It's Not Meant To Be
Tame Impala Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I wanted her, I wanted her
But she doesn't like the life that I lead
She doesn't like the life that I lead
Doesn't like sand stuck on her feet
Or sitting around smoking weed
I must seem more like a friend in need
And I boast that it is meant to be
But, in all honesty, I don't have a hope in hell
I'm happy just to watch her move
And in all honesty, I don't have a hope in hell
I'm happy just to watch her move

And she doesn't like the friends that I make
Doesn't make friends for friendship's sake
She just gets bored sitting by the lake
Her soul won't surface and her heart won't ache
And I boast that it is meant to be

But, in all honesty, I don't have a hope in hell
I'm happy just to watch her move

And I thought they could cure his disease




But, in all honesty, he didn't have a hope in hell
Now we'll never see him move

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Tame Impala's "It Is Not Meant to Be" tells the story of a man who desires a woman but realizes that they are not compatible. Although he wants her, she does not share his interests in smoking weed or spending time lounging around. He recognizes that their views on life do not align, and although he believes that they are meant to be, he knows that it is not true. The man is content just watching her from afar and admiring her movements. The woman does not enjoy the company of the man's friends and does not make friends for the sake of it. Rather than taking pleasure in the simple things in life, she appears to be cold and unresponsive.


The lyrics speak to the universal experience of heartache and unrequited love. Although the man wants the woman, he recognizes that they do not have a future together. He resolves to continue watching her from afar, knowing that he cannot have her. The song touches on themes of loneliness, unfulfilled desires, and bemusement with life's mystery. The man recognizes that his advantage is being a spectre, which implies that he has developed newfound appreciation and respect for the woman he admires.


Line by Line Meaning

I wanted her, I wanted her
I had a strong desire to be with her


But she doesn't like the life that I lead
She doesn't enjoy the way I live my life


She doesn't like sand stuck on her feet
She dislikes feeling uncomfortable or dirty, like when getting sand in her shoes


Or sitting around smoking weed
She doesn't approve of my use of marijuana to relax


I must seem more like a friend in need
I come off as needy and dependent on her rather than a desirable partner


And I boast that it is meant to be
I try to convince myself and others that we are destined to be together


But, in all honesty, I don't have a hope in hell
I undeniably have no chance with her


I'm happy just to watch her move
I enjoy being around her and observing her even though it won't lead to anything more


And she doesn't like the friends that I make
She is disapproving of the people in my social circle


Doesn't make friends for friendship's sake
She doesn't bother making friends with people she doesn't see a connection with


She just gets bored sitting by the lake
She becomes uninterested and restless when not being actively engaged


Her soul won't surface and her heart won't ache
She doesn't have deep emotions or passions that are easy to reveal


And I thought they could cure his disease
I had hope that they could help someone overcome their problems or challenges


But, in all honesty, he didn't have a hope in hell
It was clear that the person had no chance of getting better or surviving


Now we'll never see him move
He has passed away, and we will never see him live or act again




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Kevin Parker

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@jonfavreau5154

It Is Not Meant To Be - Lyrics:

I wanted her, I wanted her
But she doesn't like the life that I lead
She doesn't like the life that I lead
Doesn't like sand stuck on her feet
Or sitting around smoking weed
I must seem more like a friend in need
And I boast that it is meant to be
But, in all honesty, I don't have a hope in hell
I'm happy just to watch her move
And in all honesty, I don't have a hope in hell
I'm happy just to watch her move
And she doesn't like the friends that I make
Doesn't make friends for friendship's sake
She just gets bored sitting by the lake
Her soul won't surface and her heart won't ache
And I boast that it is meant to be
But, in all honesty, I don't have a hope in hell
I'm happy just to watch her move
And I thought they could cure his disease
But, in all honesty, he didn't have a hope in hell
Now we'll never see him move



All comments from YouTube:

@cate972

This song is so beautifully sad. Loving someone you know you can’t be with but just appreciating them exsisting in your orbit.

@andrewmarcellis2007

Hey if you like this you should listen to The Doublejumps - The Garden, catchy psychedelia from New Zealand

@Kisuke323

People who had such an experience know this way too good.

@3gypt1an

If you've ever looked back at childhood and marveled at how much nicer it was back then, you might be struck with hiraeth .. a welsh word that doesn’t translate easily into English. It’s a faraway sickness to a faraway time or place you don’t know how to remember .. it’s your deep longing to where your spirit lives. . . . .

@owethusibiya4998

Definitely

@michaelotis223

Achingly relatable

12 More Replies...

@leonsalgeuro

it’s over, Kevin Parker has collected the four infinity albums

@Kavon365

Yes somebody notices I'm genuinely waiting for that very first ep that I know exist and can't find it anywhere

@marcocardia3960

@@Kavon365 i found this it may be what your looking for

https://youtu.be/xbimqyduACU

@Kavon365

@@marcocardia3960 sometimes the internet is better than life...

More Comments

More Versions