Wrong from the Start
The Turtles Lyrics


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You said what we did from the start was no good
And you tried to stop everything that you could
Now, you're like a meadow that needs rainin' on
You told me to leave, now you're cryin' 'cause I've gone

You're livin' with one man and watchin' one more
You made up your mind but your heart wasn't sure
Now, you're like a meadow that can't grow no corn
You're lookin' for tears but your tears have all gone

There were two ways that I had to choose
You knew all along if I won you would lose
You're like a meadow that needs rainin' on
You told me to leave, now you're cryin' cause I've gone

You climb up your staircase and count every step
But you know you're trying so hard to forget
You look in the mirror and comb your fair hair
You look at his picture and see my face there

There were two ways that I had to choose
You knew all along if I won you would lose
You're like a meadow that needs rainin' on
You told me to leave, now you're cryin' cause I've gone




You told me to leave, now you're cryin' cause I've gone
You told me to leave, now you're cryin' cause I've gone

Overall Meaning

The Turtles' "Wrong From the Start" is a song about a failed relationship. The lyrics tell the story of a person who warned their partner that their relationship was doomed from the beginning, yet they were ignored. The person tried to end the relationship, but their partner was unsure and indecisive, leading to heartbreak in the end.


The metaphor of a meadow needing rain is used throughout the song. The partner who initially warned about the relationship's failure is now like a meadow, in need of "raining on" or some sort of support. Conversely, the other partner is like a meadow that cannot grow anything, in need of tears to fertilize their crops, but their tears have already dried up.


The chorus repeats the line, "You told me to leave, now you're cryin' 'cause I've gone," emphasizing the irony of the situation. The singer tried to end the relationship when they knew it wouldn't work, but now that it's over, their partner is still sad.


Line by Line Meaning

You said what we did from the start was no good
You expressed that our relationship was not good from the beginning


And you tried to stop everything that you could
You made every effort to end our relationship


Now, you're like a meadow that needs rainin' on
Now, you are in a state of despair and longing for something to make you feel complete


You told me to leave, now you're cryin' 'cause I've gone
You asked me to leave, but now you are upset because I left


You're livin' with one man and watchin' one more
You are in a relationship with one man, but you are attracted to another man as well


You made up your mind but your heart wasn't sure
You came to a decision, but deep down, you were unsure of it


You're like a meadow that can't grow no corn
You are unable to produce anything positive or fulfilling in your life


You're lookin' for tears but your tears have all gone
You are seeking an emotional release, but you are already empty of tears


There were two ways that I had to choose
I was faced with a decision between two options


You knew all along if I won you would lose
You were aware that if I chose one option, it would come at your expense


You climb up your staircase and count every step
You engage in meaningless or obsessive behavior to try to distract yourself from your emotions


But you know you're trying so hard to forget
Despite your distractions, you are aware that you are actively trying to forget something


You look in the mirror and comb your fair hair
You pay excessive attention to your appearance in an attempt to distract yourself from your emotions


You look at his picture and see my face there
When you look at the picture of the man you are with, you see my face instead


You told me to leave, now you're cryin' cause I've gone
You wanted me to leave, but now you are upset because I am no longer there


You told me to leave, now you're cryin' cause I've gone
You wanted me to leave, but now you are upset because I am no longer there


You told me to leave, now you're cryin' cause I've gone
You wanted me to leave, but now you are upset because I am no longer there




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