Born in Cleveland, Ohio,U.S., Tracy Chapman began playing guitar and writing songs as a child. She received a scholarship through A Better Chance that allowed her to attend Wooster School in Connecticut, and was eventually accepted to Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts.
Tracy Chapman helped restore songwriters to the spotlight in the '80s. The multi-platinum success of Chapman's eponymous 1988 debut was unexpected, and it had lasting impact. Although Chapman was working from the same confessional songwriter foundation that had been popularized in the '70s, her songs were fresh and powerful, driven by simple melodies and affecting lyrics. At the time of her first album, there were only a handful of artists performing such a style successfully, and her success ushered in a new era of songwriters that lasted well into the '90s. Along with 10,000 Maniacs and R.E.M., Chapman's liberal politics proved enormously influential on American college campuses in the late '80s.
Official Website: http://www.tracychapman.com
Fansite: http://www.tracychapmanonline.com
A Theory
Tracy Chapman Lyrics
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There's a possibility I am wrong
It's just a theory
But I would stake my life
Lay my money down
That you were meant for me
And for you I'm the one
A particular set of assumptions
It's just a theory
An educated guess
A conclusion not forgone
That you were meant for me
And for you I'm the one
Oh nothing's new under the sun
I will postulate
Ask for your consideration
Ask you out on a date
Although it can't be sure
Why not act on a hunch
Oh why not search for proof
Why not go out for lunch
And in theory, I could propose
And in theory you could affirm
Oh that you were meant for me
And for you I'm the one
Oh that you were meant for me
And for you I'm the one
It's just a theory
A series of tests should be run.
It's just a theory although not fully assessed
An idea whose time has come
That you were meant for me
And for you I'm the one
That you were meant for me
And for you I'm the one
Tracy Chapman's song "A Theory" seems to be about taking a risk and acting on one's gut feeling. She emphasizes that the idea that the person she is interested in might be meant for her is just a theory, a guess, but one that she is willing to bet on. The lyrics reflect the idea that sometimes, we have a strong sense that something is true even if it cannot be proven. The song appears to encourage listeners to not just sit idle but to take action in accordance with their instincts.
The chorus repeats the phrase, "That you were meant for me And for you I'm the one," which can be interpreted in various ways. It could be a declaration of love or a suggestion for a date. The lyrics revolve around the idea that the person Chapman is interested in is "meant" for her, but this remains just a theory until there is some kind of proof of its validity. The song's title, "A Theory", reinforces the underlying theme of uncertainty and the need to take risks and act on hunches. This is a message that can resonate with many people in many different areas of their lives.
Line by Line Meaning
It's just a theory
This is a hypothesis that I have that may or may not be true
There's a possibility I am wrong
I acknowledge that there is a chance that my hypothesis may be false
But I would stake my life
However, I am very confident in my hypothesis and would bet everything on it
Lay my money down
I am willing to put my money on the line to prove my hypothesis
That you were meant for me
My hypothesis is that we are meant to be together
And for you I'm the one
My hypothesis is that I am the perfect match for you
Oh nothing's new under the sun
This idea is not new or original, but I believe it to be true
I will postulate
I will put forth my hypothesis
Ask for your consideration
I am asking you to consider my hypothesis
Ask you out on a date
I want to take you out to explore the possibility of us being together
Although it can't be sure
I understand that my hypothesis cannot be confirmed with certainty
Why not act on a hunch
However, I still believe it is worth pursuing based on my intuition
Oh why not search for proof
I am willing to find evidence to support my hypothesis
Why not go out for lunch
Let's spend time together to see if our connection is real
And in theory, I could propose
If our connection is real, I may propose to you
And in theory you could affirm
If you feel the same way, you may accept my proposal
A series of tests should be run
To prove or disprove my hypothesis, we need to explore our relationship through various experiences
It's just a theory although not fully assessed
Although I have not done all the necessary testing, my hypothesis still holds weight
An idea whose time has come
I believe that the timing is right for us to explore our connection
That you were meant for me
My hypothesis is still that we are meant to be together
And for you I'm the one
I still believe that I am the perfect match for you
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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