Raised in Burlington, Vermont, Thibaud moved to Boston in 1987 to master his craft and pursue his dream. "When I first got there, the music scene was mostly alternative rock and more hardcore stuff. I would get mislabeled as a 'Country Act', but by the 1990's it diversified and there was room for more rootsy Americana stuff."
Todd's songs are a slice of what life is really like...the pains and pleasures, love lost and life reborn. Thibaud recorded two critically lauded albums for Doolittle Records, 1998's Favorite Waste of Time (produced by Bostonian musician Kevin Salem) and 1999's Little Mystery. Using songwriters like Elvis Costello, Neil Finn, and John Hiatt for inspiration, Thibaud built a sound that is entirely his own.
Never Really Lost
Todd Thibaud Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That's all right, I know that scene, but all that juice'll make you mean
And every little secret feels like gravel in your soul
And you find yourself believing it's all under control
But you're going to fast to avoid the cost, trying to get back what you never really lost
I remember all too well the way you built your private hell
Because every time you turned your back, another stone would make the stack
You live your life in pieces so it doesn't mean a thing
But you're going too fast to avoid the cost, trying to get back what you never really lost
Isn't it a sad surprise when you see it's all a compromise?
There's what you have and what you dream, and life is somewhere in between
And you wind up throwing curses at an undeserving moon contemplating verses from an early Dylan tune
But you're going too fast to avoid the cost, trying to get back what you never really lost
You're going too fast to avoid the cost, trying to get back what you never really lost
The lyrics of Todd Thibaud's song Never Really Lost are about the struggle to regain something that was never truly lost. The first verse talks about speaking to a friend who says that the problems in life never truly go away. The singer knows that life can be difficult, but warns that indulging in negativity and dwelling on secrets can become damaging to the soul. The second verse speaks about how one can create their own personal hell by stacking up their problems like stones every time they turn their back on them. This can create a cycle of living life in pieces, without any concept of the consequences of one's actions.
The chorus repeatedly reminds the listener that they're going too fast to avoid the cost of trying to regain something that was never truly lost. The song speaks truthfully about the compromise that exists between reality and dreams, and how one can end up throwing curses at life when things don't go as planned. The final verse contemplates Bob Dylan's early verses and how sometimes the struggles we face can be attributed to our own inability to let go of things and move forward.
Overall, the song is a deep reflection on the human condition and the struggles we all face in trying to find meaning and purpose in our lives. It serves as a reminder that sometimes the things we chase are not truly lost, but rather require us to slow down and gain perspective before we can retrieve them.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been talking to a friend, they tell me this circus never ends
A friend tells the singer that life is a constant cycle of ups and downs.
That's all right, I know that scene, but all that juice'll make you mean
The singer understands the concept of life's unpredictability but knows that constantly overindulging in life will lead to a negative outlook.
And every little secret feels like gravel in your soul
Small hidden truths weigh heavily on the singer's conscience and make them feel burdened.
And you find yourself believing it's all under control
The artist feels in control despite the chaos that the ups and downs of life bring.
But you're going to fast to avoid the cost, trying to get back what you never really lost
The artist is moving too fast in life to make up for things they may have never lost, failing to appreciate what they have in the present.
I remember all too well the way you built your private hell
The singer acknowledges the self-destructive path that the person they are speaking to has taken to create their own unhappiness.
Because every time you turned your back, another stone would make the stack
With each setback or failure in life, pessimism accumulates on top of the already present negativity.
You live your life in pieces so it doesn't mean a thing
The person the artist is addressing has fragmented their life, failing to find meaning in anything they do.
Claiming not to notice any consequence it brings
The artist believes the person they are addressing is in denial of the consequences that their actions have.
Isn't it a sad surprise when you see it's all a compromise?
The artist finds it sad that we realize that life is a continuous compromise between our ideal and our reality.
There's what you have and what you dream, and life is somewhere in between
Life is the space between what one hopes for and what they have, and their happiness depends on the balance they create.
And you wind up throwing curses at an undeserving moon contemplating verses from an early Dylan tune
The person has become so consumed by their negative thoughts and emotions that they lash out at things that don't deserve it, and even seek refuge in the melancholy musings of Bob Dylan.
But you're going too fast to avoid the cost, trying to get back what you never really lost
Reiterated again in the final line, the message is the same: the person is moving too fast through life, trying to right a wrong that never happened instead of looking at all the good they have in the present.
Contributed by Nolan V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Colin Williams
This is an amazing song and I love your work, is there any place for us to find a tab of this song and some of your other works? I would love to know how to play this!
Colin Williams
Thank you Todd for your guidance and willingness to share your knowledge of your work, keep it up, you are a spectacular artist and teacher.
Todd Thibaud
I hope you'll forgive the incredibly late reply. There were several comments on my page that I missed for some reason. I'm sorry that yours was one of them. Thank you for the nice note, Colin! I hope you're well.
Martin Ladegaard
Fantastic song!! :-)
Todd Thibaud
Hi Colin, Thanks fo the nice note, glad you like the song. No tabs for this one prepared unfortunately, but it's played with a capo on the 2nd fret and begins with a C chord. I could probably throw a simple tab chart together if you need one. Let me know, and thanks again for checking out the music.
Todd Thibaud
Sorry to not get back sooner. Been in the studio recording a new album. Thanks so much for the kind words and for stopping by my channel!