Tim O'Brien (b. March 16, 1954 in Wheeling, West Virginia) is an American b… Read Full Bio ↴Tim O'Brien (b. March 16, 1954 in Wheeling, West Virginia) is an American bluegrass, old time and celtic musician. O'Brien plays guitar, fiddle, mandolin, bouzouki and mandocello and is an accomplished vocalist. He moved to Boulder, Colorado in the 1970s and became part of the music scene there. In 1978 he founded the bluegrass group Hot Rize. Hot Rize had its own offshoot band called Red Knuckles & the Trailblazers. The band would walk off stage, change clothes, and reappear as a different band with its own songs. Most of his recordings are available on Sugar Hill Records. O'Brien currently lives in Nashville, Tennessee. In 2005, O'Brien won a Grammy Award for Best Traditional Folk Album for Fiddler's Green. In 1993 and 2006, O'Brien was honored with the IBMA's Male Vocalist of the Year award.

On The Outside Looking In
Tim O'Brien Lyrics

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You close the door in front of me, I wait patiently outside
But as the minutes tick away I feel the anger rise
Who's the object of this rage, who's not being fair
Is it you for your indifference or me for just standing there

[Chorus]
In my mind the room beyond is bathed in golden light
I dream about you through the day and I toss and turn at night

Sometimes it's hard to understand, they say that pride's a sin
Should I go or should I stay on the outside looking in

I didn't make the grade today and I'm not the only one
But my heart, it won't stop hurting and feeling all alone
Maybe we'll trade places in some not too distant year
I'll hear your voice calling out, I'll cover up my ears

[Chorus]

I could brag on things I've done or the places I have been
But I never found a cure for on the outside looking in

Sometimes it's hard to understand, they say that pride's a sin
Should I go or should I stay on the outside looking in

Overall Meaning

The song "On The Outside Looking In," by Tim O'Brien, is a contemplative and introspective piece about the feeling of exclusion and the struggle with pride. Throughout the song, the singer describes the feeling of being shut out by someone, waiting outside patiently but feeling anger and hurt building up as time goes by. The identity of the person shutting the door is not revealed, leaving open the possibility that it's someone the singer loves or respects. The chorus offers a glimpse into the singer's dream world where the room beyond the closed door is filled with golden light and the object of their affection is a constant thought, even to the point of causing sleepless nights. The singer questions whether their pride is causing more harm than good and wonders if they should give up the fight to be included and resign themselves to being on the outside looking in.

The song offers a poignant reminder of the impact of social exclusion and the hurt that can be caused by feeling left out. It highlights the internal struggle that many people face when it comes to pride and the urge to be included. Ultimately, the song leaves the listener with a sense of acceptance and understanding that it's a part of life to sometimes be on the outside looking in.

Line by Line Meaning

You close the door in front of me, I wait patiently outside
I am excluded from your world, yet I still wait for acceptance.

But as the minutes tick away I feel the anger rise
I become increasingly frustrated and upset with my exclusion.

Who's the object of this rage, who's not being fair
I'm not sure who to direct my anger towards, as I see both sides of the situation.

Is it you for your indifference or me for just standing there
I wonder if I should be more assertive or if you should be more accepting.

In my mind the room beyond is bathed in golden light
I imagine that the inner circle of acceptance is filled with happiness and warmth.

I dream about you through the day and I toss and turn at night
You occupy my thoughts day and night, and I long for acceptance from you.

Sometimes it's hard to understand, they say that pride's a sin
I struggle to reconcile my desire for acceptance with the notion that pride is a negative quality.

Should I go or should I stay on the outside looking in
I am unsure whether to continue seeking acceptance or to give up and move on.

I didn't make the grade today and I'm not the only one
I am not the only person excluded from the inner circle, as others also experience rejection.

But my heart, it won't stop hurting and feeling all alone
Despite not being alone in my exclusion, my emotions still weigh heavily on me and I feel isolated.

Maybe we'll trade places in some not too distant year
I hope that one day the tables will turn and I will find myself on the inside, while you experience the pain of exclusion.

I'll hear your voice calling out, I'll cover up my ears
Despite my longing for acceptance, I may reject it when offered out of resentment for my past exclusion.

I could brag on things I've done or the places I have been
While I may have accomplished much in my life, those achievements are meaningless if I remain excluded.

But I never found a cure for on the outside looking in
I have not found a way to escape my feelings of exclusion and the pain they cause me.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: TIM O'BRIEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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