wheels
Torres-Stephens Lyrics

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Do I have reason to be sad
Crying over something I never had
You borrowed my car a couple times
You don't like me, you just like my ride

You hide behind glasses and music and wit
You laugh at yourself and then roll cigarettes
There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do

To show you that I've got the sadness too
To show you that I've got the sadness too

I talk about you like mine
My friends just laugh, and roll their eyes
When I tell them I don't mind the way it feels
To ride an empty ferris wheel

You hide behind glasses and music and wit
You laugh at yourself and then roll cigarettes
There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do
To show you that I've got the sadness too
To show you that I've got the sadness too

You hide behind glasses and music and wit
You laugh at yourself and then roll cigarettes
There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do

To show you that I've got the sadness too
To show you that I've got the sadness too

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Wheels" by Torres-Stephens reflect the emotions and vulnerability that come with unrequited love. The singer begins by questioning whether it is valid to feel sad and cry over something they never had. This suggests that they are longing for a romantic connection that has not been reciprocated. The mention of borrowing the car a couple of times implies that they have had some kind of interaction with the person they are singing about, but it seems that the other person's interest lies more in the material possessions or lifestyle that the singer represents, rather than a genuine emotional connection.

The second verse delves deeper into the persona of the person the singer is infatuated with. They describe them as hiding behind glasses, music, and wit, possibly as a defense mechanism or means of escaping their own emotions. The act of laughing at oneself and rolling cigarettes can be seen as a way to mask deeper pain or insecurities. The repetition of the line "There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do" suggests a desperation to prove themselves and gain the affection of the other person, even if it means embracing the sadness that they themselves carry.

The chorus reinforces the singer's attachment to this person, asserting that they talk about them as if they belong to them. The response from their friends, laughing and rolling their eyes, indicates that the singer's friends don't take their feelings seriously or believe that the relationship is one-sided. However, the singer doesn't mind the feeling of riding an empty ferris wheel, which can be interpreted as finding solace in the bittersweetness of unrequited love or being in a relationship that lacks genuine depth and connection.

Overall, "Wheels" explores the complexities of unrequited love, the struggle to be seen and loved in return, and the acceptance of the sadness that comes with it.

Line by Line Meaning

Do I have reason to be sad
Am I justified in feeling sad

Crying over something I never had
Weeping for the things that were never mine

You borrowed my car a couple times
You used my vehicle on a few occasions

You don't like me, you just like my ride
You are not fond of me, you simply enjoy my car

You hide behind glasses and music and wit
You conceal yourself behind eyeglasses, music, and cleverness

You laugh at yourself and then roll cigarettes
You find amusement in yourself and proceed to make cigarettes

There's nothing in this world I wouldn't do
There is no limit to what I would do

To show you that I've got the sadness too
To demonstrate that I also possess sorrow

I talk about you like mine
I speak of you as though you are mine

My friends just laugh, and roll their eyes
My friends simply laugh and express disbelief

When I tell them I don't mind the way it feels
When I inform them that I do not mind how it feels

To ride an empty ferris wheel
To experience riding a ferris wheel that lacks passengers