Inside Out
Traveling Wilburys (the) Lyrics


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Look out your window
That grass ain't green
It's kinda yellow
See what I mean?
Look up your chimney
The sky ain't blue
It's kinda yellow
You know it's true
It's so hard to figure what it's all about

When your outsides in (inside out)
And your downsides up (upside down)
Yeah, your upsides right (rightside up)
Yeah, don't it make you wanna twist & shout
When you're inside out

Look down your drain pipe
What color do you see?
It's got to be yellow
Don't try to fool me
And don't it make you wanna twist and shout

When your outsides in (inside out)
And your downsides up (upside down)
Yeah, your upsides right (rightside up)
Yeah, don't it make you wanna twist & shout
When you're inside out

Be careful where you're walking
You might step in something rough
Be careful where you're talking
And saying all that stuff
Take care when you are breathing
Something's funny in the air
And somethings I'm not saying
Bout what's happening out there
It's inside out

Look into the future
With your mystic crystal ball
See if it ain't yellow
See if it's there at all
Ain't no shadow of doubt
Don't it make you wanna twist and shout

When your outsides in (inside out)
And your downsides up (upside down)
Yeah, your upsides right (rightside up)




Yeah, don't it make you wanna twist & shout
When you're inside out

Overall Meaning

The Traveling Wilburys' song "Inside Out" is a commentary on the complexities of life, and how difficult it can be to make sense of the world around us. The lyrics suggest that things are not always as they seem, and that the outside appearances of things can often be misleading. The song uses vivid imagery to underscore this point, from the yellow grass outside to the funny things in the air.


The chorus of the song is where the central theme is captured, as it repeats the phrase "when your outsides in, and your downsides up, yeah your upsides right, don't it make you wanna twist and shout." This phrase captures the feeling of confusion and disorientation that can result from trying to make sense of the world around us. The song warns us to be careful where we step and where we talk, as we may inadvertently find ourselves caught up in the confusion.


Overall, the song "Inside Out" is a tribute to the complexity of life, and a call to be cautious as we navigate its twists and turns.


Line by Line Meaning

Look out your window
Take a look at the world outside your window


That grass ain't green
The grass doesn't look green, it looks yellow


It's kinda yellow
The color of the grass is yellowish


See what I mean?
Do you understand what I'm saying?


Look up your chimney
Look up the chimney of your house


The sky ain't blue
The sky doesn't appear blue, it looks yellow


It's kinda yellow
The color of the sky is yellowish


You know it's true
You understand that the sky looks yellow


It's so hard to figure what it's all about
It's difficult to understand the meaning of what's happening around us


When your outsides in (inside out)
When your external experiences are affecting your internal state


And your downsides up (upside down)
When your negative experiences are dominant and overshadowing the positives


Yeah, your upsides right (rightside up)
Your positive experiences are correctly influencing your mood


Yeah, don't it make you wanna twist & shout
Don't you feel energetic and excited?


When you're inside out
When external events are affecting your internal state


Look down your drain pipe
Look down the pipe connected to your sink, toilet or shower


What color do you see?
What is the color visible inside the drain pipe?


It's got to be yellow
The visible color inside the drain pipe is yellow


Don't try to fool me
Don't try to deceive me about the visible color inside the drain pipe


Be careful where you're walking
Be cautious about where you step on the ground


You might step in something rough
You might step on something prickly or sharp


Be careful where you're talking
Be mindful of what you say


And saying all that stuff
Be mindful of your words and how they might hurt others


Take care when you are breathing
Be careful when taking in breaths


Something's funny in the air
Something's not quite right with the atmosphere


And somethings I'm not saying
There are things that I'm not explicitly stating


Bout what's happening out there
About the events that are taking place outside


Look into the future
Try to imagine what the future will be like


With your mystic crystal ball
With your psychic powers to visualize the future


See if it ain't yellow
Check if the future looks yellow


See if it's there at all
Check if the future is even there


Ain't no shadow of doubt
Without a doubt, the future looks yellow


Don't it make you wanna twist and shout
Don't you feel energetic and excited?


When your outsides in (inside out)
When external events are affecting your internal state


And your downsides up (upside down)
When your negative experiences are dominant and overshadowing the positives


Yeah, your upsides right (rightside up)
Your positive experiences are correctly influencing your mood


Yeah, don't it make you wanna twist & shout
Don't you feel energetic and excited?


