Flashback
The Bones Lyrics


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Hey man what ya trying to be now,
Can't you see the one you want to see
Some saying how to act, girl saying what to wear
Don't you wanna be yourself no matter what, no matter where
Do you wanna carry on doing what others want you to

All you wanna do,
Is to live your life the way you want to do
All you wanna do,
Has been taken away, stolen away from you

Looking back, there were promises made then
Things that was said man
Searching for the friends that made you
The things that you did then
What ever happened to the guy you used to love
The one that used to care
So far away from yourself, from your friends
From your path from your life style

All you wanna do,
Is to live your life the way you want to do




All you wanna do,
Has been taken away, stolen away from you

Overall Meaning

Flashback by The Bones is a song about finding yourself and living your life on your own terms. In the first verse, the subject of the song is questioning why someone is trying to be something they're not just to please others. They encourage the person to be themselves and not let others dictate how they act or what they wear. The chorus repeats the sentiment that all the person wants is to live their life the way they want to, but some outside force has taken that away from them. The second verse looks back on promises made and friendships that were once strong. The subject wonders what happened to the person they used to be, the one who cared and stayed true to themselves. They feel far away from not only themselves but from their friends and their chosen lifestyle.


Flashback is a poignant song that speaks to the idea of staying true to oneself and not getting caught up in pleasing others. The lyrics encourage the listener to find their own path and not let outside pressure take away their desires and dreams. The song uses powerful imagery to convey this message, with lines like "Do you wanna carry on doing what others want you to" and "Has been taken away, stolen away from you." The song is a reminder that it's never too late to find yourself and pursue the life you want.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey man what ya trying to be now,
What is your current goal in life and who are you trying to become


Can't you see the one you want to see
Can't you realize that the person you want to be is already you


Some saying how to act, girl saying what to wear
You're being told by others what to do and how to present yourself


Don't you wanna be yourself no matter what, no matter where
Wouldn't you rather be your true self, regardless of your surroundings or circumstances?


Do you wanna carry on doing what others want you to
Are you content with following others' expectations instead of pursuing your own desires?


Looking back, there were promises made then
In the past, there were commitments and agreements made


Things that was said man
Words that were spoken


Searching for the friends that made you
Seeking out the people who influenced and shaped you into who you are


The things that you did then
The actions and choices you made in the past


What ever happened to the guy you used to love
What became of the person you used to admire and appreciate


The one that used to care
The one who was once compassionate and concerned


So far away from yourself, from your friends
You've become disconnected from your true self and those who matter to you


From your path from your life style
You've veered away from the course and way of life you once followed


All you wanna do,
Your only desire is


Is to live your life the way you want to do
To live life on your own terms and to fulfill your own aspirations


Has been taken away, stolen away from you
Your freedom to live your own life has been unjustly confiscated




Writer(s): Marcus Karl Petersson, Jonas Andersen, Fredrik Andersen, Hannes Carl Norda Copyright: Warner/Chappell Music Scandinavia AB, Pama Music Publishing

Contributed by Ethan F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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