Better By You Better Than Me
Spooky Tooth Lyrics
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You listen to the blood flowin' in my vein
You hear the teaching of the wind
Tell her what I'm like within
I can't find the words my mind is dim
It's better by you better than me
Guess you'll have to tell her how I tried
Tell her now I've got to go
Fight in the streets and guide the sword
Tell her the world's not much fallin' for
It's better by you better than me
It's better by you better than me
You can tell her what I want it to be
You can say what I only can see
It's better by you better than me
Guess I'll have to change my way of livin'
Only really know the way I've been
Guess I'll lean to fight and kill
Tell her not to wait until
Finds my blood upon her window sill
It's better by you better than me
It's better by you better than me
You can tell her what I want it to be
You can say what I only can see
It's better by you better than me
It's better by you better than me
You can say what I can see
You can tell her what I want it to be
It's better by you better than me
It's better by you
You know better than me
Yeah you can say what I only can see
The lyrics of "Better by You Better Than Me" invite interpretation, but some possible meanings could be that the singer is struggling to find the words to express his feelings to someone (perhaps a lover). He acknowledges that the listener understands and can convey what he cannot. He references the teaching of the wind, suggesting that there is wisdom to be heard in nature, and implies that the listener knows him deeply, hearing the blood flow in his veins.
The singer then asks the listener to tell the person about his inner turmoil, the "thoughts of hell" that he has suppressed for a long time. He suggests that he will have to change his way of living and learn to fight and kill, perhaps implying that he is struggling with inner demons or external oppression. He also warns the person not to wait until his blood is on her window sill, presumably referring to some sort of violent end. Throughout the song, the refrain "It's better by you better than me" is repeated, suggesting that the singer is in some way inferior to the listener and that the listener is better equipped to communicate his desires and feelings.
Line by Line Meaning
You can find a way to be my passion
You have the ability to become the driving force of my life
You listen to the blood flowin' in my vein
You pay close attention to my innermost feelings and emotions
You hear the teaching of the wind
You understand the lessons taught by nature
Tell her what I'm like within
Inform her about the way I am on the inside
I can't find the words my mind is dim
I am unable to express myself verbally due to lack of clarity in thoughts
It's better by you better than me
You are better equipped to communicate my thoughts than me
Guess you'll have to tell her how I tried
You have to narrate to her about the efforts that I have made in the past
To speak the thoughts of hell so long inside
To express the pent up negative emotions and feelings
Tell her now I've got to go
Inform her that I have to leave
Fight in the streets and guide the sword
Engage in battles and lead with courage
Tell her the world's not much fallin' for
Inform her about the bleak state of the world
It's better by you better than me
You have greater ability to convey the truth about the world than me
You can tell her what I want it to be
You can communicate what I aspire for
You can say what I only can see
You can articulate what I have envisioned yet failed to verbalize
Guess I'll have to change my way of livin'
I need to alter my lifestyle
Only really know the way I've been
I am only familiar with the way I have lived
Guess I'll lean to fight and kill
I will have to train myself to fight and kill
Tell her not to wait until
Advise her to take action soon
Finds my blood upon her window sill
Before she finds traces of my blood outside her home
It's better by you better than me
You are better suited to express what I want to communicate
You can say what I can see
You can convey the things I have imagined
You can tell her what I want it to be
You have the ability to communicate my aspirations
It's better by you better than me
You are better at expressing my thoughts than I am
It's better by you
You are better at conveying the message
You know better than me
You have superior knowledge and understanding
Yeah you can say what I only can see
You have the talent to articulate what I have imagined in my mind
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: GARY WRIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
johnny zell
You could find a way to ease my passion
You listen to the blood flow in my veins
You hear the teaching of the wind
Tell her why I'm alive within
I can't find the words My mind is dead
It's better by you better than me
Guess you'll have to tell her how I tried
To speak up thoughts I've held so inside
Tell her now I got to go
Out in the streets and down the shore
Tell her the world's not much living for
It's better by you better than me
Everybody
Everybody knows
Everybody
Everybody knows
Better by you better than me
You can tell what I want it to be
You can say what I only can see
It's better by you better than me
Guess I'll have to change my way of living
Don't wanna really know the way I feel
Guess I'll learn to fight and kill
Tell her not to wait until
They'll find my blood upon her windowsill?
It's better by you better than me
Everybody
Everybody knows
Everybody
Everybody knows
Better by you better than me
You can say what I only can see
You can tell what I want it to be
It's better by you better than me
Better by you better than me
You can tell what I want it to be
You can say way all they can see
Better by you better than me
Better by you better than me
You can say way all they can see
You can tell what I want it to be
That 70's Guitarist
I'd never heard either version of this song before today. That said, I'm still flabbergasted by the fact that Ray and Jay's mothers blamed their "suicide pact" on Judas Priest, and even sued them over it!
I mean, why on Earth would you sue a band for a song they didn't even write? That's just too bizarre for words!
From everything I've read about the case, those kids were severely fouled-up by their toxic home environments; one kid's mom had just been walked out on by her fourth husband, a man who routinely abused her son every chance he got, and the other kid's mom was an alcoholic who admitted to "worse than spanking" her son. (In my dictionary, that means "beating.") Is it any wonder those two poor, fouled-up kids started self-medicating?
Given the (very) long laundry list of drugs (including LSD, PCP, chrystal meth, cocaine, alcohol and goodness only knows what else!) they were abusing, I'm surprised it took as long as it did for the wheels to fall off. Those two boys were on a one-way express trip to nowhere, and they both knew it.
I feel sorry for the kids more than anyone else, but it sounds like their mothers were just as much to blame as anybody else in this tragedy, and certainly much more so than either Spooky Tooth or Judas Priest!
James Brent
Gary Wright - RIP. A great talent & super nice guy. Will be greatly missed.
countrypaul
Why this band never became "institutional" is beyond me. They had the talent, the songs, the production, the promotion. Still love them.
Nicholas Mulder
The best band not to have made it!!!!
Manny Ruiz
To my shame, I'm admitting that this is the first time hearing this version. I've heard the Judas version thousands of times.
Cl4rendon
No need to be ashamed - Priest`s version was actually more prominent.
I also recommend to listen to Peter Green`s "Green Manalishi" which is also quite good.
kenairockband
Samesies
Mike
Utube are you a good person by living waters
Dave Cherry
This is my first time hearing this version as well. I think I prefer the driving speed and intensity of the Priest version but this one has a nice eerie haunting quality and I enjoy the angst-ridden vocal. The man is obviously in pain!
OJA
My first time hearing it as well. Its definitely better than I expected. The singer is awesome.
tubal1
what a great voice. I am surprised this band is not so popular