Todd Rundgren is an American singer-songwriter and producer who has perform… Read Full Bio ↴Todd Rundgren is an American singer-songwriter and producer who has performed a diverse range of styles as a solo artist and as founder of the band Utopia. Starting in the 1960s with the psychedelic band Nazz in Philadelphia, his solo career started out successfully with such hits as "I Saw the Light" and "Hello It's Me" (a reworked Nazz tune). With his 1972 release 'Something/Anything?' seen as a magnum opus due to its mix of power pop, rock n roll, and more. Utopia (or Todd Rundgren's Utopia) concentrated on eccentric progressive epics. His acclaimed production effort started early, with work for Sparks and the New York Dolls, and continued with Meat Loaf, XTC, The Psychedelic Furs, and many others. Continuing to release solo albums over the years, he's created many other hits, the novelty tune "Bang the Drum All Day" in particular seeming timeless.

Rundgren is well known among his fans as being an electronic music revolutionary. His skilled production techniques, matched by his belief that he has ability to play just about any instrument at a mastery level, has allowed him to release some of the most honest and personal music of his time. Many of his solo albums, including Something/Anything?]' were made completely by himself. That is, he played all the instruments, sang all the vocals, did all of the recording, editing, mixing, and mastering.

Website: http://www.tr-i.com/

Core discography:

With Nazz:
1968 - Nazz
1969 - Nazz Nazz
1970 - Nazz III

Solo:
1970 - Runt
1971 - Runt. The Ballad of Todd Rundgren
1972 - Something/Anything?
1973 - A Wizard, a True Star
1974 - Todd
1975 - Initiation
1976 - Faithful
1978 - Hermit of Mink Hollow
1978 - Back to the Bars (live)
1981 - Healing
1983 - The Ever Popular Tortured Artist Effect
1985 - A Cappella
1989 - Nearly Human
1991 - 2nd Wind
1993 - No World Order
1995 - The Individualist
1997 - With a Twist
1998 - Up Against It
2000 - One Long Year
2003 - Can't Stop Running (live box set)
2004 - Liars
2008 - Arena
2011 - Todd Rundgren's Johnson
2011 - (re)Production
2013 - State
2015 - Global
2015 - Runddans (collaboration with Emil Nikolaisen and Hans-Peter Lindstrøm)
2017 - White Knight

With Utopia:
1974 - Todd Rundgren's Utopia
1975 - Another Live
1976 (released 2001) - Disco Jets
1977 - Ra
1977 - Oops! Wrong Planet
1980 - Adventures in Utopia
1980 - Deface the Music
1982 - Swing to the Right
1982 - Utopia
1984 - Oblivion
1985 - P.O.V.
2003 - Last of the New Wave Riders (live box set)

I Don't Want To Tie You Down
Todd Rundgren Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sometimes it's hard to look up under
The times we're going through
I scratch my head and stare and wonder
How to face the day anew

But it gives my life a bit more meaning
To feel in love with you, so heavy
I don't want to weigh you down, oh baby

I don't want to tie you down

I don't want a thing to mar this ever
The picture that we make
The balance of our minds together
The perfect give and take

For me to let my love possess you
Would be the worst mistake, I'm sorry
I don't want to bring you down, oh baby

I don't want to tie you down, oh Jesus
I don't want to nail you down

Overall Meaning

In Todd Rundgren's song "I Don't Want to Tie You Down," the lyrics express the conflict between the desire to fully possess someone and the recognition that it's better to let them be free. The singer acknowledges the difficulties of living in the current times but expresses that his love for the other person gives his life more meaning. He recognizes that he doesn't want to weigh or tie down the other person, as it would be a mistake to let his love possess them. The song emphasizes the importance of balance in a relationship, where each partner has the freedom to be themselves and contribute to the partnership equally.

The lyrics are poetic and use repetition to emphasize the singer's intentions. He repeats that he doesn't want to tie the other person down, using different phrases like "weigh you down," and "nail you down." The use of religious references like "oh baby" and "oh Jesus" indicate the strength of the singer's emotions and the depth of his conflict. The song's slow tempo and ballad-like structure contribute to its solemn and introspective tone.

Line by Line Meaning

Sometimes it's hard to look up under
At times, it's difficult to remain optimistic amidst challenging situations

The times we're going through
Refers to the current state of affairs or circumstances

I scratch my head and stare and wonder
Expresses perplexity or confusion about the future

How to face the day anew
Contemplates starting afresh or facing life again

But it gives my life a bit more meaning
Expresses how being in love adds a certain purpose or significance to life

To feel in love with you, so heavy
Being in love with the addressee is a weighty or significant experience

I don't want to weigh you down, oh baby
The singer wishes not to burden or excessively influence the addressee in any way

I don't want to tie you down
The artist does not want to impose any obligations or restrictions on the addressee

I don't want a thing to mar this ever
The artist desires that nothing spoil or tarnish their relationship

The picture that we make
Refers to the overall impression or impact of their relationship

The balance of our minds together
The equality or stability of their relationship together

The perfect give and take
The equal proportion of effort or emotion reflected in their relationship

For me to let my love possess you
The singer is concerned that allowing their love to gain control over the addressee would be unhealthy or detrimental

Would be the worst mistake, I'm sorry
The singer acknowledges the potential repercussions of their actions and apologizes in advance

I don't want to bring you down, oh baby
The singer wishes not to cause any negative emotions or outcomes for the addressee

I don't want to tie you down, oh Jesus
A plea to not impose any limitations or restrictions on the addressee

I don't want to nail you down
Expresses how the artist wishes to avoid constraining or imprisoning the addressee

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: TODD RUNDGREN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

grstett

6y↑19

I love this song. My ex-boyfriend sang the lyrics "I don't want a thing to mar this ever, the picture that we make. The balance of our lives together, the perfect give and take." to me. It still gets to me 40 years later.

Jerry Hayes

Todd has experienced it all. I loved his pre -Utopia stuff. Sometimes one of you wants the other to feel the same attraction as he or she does, but knows the other may retreat. And love becomes a casualty of itself. So, this song.