Over My Shoulder
The Bad Examples Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I wait by my pillow for your footsteps
Echoing up to my door
Afraid that you`ll think I'll be waiting
I get up and I lock the door
I get up and I lock the door
I'm waiting for summer
But winter keeps on whispering in my ear
I say I don`t love you
But sometimes I wish that you were here

[Chorus]
And I got a feeling our love is over
But I keep on looking over my shoulder

My stereo calls me
But all of the records have been played before
Dreaming of loving you
Waking and I don`t love you anymore

[Chorus]

So many nights together
Now I'm here alone
I wait for you one last time
But I know that we can`t go back

[Chorus]

I wake in the darkness
But the footsteps are in my imagination
My TV's white hissing
Has replaced all my midnight animation
And I got a feeling our love is over
But I keep on looking over my shoulder

I keep on looking over my shoulder,




I got a feeling our love is over
But I keep on looking over my shoulder

Overall Meaning

The Bad Examples's song Over My Shoulder is about the after-effects of a failed relationship. The main character portrayed in the song is waiting for his former lover to come back to him, but he knows deep down that the love they shared is gone forever. He waits for her to come over to his place and knocks the door, but he is hesitant and torn between his desires and his self-respect. He is afraid that if she sees him waiting for her, she will assume that he is still in love with her and can't move on. So, instead of risking his pride, he gets up and locks the door, giving up hope of reconciliation.


The lyrics further reveal that the singer is struggling to come to terms with the reality of their broken relationship. Although he claims that he doesn't love her anymore, he is still holding onto the hope that they may eventually get back together. The winter season symbolizes the emotional coldness and distance between the two lovers, while the summer represents the warmth and affection that they once shared. However, no matter how hard he tries to forget, memories of their love keep haunting him, and he can't help but keep looking over his shoulder.


In addition, the song highlights the pain of separation and loneliness that comes after the end of a relationship. The singer's stereo, which once brought him happiness and joy, now feels empty and repetitive. He finds himself dreaming of loving her again but is forced to wake up to the harsh reality that he doesn't love her anymore. He is now alone, waiting for her to come back, even though he knows that it's impossible. The song ends with him acknowledging that he needs to move on as he wakes up from the illusion of her return.


Line by Line Meaning

I wait by my pillow for your footsteps
I eagerly wait for you to arrive at my doorstep, hoping to hear your footsteps echoing up to my door.


Echoing up to my door
Your footsteps would make a distinct sound as you approach my door, which I long to hear.


Afraid that you`ll think I'll be waiting
I fear that you may misunderstand my eagerness and think that I am always waiting for you.


I get up and I lock the door
Due to my fear of seeming too available, I force myself to get up and lock the door to make it seem like I'm not constantly waiting for you.


I'm waiting for summer
I'm waiting for a time when things will be better, and our relationship may become stronger.


But winter keeps on whispering in my ear
However, negative thoughts keep creeping up in my mind, making me feel unsure and doubtful about our future together.


I say I don`t love you
Out of my own insecurity and fear of rejection, I sometimes say that I don't love you, even though it's not true.


But sometimes I wish that you were here
Despite my doubts and fears, deep down, I still long for your company and presence in my life.


And I got a feeling our love is over
I have a strong inner sense that our love has reached its end and that our relationship is over.


But I keep on looking over my shoulder
Nevertheless, I can't help but keep checking and looking back, hoping to see a glimmer of hope.


My stereo calls me
My stereo seems to be a comforting presence, helping me to deal with my loneliness and heartache.


But all of the records have been played before
However, even my favorite music can't distract me from the reality that I've been through these feelings of heartbreak before.


Dreaming of loving you
I still have dreams of being with you, and it seems so real and vivid in my mind.


Waking and I don`t love you anymore
Yet, when I wake up, I'm faced with the harsh truth that my feelings for you have changed, and I don't love you anymore.


So many nights together
We spent so many beautiful and intimate nights together, which fill me with bittersweet memories.


Now I'm here alone
However, now I find myself alone, and it's a stark contrast from the times we shared together.


I wait for you one last time
Part of me still holds onto the hope that you'll come back one more time, and I wait eagerly for that moment.


But I know that we can't go back
Despite my longing, I'm also aware that we can never go back to the way things were before and I must accept this reality.


I wake in the darkness
In the middle of the night, I wake up alone in the darkness, consumed by my thoughts and feelings.


But the footsteps are in my imagination
Even though I hope and wish to hear your footsteps, they are only in my imagination, not in reality.


My TV's white hissing
The sound of my static-filled TV provides some background noise, but it can't fill the void of your absence.


Has replaced all my midnight animation
Instead of being animated and full of life in the middle of the night, I'm left numb and empty, with only the TV for company.


I keep on looking over my shoulder
Despite everything, I can't help but keep looking back, hoping that I might see you one more time.


I got a feeling our love is over
Deep down, I know that our love has ended and that we must move on from each other.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Michael Holbrook Penniman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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