Wasted Years
The Maroon 5 Lyrics


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Slow is the memory
And I can picture her standing right in front of me
I said that I'm behaving badly
Kinda driving her crazy
But I know she wants me

I remember everything
Her sweat, it tastes like sugar cane
And sit on top of me, yelling out my fucking name
Until I'm empty
But I know she wants me

But I have already tried to explain myself
It's not that I love someone else
But I can't bear to listen to you cry
I'm sick of all these wasted years
Drown in someone else's tears
You let me down, now I'm hanging you out to dry
Whoa, whoa, yeah yeah yeah yeah

And I'll see you when I get back
Maybe we can get ourselves back on the right track
You touch me there because you know how much I like that
I think that we both need to relax
You know you want me

All the time and everywhere
A happy surface but the underbelly isn't there
And the worst thing is that I don't even really care
And the emptiness is too much to bear

But I have already tried to explain myself
It's not that I love someone else
But I can't bear to listen to you cry
I'm sick of all these wasted years
Drown in someone else's tears
You let me down, now I'm hanging you out to dry

'Cause sometimes I don't know what to do
I'm standing, standing right in front of you
And pray our pain subsides
Can't bare the stare of your teary eyes
I know you feel like it's hard to stay
In fact you may just wanna run away
Now all that I can really say is baby, oh
Deep down you know that

I have already tried to explain myself
It's not that I love someone else
But I can't bear to listen to you cry
Sick of all these wasted years
I drown in someone else's tears
You let me down, now I'm hanging you out to dry

I have already tried to explain myself
It's not that I love someone else
But I can't bear to listen to you cry
Sick of all these wasted years
I drown in someone else's tears
You let me down, now I'm hanging you out to dry

Oh no no no




Oh no no no
(We tried, yeah, hey)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Maroon 5's song Wasted Years explore the complexity of a failed relationship. The singer acknowledges the attraction he still feels for his partner and how he remembers every aspect of her, claiming she still wants him. However, he admits to behaving badly, driving her crazy and being incapable of going through another emotional outburst. The song highlights his frustration with the wasted years invested in the relationship, drowning in someone else's tears. He attempts to make amends by suggesting they get back on the right track but acknowledges that the emptiness is too much to bear, and he doesn't care anymore.


The chorus of "Wasted Years" highlights the singer's frustration with the relationship's emotional drain, and despite his attempts to fix the situation, the years seem wasted. This relatable theme of trying to fix a broken relationship but feeling drained and unfulfilled emerged as a common theme in Maroon 5's album "Overexposed," which also includes the hit singles "Payphone" and "One More Night." The lyrics to "Wasted Years" reflect the doubts and issues which Maroon 5's lead singer, Adam Levine, and his wife had before their marriage. If we have watched The Voice, you must have seen Adam's interactions with his partner, Behati Prinsloo, displayed on social media.


Line by Line Meaning

Slow is the memory
The memory is slow, but it is still retained


And I can picture her standing right in front of me
I still have a clear image of her standing before me


I said that I'm behaving badly
I have admitted that I am not behaving well


Kinda driving her crazy
My behavior is causing her to feel crazy or overwhelmed


But I know she wants me
Despite my poor behavior, I am aware that she still desires me


I remember everything
I have a vivid recollection of everything


Her sweat, it tastes like sugar cane
I have a strong memory of the taste of her sweat, which is akin to the sweetness of sugar cane


And sit on top of me, yelling out my fucking name
She would straddle me and scream my name while we engaged in sexual activity


Until I'm empty
She would continue until I had nothing left to give


But I know she wants me
Although our relationship is tumultuous, I am still aware of her attraction to me


But I have already tried to explain myself
I have previously attempted to clarify my intentions or feelings


It's not that I love someone else
I do not have feelings for another person


But I can't bear to listen to you cry
However, I am unable to tolerate your tears or sadness


I'm sick of all these wasted years
I am tired of spending our time together in vain


Drown in someone else's tears
I am being overwhelmed or consumed by another person's emotions


You let me down, now I'm hanging you out to dry
You have disappointed me, and now I am leaving you to suffer the consequences


And I'll see you when I get back
I will reunite with you in the future


Maybe we can get ourselves back on the right track
Perhaps we can restore our relationship to a healthier state


You touch me there because you know how much I like that
You touch me in a particular spot because you are aware of its pleasurable effect on me


I think that we both need to relax
I believe that we both require some relaxation or stress relief


You know you want me
You are aware of your attraction to me


All the time and everywhere
My thoughts and feelings about you are constant and ubiquitous


A happy surface but the underbelly isn't there
Although things may seem fine on the outside, there are underlying issues or negative emotions present


And the worst thing is that I don't even really care
The most unfortunate aspect of this situation is that I am indifferent or apathetic


And the emptiness is too much to bear
The sense of emptiness or void is unbearable


Cause sometimes I don't know what to do
Occasionally, I am unsure of how to proceed


I'm standing, standing right in front of you
I am present and visible to you


And pray our pain subsides
I hope that our emotional distress lessens or dissipates


Can't bare the stare of your teary eyes
I am unable to handle the sight of your crying eyes


I know you feel like it's hard to stay
I am aware that you are struggling to remain in this relationship


In fact you may just wanna run away
In fact, you may be considering leaving


Now all that I can really say is baby, oh
At this point, all I can utter is the term 'baby'


Deep down you know that
Fundamentally, you are aware of the truth


Oh no no no
Oh no


Oh no no no
Oh no


(We tried, yeah, hey)
We made an effort, yeah, hey




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: James B Valentine, Michael Allen Madden, Jesse Royal Carmichael, Ryan Michael Dusick, Adam Noah Levine, Sam Spiegel, Richard W. Penniman

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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