While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Toto Lyrics
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See the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping
Still my guitar gently weeps
I don't know why nobody told you
I don't know how someone controlled you
They bought and sold you
I look at the world and I notice it's turning
While my guitar gently weeps
With every mistake we must surely be learning
Still my guitar gently weeps
I don't know how you were diverted
You were perverted too
I don't know how you were inverted
No one alerted you
I look at you all see the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
Look at you all
Still my guitar gently weeps.
The lyrics to Toto's version of While My Guitar Gently Weeps are a beautiful portrayal of the relationship between the singer's guitar and the world around them. The opening lines of "I look at you all, see the love there that's sleeping, while my guitar gently weeps" suggest that the singer is both in awe of the love that exists in those around them, but also saddened that their guitar is not a part of it. This idea is further emphasized by the following lines "I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping, still my guitar gently weeps." Here, the singer is pointing to the fact that while life moves on, their guitar remains the same, and it is this sense of stagnation that causes it to "weep".
The next verse delves deeper into the singer's struggle with understanding the world around them. The lines "I don't know why nobody told you, how to unfold your love, I don't know how someone controlled you, they bought and sold you" suggest that the singer is searching for answers to a world that seems to be without them. These lines also imply that the singer sees love as something that needs to be learned, and that someone or something is keeping it from being fully expressed.
The final verse of the song brings together the themes of the previous verses by stating that, with every mistake, the world must surely be learning. This line could suggest that the singer is learning and growing alongside their guitar and the world around them. The final lines "Look at you all, still, my guitar gently weeps" bring the song full circle, returning to the image of the guitar as a constant force, watching the world go by.
Line by Line Meaning
I look at you all
I am observing all of you present here
See the love there that's sleeping
I can sense the love that exists but is hidden or not expressed
While my guitar gently weeps
As I play my guitar, I feel emotions and sadness that I cannot express in words
I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping
As I gaze down at the untidy floor, I am reminded of the imperfections and need to tidy things up
Still my guitar gently weeps
Despite trying to focus on something else, the sadness and emotions only intensify as I play my guitar
I don't know why nobody told you
The lack of understanding and knowledge about expressing one's love is baffling to me
How to unfold your love
How to reveal or express your emotions of love
I don't know how someone controlled you
I am unaware of who or what made you repress your emotions
They bought and sold you
You were exploited and controlled for personal gain or profit
I look at the world and I notice it's turning
As I observe the world, I see that time and events continue to move forward
With every mistake we must surely be learning
Making mistakes is a necessary part of the learning process and leads to growth
Still my guitar gently weeps
Despite the realization and acceptance of our mistakes, the sadness still lingers as I play my guitar
I don't know how you were diverted
I am uncertain about the cause of your distraction or deviation from your true emotions
You were perverted too
You were corrupted or distorted in some way, possibly by external factors or influences
I don't know how you were inverted
I am unaware of how or why your emotions were turned upside down
No one alerted you
No one warned or informed you of the negative consequences of suppressing your emotions
Look at you all
I am observing all of you again
Still my guitar gently weeps
The song concludes with the same sentiment as before - the sadness and emotions persist as I play my guitar
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: George Harrison
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Denis S. Pratt
on Take My Hand
Beautiful rendition of a reconciling moment that my mother and I will lay to rest.