When you're inside out
When external events are affecting your internal state




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., THE BICYCLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: BOB DYLAN, JEFF LYNN, TOM PETTY, GEORGE HARRISON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@road2apples

♥✞♥ A Soldier, Me?
“A soldier, me? My Lord,” said he,
“my strength is very small.”
“My child, it’s not your strength I ask
I only ask your all.”
“A soldier, me? My Lord,” said she,
“I have no sword to shine.”
“My child, your sword would never do,
so I will give you mine.”
“A soldier, me? My Lord,” said he,
“No shield have I to hold.”
“My child, behind the shield of faith
in Me you will be bold.”
“A soldier, me? My Lord,” said she,
“What cause shall I defend?”
“My child, the message of my Son,
His coming and the end.”
“A soldier, me? My Lord,” said he,
“I’ll do as You command!”
“My child, the only thing I ask
is that you hold my hand."♥✞♥✞♥



@road2apples

♥✞♥ A Soldier, Me?
“A soldier, me? My Lord,” said he,
“my strength is very small.”
“My child, it’s not your strength I ask
I only ask your all.”
“A soldier, me? My Lord,” said she,
“I have no sword to shine.”
“My child, your sword would never do,
so I will give you mine.”
“A soldier, me? My Lord,” said he,
“No shield have I to hold.”
“My child, behind the shield of faith
in Me you will be bold.”
“A soldier, me? My Lord,” said she,
“What cause shall I defend?”
“My child, the message of my Son,
His coming and the end.”
“A soldier, me? My Lord,” said he,
“I’ll do as You command!”
“My child, the only thing I ask
is that you hold my hand."♥✞♥✞♥



@road2apples

♥✞♥ A Soldier, Me?
“A soldier, me? My Lord,” said he,
“my strength is very small.”
“My child, it’s not your strength I ask
I only ask your all.”
“A soldier, me? My Lord,” said she,
“I have no sword to shine.”
“My child, your sword would never do,
so I will give you mine.”
“A soldier, me? My Lord,” said he,
“No shield have I to hold.”
“My child, behind the shield of faith
in Me you will be bold.”
“A soldier, me? My Lord,” said she,
“What cause shall I defend?”
“My child, the message of my Son,
His coming and the end.”
“A soldier, me? My Lord,” said he,
“I’ll do as You command!”
“My child, the only thing I ask
is that you hold my hand."♥✞♥✞♥



@road2apples

♥✞♥ A Soldier, Me?
“A soldier, me? My Lord,” said he,
“my strength is very small.”
“My child, it’s not your strength I ask
I only ask your all.”
“A soldier, me? My Lord,” said she,
“I have no sword to shine.”
“My child, your sword would never do,
so I will give you mine.”
“A soldier, me? My Lord,” said he,
“No shield have I to hold.”
“My child, behind the shield of faith
in Me you will be bold.”
“A soldier, me? My Lord,” said she,
“What cause shall I defend?”
“My child, the message of my Son,
His coming and the end.”
“A soldier, me? My Lord,” said he,
“I’ll do as You command!”
“My child, the only thing I ask
is that you hold my hand."♥✞♥✞♥



All comments from YouTube:

@jranger9518

None of these men had egos.... they were pure and truly genuine musicians that loved what they did ..

@Gustamachio

everyone but Bob Dylan. He has ego but loves what they did

@realgamingvibes2823

except for when they wouldn't take their kids to bed "sleep there, were playing ukeleles now"

@dabreu

Well, for sure George had ego. And also Bob Dylan, even bigger. But it is natural in great musicians, sensitive people. It is hard for them to deal with ego. No problem. They do great music. And here we can see they all had a wonderful time. Good for us, because this band made great songs for us to enjoy very much. I love it.

@desallen2174

Amen brother, best collection of songsters ever. Not an ego in sight.

@kylehorstmann5195

George and Bob had egos, what I think you mean is there were no egos that weren't absolutely earned and more than backed up with genius... Jeff Lynne and Roy Orbison however were so humble and positive human beings. Wish I had an opportunity to hang out with Jeff.

8 More Replies...

@gailtaylor3568

These guys were totally meant to be together. Diverse voices but as a group ...phenomenal..

@emersondvortex5882

Absolutely . THIS is a reason to believe in God and the power of good Karma .

@richgoodwin929

I'll second Karma.

@road2apples

♥✞♥ Lord let me find back the lost treasure of time ,time for gentle listening to a friend ,for sharing the play of a child, for consoling the suffering of a fellow human being ,for thinking without straying, for labor without pressure.
Time to enjoy music ,friends and meals. Time to be silent and alone. Time to be present to your mystery ,free me from the tyranny of time urgency. Let my life be a gentle preparation of the pure and precious moments of listening to you ,so that I may not drown in the rushing waters of practical pursuits. ♥✞♥✞♥

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