I don't think about you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ralph McTell's song "I Don't Think About You" convey a profound sense of longing and reminiscence. The singer expresses how thoughts of the person they are singing about consume their mind both day and night, indicating a lingering attachment and emotional investment in their past relationship. Despite the passage of time, the memories of this individual remain omnipresent, suggesting that their presence continues to hold a significant place in the singer's heart.

The recurring refrain of not being able to stop thinking about or dreaming of this person highlights the enduring impact they have had on the singer. The uncertainty of whether they will ever cease dwelling on these thoughts adds a layer of complexity to the emotional turmoil depicted in the song. The lyric "Maybe I just love the holding on" suggests a reluctance to let go of the memories and emotions tied to the person in question, hinting at a struggle to move on while simultaneously cherishing the connection they once shared.

The yearning for communication and the hope of a reunion are expressed through the references to waiting for a letter or a phone call. These gestures symbolize a desire for reconciliation or closure, indicating a willingness to rekindle the relationship or at least gain some form of closure. The repeated emphasis on these acts of waiting underscores the singer's sense of anticipation and longing, underscoring the depth of their emotional attachment.

The cyclical nature of the singer's thoughts, from day to night, morning to evening, month to year, underscores the enduring nature of their feelings. The lyrics suggest that despite the passing of time and the inevitability of encountering this person again, the singer remains unable to fully detach from the memories and emotions evoked by their presence. The repeated assertion that they do not wait, dream, or think about this person belies the underlying truth that their thoughts are consumed by them, encapsulating the poignant and bittersweet nature of unresolved emotions and unfulfilled hopes.

Line by Line Meaning

Not a day goes by
Every single day

When I don't think about you
I can't stop thinking about you

Wonder how you're doing still
I wonder how you're doing

Not a night goes by
Every single night

When I don't dream about you
I dream about you

I don't think one ever will
I don't think I'll ever stop

Not a morning comes
Every single morning

I don't wait for a letter
I wait for a letter

Not an evening comes
Every single evening

I don't hope for a phone call
I hope for a phone call

I guess by now you'd think I ought to know
You might think I should know by now