Promises
Savage Garden;Darren Hayes Lyrics
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Little indulgence?
Listen to the hunter becoming
Hunted
Everyday there's a million advances
Don't be too forceful you'll ruin
Your chances
Well don't you know that time is a
That splinters against the wall?
But the picture is coming back
Now baby
And I want to take it all
Don't go making all these promises
You know you cannot keep
There's a time to play a king and a
Time to be a thief
Cause if you're making all these
Promises you know you cannot keep
You know time will be the thief and
Your fallen king end up alone
So let your body move a little bit closer
Silent like the sound proceeding a cyclone
Don't you know that powerful thinking
Can be a force you don't want
To relinquish?
Well don't you know that
They say hanging on will justify the wait?
But patience and elated wisdom
Don't share a common phrase
Don't go making all these promises
You know you cannot keep
There's a time to play a king and a
Time to be a thief
Cause if you're making all these
Promises you know you cannot keep
You know time will be the thief and
Your fallen king end up alone
Well I'm only hanging on for what
Goes down
I'm floating high and my feet don't
Touch the ground
I'd take advantage but I can't see
Through this charade
So don't you, don't go make it harder
That hell
Cause it comes down to the making
You'd better be damned sure you can
Take it
Hey baby
Don't go making all these promises
You know you cannot keep
There's a time to play a king and a
Time to be a thief
Cause if you're making all these
Promises you know you cannot keep
You know time will be the thief and
Your fallen king end up alone
Time will be the thief
And your fallen king will end up...
A fool, a fool, a lonely sorry fool
Oh baby, 'cause I told you baby
The lyrics of "Promises" by Savage Garden talk about the dangers of making empty promises, and also highlight the importance of enjoying life's pleasures while being cautious at the same time. The singer pleads with someone not to make promises they cannot keep; he compares the act of making false promises to being a king, which eventually leads to feeling alone and like a fool. He urges his lover to let their body move closer to him, but also warns about the dangerous consequences of powerful thinking.
The lyrics adopt a cautionary tone, highlighting the importance of being patient, cautious and self-aware. The singer acknowledges that while time is precious and should be enjoyed fully, it's also a fragile concept that breaks easily like broken glass if not handled with care. He notes that hanging on too tight can lead to justifying the wait, but that wisdom and patience don't always go hand in hand. He repeats himself throughout the song, emphasizing the need to not make false promises, or it will lead to disappointment and loneliness.
Line by Line Meaning
Well don't you know I need a
Little indulgence?
The singer desires some indulgence
Listen to the hunter becoming
Hunted
The situation has reversed and the hunter is now being hunted
Everyday there's a million advances
Don't be too forceful you'll ruin
Your chances
There are many opportunities, but one should not be too forceful in pursuing them
Well don't you know that time is a
Broken glass
That splinters against the wall?
Time is fragile and easily broken
But the picture is coming back
Now baby
And I want to take it all
The situation is improving and the artist wants to fully enjoy it
Don't go making all these promises
You know you cannot keep
There's a time to play a king and a
Time to be a thief
Do not make false promises; sometimes one must be ruthless to achieve their goals
Cause if you're making all these
Promises you know you cannot keep
You know time will be the thief and
Your fallen king end up alone
If you make promises you can't keep, time will take its toll and you'll be alone
So let your body move a little bit closer
Silent like the sound proceeding a cyclone
Move closer, but do so quietly like the calm before a storm
Don't you know that powerful thinking
Can be a force you don't want
To relinquish?
One should not give up powerful thinking
Well don't you know that
They say hanging on will justify the wait?
But patience and elated wisdom
Don't share a common phrase
While some may say that hanging on is worth it, patience and wisdom do not always agree
Well I'm only hanging on for what
Goes down
I'm floating high and my feet don't
Touch the ground
I'd take advantage but I can't see
Through this charade
So don't you, don't go make it harder
That hell
Cause it comes down to the making
You'd better be damned sure you can
Take it
Hey baby
The singer is waiting for something to happen, but is enjoying the current high; the singer is cautious of the current charade and warns against making things harder
Time will be the thief
And your fallen king will end up...
A fool, a fool, a lonely sorry fool
Oh baby, 'cause I told you baby
If you make false promises, time will take its toll and you'll end up alone and foolish
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: STEPHEN PORTER, KRISTY PATRICIA CLARK, PETER IAN JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind