We Used to Be So
Stephen Duffy & The Lilac Time Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I sang your song as you lay crying
Do you believe that I'm not trying?
You didn't ask for me to wake you
Nor did you think that this would break you
How long I wondered would it take you
To walk away
Oh, and if you go
I don't know if I can carry on
What went wrong?
We used to be so
Have you read of 'Fitzgerald's descent'?
Have you seen' Eat the Document'?
I know you've heard Tim Hardin?s lament
Haven't you?
Well, I'm through with living on eight percent
I don't want to wonder where life went
You and me, honey, we were meant
To say we do
Oh, and if you go
I don't know if I can carry on
What went wrong?
We used to be so
I woke up the day the day you went away
Wishing that I was dead
If you make it through
And I pray to god you do
Forget everything I said
We used to be so
In the opening lines of Stephen Duffy & The Lilac Time's song "We Used to Be So," the singer reflects on a time when everything seemed perfect between him and his partner. He recalls a morning when he sang her a song as she lay crying, and he wonders aloud whether she believes that he's not really trying to make things right again. It's clear from the lyrics that something has gone wrong in their relationship, but the singer is determined to win back his love.
The second verse of the song takes a melancholy turn as the singer makes reference to various cultural touchstones that reflect his own disillusionment with the world. He asks if his partner has read about F. Scott Fitzgerald's decline or seen the Bob Dylan documentary "Eat the Document," and he notes that she must have heard Tim Hardin's famous lament. The singer laments his own lack of direction and desire to live a fuller life, saying that he's "through with living on eight percent" and that he wants to find meaning with his partner.
Line by Line Meaning
Early one morning, the sun was shining
It was a morning full of sunshine
I sang your song as you lay crying
You were crying and I sang the song that was special to you
Do you believe that I'm not trying?
Do you really think I'm not trying hard enough?
You didn't ask for me to wake you
You didn't request me to wake you up
Nor did you think that this would break you
You didn't anticipate that this would shatter you
How long I wondered would it take you
I wondered how much time it would take for you
To walk away
To leave for good
Oh, and if you go
If you leave
I don't know if I can carry on
I'm not sure if I can continue to live
What went wrong?
What caused things to fall apart?
We used to be so
We were once so close and happy
Have you read of 'Fitzgerald's descent'?
Have you read about Fitzgerald's downfall?
Have you seen' Eat the Document'?
Have you watched 'Eat the Document'?
I know you've heard Tim Hardin?s lament
I'm aware that you've listened to Tim Hardin's heartbroken song
Haven't you?
Isn't that true?
Well, I'm through with living on eight percent
I'm done with barely scraping through life
I don't want to wonder where life went
I don't want to be uncertain about how my life turned out
You and me, honey, we were meant
You and I were destined
To say we do
To make a lifelong commitment to each other
I woke up the day the day you went away
I woke up on the day you left me
Wishing that I was dead
I felt like I was better off dead
If you make it through
If you survive this
And I pray to god you do
And I hope and pray that you do
Forget everything I said
Please forget all the hurtful things I said
We used to be so
We were once so close and happy
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: STEPHEN DUFFY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Miguel
Hard to believe how certain bands didn't achieve the success that they deserved. Lilac Time is certainly one of those. I'm 56 years old now, in 2022, although I heard this for the first time back on the nineties. Lilac Time is pure and timeless listening pleasure. The quality of lyrics and music should have put this band up on the very top.
Barry Gaynor
Great album.
Ernesto Jara Zegarra
definitely a beautiful song by Stephen Duffy!!!
heddecatamer
Fucking good song. Why it only has 2,262 views is beyond me. It saddens me to know that this song has less views and listeners then Jason Derulo who can't sing a note.
witchslaugh
Wow thanks for posting this. I'm a big fan but I've not heard it. Interesting the harmonies towards the end sound a little like Low's Silver Rider (murderer ep version) which was 6 years after this.
David C Kendall
Gorgeous and perfect!
Cristina Daniel
lovely song
Stefan Falquet
Memories...
Ramananda Kumar Janamanchi
Good One