The Grapes of Wrath are a Canadian rock band. Formed in 1983, they enjoyed … Read Full Bio ↴The Grapes of Wrath are a Canadian rock band. Formed in 1983, they enjoyed their greatest commercial success in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The group split in 1992, although throughout the 1990s, most of the band continued to record as Ginger while the "Grapes of Wrath" band name was tied up in litigation. Vocalists Tom Hooper and Kevin Kane briefly reunited as The Grapes of Wrath for one album in 2000. With the addition of Chris Hooper, the three founding members reunited in July 2010. They now tour various Canadian cities on an annual basis, mostly in Ontario and Western Canada, and are again active as a group.

Disambiguation: The psychedelic trance group is at Grapes of Wrath.

I'm Gone
The Grapes Of Wrath Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

So there you are, standing all alone
Watching love's dream, feeling so alone
I wonder why, why you are alive
And I wonder why, why you live your life day to day
I'll remember when I'm gone
I'll remember, then I'll be back again

So now I'm gone, but soon I'll reappear

You look at me as if you didn't care
I wonder why, why you are alive
And I wonder why, why you live your life day to day

I'll remember when I'm gone
I'll remember, then I'll be back again

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Grapes of Wrath’s song I’m Gone explore the feelings of isolation and confusion that arise when one tries to understand the purpose of their existence. The singer in the song is a solitary figure, observing from a distance as the rest of the world moves on. They’re fixated on the idea of love and why, despite its beauty, it often leaves people feeling alone. The lyrics reflect a sense of ennui and dissatisfaction with how life is being lived, wondering if there is more to living than day-to-day survival.

The repetition of the two lines that begin with “I wonder why” drive home the sense of curiosity and the search for meaning. The final lines of the chorus “I’ll remember when I’m gone, I’ll remember, then I’ll be back again” imply a cycle of life and death, with the singer hoping that in the next life they’ll find the answers they’re searching for.

Interestingly, the song was written by Kevin Kane, the lead singer of Canada’s The Grapes of Wrath, after his younger sister passed away. The lyrics can be interpreted as a reflection on the fleeting nature of life and the search for something greater than oneself.

Line by Line Meaning

So there you are, standing all alone
You are by yourself, without anyone around you

Watching love's dream, feeling so alone
You are watching others in love, while feeling lonely

I wonder why, why you are alive
I am curious about the purpose of your existence

And I wonder why, why you live your life day to day
I am curious about why you are only living day by day without any plan

I'll remember when I'm gone
I will not forget about you even when I am gone

I'll remember, then I'll be back again
I will come back again because I remember you so well

So now I'm gone, but soon I'll reappear
I am no longer present, but I will come back soon

You look at me as if you didn't care
It seems like you are indifferent to my departure

I wonder why, why you are alive
I am still curious about the purpose of your existence

And I wonder why, why you live your life day to day
I still wonder why you are not living your life with a plan

I'll remember when I'm gone
Even when I am gone, I will not forget about you