I Wonder If I Care as Much
The Everly Brothers Lyrics


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I wonder if I care as much
As I did before

Last night I cried myself to sleep
For the one that makes me weep
I dried my eyes to greet the day
And wondered why I had to pay
The tears that I have shed by day
Give relief and wash away
The memory of the night before
I wonder if I'll suffer more

I wonder if I care as much
As I did before

My pride is made to say "Forgive"
And take the blame for what you did
It's your mistake I'm thinking of
I wonder if I'm still in love

My heart can't thrive on misery
My life, it has no destiny
When things get more than I can bear
I ask myself, Do I still care?

I wonder if I care as much
As I did before ( fade )





I wonder if I care as much
As I did before

Overall Meaning

The Everly Brothers’ song I Wonder If I Care as Much is a classic ode to heartbreak and the question of whether or not one’s love can survive. The song is about a lover who is questioning if they are still in love with their partner after being hurt. The first verse shows how the lover is trying to process their emotions by crying and washing away their tears before starting a new day, but still questioning why they have to go through this pain. The second verse highlights how the lover’s pride is stopping them from fully confronting the situation and they are struggling to find a resolution to their heartache. The repeated chorus, “I wonder if I care as much as I did before” shows the internal battle the lover is dealing with in whether or not to continue loving their partner.


The lyrics of the song are quite relatable for anyone who has gone through heartbreak. The song explores the emotional turmoil, grief, and confusion a person goes through when a relationship ends. The repeated line, “I wonder if I care as much” underscores the theme of the song beautifully. It highlights how one may not be sure of their feelings and is questioning the depth of their love for their partner. The song's message is one of relatable pathos that strikes a chord with anyone who has suffered heartbreak.


Line by Line Meaning

I wonder if I care as much
Questioning whether the singer still has the same level of emotional attachment as before.


As I did before
Comparing present feelings to past feelings.


Last night I cried myself to sleep
Expressing deep sadness and emotional pain.


For the one that makes me weep
Referring to the cause of the emotional pain.


I dried my eyes to greet the day
Putting on a brave face despite inner turmoil.


And wondered why I had to pay
Questioning the fairness of the situation.


The tears that I have shed by day
Referring to ongoing emotional distress.


Give relief and wash away
Suggesting that crying can be cathartic and help to alleviate some of the pain.


The memory of the night before
Referring to the previous night's emotional turmoil.


I wonder if I'll suffer more
Questioning the potential for future pain.


My pride is made to say "Forgive"
Acknowledging the possibility of forgiveness.


And take the blame for what you did
Willingness to take responsibility for any part the artist played in the situation.


It's your mistake I'm thinking of
Placing blame on the other person.


I wonder if I'm still in love
Questioning the singer's feelings for the other person.


My heart can't thrive on misery
Acknowledging the unhealthiness of ongoing emotional pain.


My life, it has no destiny
Feeling lost and lacking direction due to emotional turmoil.


When things get more than I can bear
Expressing feeling overwhelmed by the situation.


I ask myself, Do I still care?
Questioning whether the emotional pain is worth it.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Donald Everly

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@nightriderpaul7079

I Wonder If I Care As Much
As I did before........

Last night I cried myself to sleep
For the one that makes me weep,
I dried my eyes to greet the day,
And wondered why I have to pay.

The tears that I have shed by day
Give relief and wash away,
The mem´ry of the life before,
I wonder if I´ll suffer more.

I Wonder If I Care As Much
As I did before........

My pride is made to say forgive,
and take the blame for what you did,
It´s your mistake I´m thinkin´ of,
I wonder if I´m still in love.

My heart can´t thrive on misery,
My life it has no destiny,
When things get more
Than I can bear,
I ask myself ´Do I still care?´

I Wonder If I Care As Much
As I did before........



@miltonmoore5294

Loved their pop
and rock, but they
would have stayed
on top much longer if they had
switched to hard
core country in
the early seventies
and recorded lots
of the great country songs that went to everyone but them! (How about the way Don pronounced care
as "keer!") LOVE that plaintive, restrained wailing sound produced by the pedal steel guitar.



All comments from YouTube:

@leslierobertson4734

Just love EB's brand of musical sweetness!
My Dad, now resting with The Lord, grew up in Knoxville, TN, and spoke fondly of knowing The Everly Brothers there in the neighborhood (between 1953 and '55, I believe). I believe Daddy as well as TEB were special artistic souls, and I am not sure if the world has very many left of the classy true gentlemen they were; I do know our world would be a better place with more gentlemen of their wonderful kind.
Miss you Daddy so much. Think of you often and am glad to now enjoy the music of TEB, as their music feels like a type of Heavenly Bridge to You. 🙏🌏💖✝️✝️✝️

@arielustig7244

The Everly’s determineren my taste and standard in music for life and in times of trouble I always fall back on them - for ever gratefull guys

@gailcromie4476

Two beautiful guys.
We were lucky to have them both on this earth.
Rest in Peace Phil and Don Everly.
Thank you for your music

@v-town1980

You can keep Motown. I'll take these boys❤

@bonkeydollocks1879

RIP Don and thank you both for my first love in your music

@dennisthemenace7801

God they are amazing! The Everly Brothers man! Big up! What a sound, and Beach Boy harmonies, or I should say Everly Brothers harmonies lol

@stanwollmers7561

As an 11 yr old in the Spring of 1957, I was knocked out by the incredible harmonies of Don & Phil. The sound was something I had never heard before. Bye Bye Love was the hit side, #2 on the pop charts I believe, but my cousin had the 45. When I heard this song, I loved it the first time I heard it! All these many years later, it has occurred to me that what mature lyrics these were for a young, (20) year old young man to write. To be so aware of the angst of young love and to write, sing and play something so poignant as to be just as relevant today as it was those many years ago. I have always loved their music. When Phil passed away it seemed like another musical hero departed. Now Don just turned 83, which I can't quite believe. Seems like all the good ones are leaving us, Bob Shane, Nick Reynolds, John Stewart, Dave Guard, all of the Kington Trio;' Glen Frey, Tom Petty, George Harrison, and so on and so on!

@lyndakoers1389

I have a Stewart Tape. " Dreamers On The Run". I still listen to it.

@bunnybenchaim7027

Beautiful song and I agree amazing lyrics by a very young Don Everly. RIP

@MrsAliMag

Here’s the strange thing (if you care about strange things): the Everlys were a force in American music beginning in the mid-1950’s up into the early 60’s. Yet, no one has created a Broadway musical about them. You can’t think of a more influential duo in pop history that has been as ignored. I only got to see them live once, but they were and still are my all-time favorites. I like new music too, and am not an oldie who thinks there’s no good music anymore, but the Everlys were just unique and special. And there’s a story to tell there. They grew up in a musical home but they sort of started their own genre.

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