What Goes Around
Various Artists Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey girl, is he everything you wanted in a man?
You know I gave you the world
You had me in the palm of your hand
So why your love went away?

I just can't seem to understand
Thought it was me and you, babe
Me and you until the end
But I guess I was wrong

Don't wanna talk about it
Don't wanna think about it
I'm just so sick about it
Can't believe it's ending this way

Just so confused about it
Feeling the blues about it
I just can't do without ya
Tell me, is this fair

Is this the way it's really going down?
Is this how we say goodbye?
Should've known better when you came around
That you were gonna make me cry

It's breaking my heart to watch you run around
'Cause I know that you're living a lie
That's okay baby, 'cause in time you will find

What goes around, goes around, goes around
Comes all the way back around
What goes around, goes around, goes around
Comes all the way back around

Now girl, I remember everything that you claimed
You said that you were moving on now
And maybe I should do the same
Funny thing about that is

I was ready to give you my name
Thought it was me and you, babe
And now, it's all just a shame
And I guess I was wrong

Don't wanna talk about it
Don't wanna think about it
I'm just so sick about it
Can't believe it's ending this way

Just so confused about it
Feeling the blues about it
I just can't do without ya
Can you tell me, is this fair?

Is this the way it's really going down?
Is this how we say goodbye?
Should've known better when you came around
That you were going to make me cry

Now it's breaking my heart to watch you run around
'Cause I know that you're living a lie
That's okay baby, 'cause in time you will find

What goes around, goes around, goes around
Comes all the way back around
What goes around, goes around, goes around
Comes all the way back around

And now you want somebody
To cure the lonely nights
You wish you had somebody
That could come and make it right
But girl, I ain't somebody
With a lot of sympathy, you'll see

What goes around comes back around

And now you want somebody
To cure the lonely nights
You wish you had somebody
That could come and make it right
But girl, I ain't somebody
With a lot of sympathy, you'll see

What goes around comes back around
What goes around comes back around
What goes around comes back around
What goes around comes back around

You spend your nights alone
And he never comes home
And every time you call him
All you get's a busy tone

I heard you found out
What he's doing to you
What you did to me
Ain't that the way it goes

When you cheated, girl
My heart bleeded, girl
So it goes without saying
That you left me feeling hurt

Just a classic case
A scenario
Tale as old as time
Girl, you got what you deserved

I thought I told you, baby
What goes around comes back around
I thought I told you, baby
What goes around comes back around

I thought I told you, baby




What goes around comes back around
I thought I told you, baby

Overall Meaning

The song "What Goes Around" by Various Artists is talking about a failed relationship and the aftermath of it. The song seems to come from the perspective of someone who has been betrayed by their partner. It starts by asking if the person's new partner is everything they wanted, and how they (the singer) gave them the world. The song then goes on to say that the person's love went away, and that the singer can't understand why. They thought that it was going to be them and their partner until the end, but it seems like they were wrong. The chorus talks about how what goes around comes back around, and that is something that the person who betrayed them will eventually learn.


The second verse talks about how the singer was ready to give their partner their name, and everything they had. It was all just a shame that it didn't work out. The bridge of the song talks about how the person who betrayed the singer is now looking for someone else to cure their loneliness, but the singer says that they don't have any sympathy for them. They will eventually get what they deserve.


The lyrics of "What Goes Around" are about karma and how it comes back around. The song seems to be speaking to someone who has done something wrong, and is now facing the consequences of their actions. The singer is giving them a warning, telling them that what they did will eventually come back to them. The song became widely popular and even won a Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording in 2008.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey girl, is he everything you wanted in a man?
Asking if her current partner meets all her expectations


You know I gave you the world
He did everything he could for her


You had me in the palm of your hand
He was completely devoted to her


So why your love went away?
He doesn't understand why she stopped loving him


I just can't seem to understand
He can't comprehend what happened between them


Thought it was me and you, babe
He believed they were meant to be together


Me and you until the end
He saw a future with her


But I guess I was wrong
He realizes he was mistaken


Don't wanna talk about it
He doesn't want to discuss their breakup


Don't wanna think about it
He wants to avoid dwelling on the past


I'm just so sick about it
He's upset and distraught


Can't believe it's ending this way
He's in disbelief that their relationship is ending


Just so confused about it
He's feeling lost and uncertain


Feeling the blues about it
He's sad and depressed


I just can't do without ya
He can't imagine life without her


Tell me, is this fair
He's questioning the fairness of the situation


Is this the way it's really going down?
He's questioning the reality of their breakup


Is this how we say goodbye?
He's questioning the way they're ending things


Should've known better when you came around
He realizes he should've been more cautious


That you were gonna make me cry
He knew she would hurt him


It's breaking my heart to watch you run around
Seeing her move on is painful for him


'Cause I know that you're living a lie
He knows she's not truly happy with someone else


That's okay baby, 'cause in time you will find
He believes she'll learn from her mistakes


Now girl, I remember everything that you claimed
He recalls the promises she made


You said that you were moving on now
She claimed to be over him


And maybe I should do the same
He contemplates moving on as well


Funny thing about that is
Ironically ...


I was ready to give you my name
He wanted to marry her


And now, it's all just a shame
He's disappointed with what happened


And I guess I was wrong
He realizes he was mistaken


Now you want somebody
She's seeking a new partner


To cure the lonely nights
She's lonely without him


You wish you had somebody
She's longing for companionship


That could come and make it right
She wants someone to fix her problems


But girl, I ain't somebody
He's not the one to do that for her


With a lot of sympathy, you'll see
He's not going to feel sorry for her


You spend your nights alone
She's lonely without him


And he never comes home
Her current boyfriend is unreliable


And every time you call him
She can't even reach him when she needs him


All you get's a busy tone
He's too busy doing something else


I heard you found out
He knows she discovered something


What he's doing to you
Her current partner is mistreating her


What you did to me
She treated him badly too


Ain't that the way it goes
That's just how life is


When you cheated, girl
She was unfaithful to him


My heart bleeded, girl
He was hurt by her actions


So it goes without saying
It's obvious ...


That you left me feeling hurt
She caused him pain


Just a classic case
It's a common situation


A scenario
A typical story


Tale as old as time
A story that has been told many times


Girl, you got what you deserved
She's reaping what she sowed


I thought I told you, baby
He warned her


What goes around comes back around
Karma will catch up to her




Contributed by Wyatt Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions