Who's to Say
The Beach Lyrics


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I saw you tear the land apart
A witness from above

I stayed away to watch it all
and all the oceans were filled with blood

But who's to say when the worlds goes round
And who's to say when your love goes down

And who's to say that it can't be done
And who's to say when the war is won

But I'd like to know
If you would let me show you

Yeah I like to know, just want
you let me show you

You are
You should be loved
Ohhh
You are
You should be loved

I jumped in to the open sky
Do anything to feel alive

Because I just seem to walk alone and barely even holding strong
But who's to say that it can't be done
And who's to say when the war is won

And who's to say when your love is here
And who's to say when the world is clear

But I'd like to know
If I could let you show me
And I like to know why won't you let me show you
Yeah I'd like to know
why won't you let me show you

Because now I need it
Now I'm desperate for you
You should be loved

But now I need it
Now I'm desperate for it all

But now I need it
Now I'm desperate for it all

But now I need it
Now I'm desperate for it all
Ohh

But you
You should be loved

Just who
You are





You should be loved

Overall Meaning

The song "Who's to Say" by The Beach is about witnessing destruction and chaos from afar, and questioning the nature of the world and if love can conquer all. The first verse describes a person observing from above as someone destroys the land and causes the oceans to fill with blood. The singer questions who has the authority to say when the world turns, when love falls apart, when war ends, and when love can conquer all. Despite the chaos, the singer expresses a desire to show someone love.


In the second verse, the singer jumps into the sky to feel alive because they feel like they are barely clinging on alone. Again, the singer questions who has the authority to say when love is present and the world is clear. The chorus reiterates that the person being addressed should be loved, and the singer is desperate for it all, but the person being addressed won't let them show how.


Line by Line Meaning

I saw you tear the land apart
As an observer from above, I saw that you caused destruction and damage to the Earth.


A witness from above
I had a vantage point from above where I could witness everything that happened.


I stayed away to watch it all
Instead of getting directly involved, I chose to observe from a distance.


And all the oceans were filled with blood
The destruction caused by you led to widespread devastation including the turning of the oceans into blood-red color.


But who's to say when the worlds goes round
No one can predict the exact timing or outcome of events that take place in the world.


And who's to say when your love goes down
Similarly, the timing and unpredictability of the downfall of someone's love cannot be predicted or foreseen.


And who's to say that it can't be done
There is no one who can claim with certainty that something is impossible to achieve.


And who's to say when the war is won
The unpredictable nature of war makes it impossible to predict the timing of its conclusion.


But I'd like to know If you would let me show you
I am willing and eager to share my perspective and thoughts with you if you are open to listening.


Yeah I like to know, just want you let me show you
I am hoping that you will be open to my ideas and allow me to share them with you.


You are You should be loved Ohhh You are You should be loved
You are a valuable person who deserves to be loved and cared for.


I jumped in to the open sky
I took a risk and acted impulsively for the sake of feeling alive and experiencing something new.


Do anything to feel alive
I was willing to take risks and go to great lengths to have a fulfilling and exciting experience.


Because I just seem to walk alone and barely even holding strong
I often feel alone and struggle to maintain my composure and resilience in the face of challenges.


But who's to say that it can't be done
Despite the challenges, there is no reason to believe that it is impossible to overcome them and find success.


And who's to say when the war is won
Similarly to before, the unpredictable nature of war makes it impossible to predict its conclusion.


And who's to say when your love is here
Just like the unpredictability of war, the timing of the arrival of love cannot be predicted with certainty.


And who's to say when the world is clear
No one can predict the timing or clarity of events happening in the world.


But I'd like to know If I could let you show me
I am open to learning from you and hearing your perspective if you are willing to share it.


And I like to know why won't you let me show you
I am curious as to why you are not open to hearing my thoughts and ideas.


Because now I need it Now I'm desperate for you You should be loved
I am in a position where I truly need love and care, and I believe that you are someone who should be loved deeply.


But now I need it Now I'm desperate for it all
I am in a position where I am desperate for everything that love and care can bring.


But you You should be loved
You are someone who deserves to be loved and cherished deeply.


Just who You are
You are unique and have a valuable perspective and individuality that should be recognized and cherished.




Contributed by Nathaniel E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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