I Wanna Know
Robert Earl Keen Lyrics
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A little time that we can spend?
Open up and let me in
And share some memories
People in a hurry
Every day goes by so fast
No one takes the time to ask
[Chorus:]
I wanna know
Did you father own an automobile
Or two-horse carriage with wood spoke wheels?
I hear you used to walk to school seven miles a day
Did you ever ride a railroad train
And the very first time you saw a plane
Did you think the world had gone insane?
Tell me what you got to say
I want to know
Words can paint a picture
Sharper than a photograph
I know that you can take me back
To times I've never seen
Got a lot of questions
There's so much I want to learn
You can make the pages turn
Living history
[Chorus]
Have you got a minute
A little time that we can spend?
Open up and let me in
Share some memories
The lyrics of Robert Earl Keen's song "I Wanna Know" express a longing for connection and a desire to learn from the wisdom and experiences of the past. The singer is reaching out to someone who has lived through different times and asking them to share their memories and insights. The opening lines emphasize the singer's eagerness and the importance of taking the time to connect with others. The use of the word "share" implies a mutual exchange of ideas and emotions, as the singer wants to give as well as receive.
The second verse highlights the fast pace of modern life and the lack of attention paid to the past. The lyric "No one takes the time to ask" suggests that people have become disconnected from history and are focused solely on the present. The chorus then launches into a series of questions, each designed to elicit memories and stories from the past. The questions range from the mundane (did your father own a car?) to the more extraordinary (did you ever ride a railroad train?) but all of them serve as a way to explore the singer's curiosity about the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Have you got a minute
Do you have a brief moment of your time that we can utilize for our conversation?
A little time that we can spend?
Can you afford to spare a tiny period to be with me?
Open up and let me in
Allow me to enter your world and discover deeper about you.
And share some memories
Recount the great moments that you've experienced in the past with me.
People in a hurry
Individuals tend to be rushing due to the fast-paced society we currently have.
Every day goes by so fast
Each day passes quickly, leaving little room for extra time.
No one takes the time to ask
Seldom do people even have the time to ask inquiries anymore.
How it used to be
How things used to occur in the past.
I wanna know
I'm curious to learn.
Did your father own an automobile
Did your dad have a car that he owned?
Or two-horse carriage with wood spoke wheels?
Perhaps he had a horse-drawn carriage with wooden wheels?
I hear you used to walk to school seven miles a day
I've heard that you've walked seven miles to school every day.
Did you ever ride a railroad train
Have you ever been on a train?
And the very first time you saw a plane
How did you react when you saw an aircraft for the first time?
Did you think the world had gone insane?
Did you ever think that the world had gone crazy by having something like a plane?
Tell me what you got to say
I'm intrigued to hear what you have to state.
I want to know
I'm excited and eager to learn.
Words can paint a picture
Words have a unique ability to create an image in your mind.
Sharper than a photograph
More detailed and precise than a picture.
I know that you can take me back
I'm confident that you could take me back in time.
To times I've never seen
To periods that I haven't lived through.
Got a lot of questions
I have many curiosities.
There's so much I want to learn
There's an immense amount of knowledge that I desire to attain.
You can make the pages turn
You have the power to fill in the missing pieces and make the story complete.
Living history
The embodiment of historical facts and knowledge.
Have you got a minute
Do you have a brief moment of your time that we can utilize for our conversation?
A little time that we can spend?
Can you afford to spare a tiny period to be with me?
Open up and let me in
Allow me to enter your world and discover deeper about you.
Share some memories
Recount the great moments that you've experienced in the past with me.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: FRED KOLLER, R. EARL KEEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind