W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration) consists of some of the most accompl… Read Full Bio ↴W.P.A. (Works Progress Administration) consists of some of the most accomplished and legendary musicians in today’s American music scene. Founding members Glen Phillips (Toad the Wet Sprocket), Sean Watkins (Nickel Creek), and Luke Bulla (Jerry Douglas Band, Ricky Skaggs, Lyle Lovett) have teamed up with Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek), Benmont Tench (Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers), Greg Leisz (Joni Mitchell, Wilco, Sheryl Crow, Beck), Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello and the Imposters, Randy Newman), and Davey Faragher (Elvis Costello and the Imposters, Cracker), and long-time acclaimed producer Jim Scott (Wilco, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Rolling Stones).

It's Over Now
Works Progress Administration Lyrics

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You take the house
You take the car
I'll take the microphone
And my guitar
Meet in the park
And watch the kids playing
Silently guess what the others not saying

It's over now
You've had enough
It's over now
You've had enough
You've had enough

Maybe there's hope for us
I don't want to doubt you
And I've got my work to do
With or without you
What would it mean to us
Many years later
If you are still Padme
But I am Darth Vader

It's over now
You've had enough
It's over now

You've had enough
You've had enough

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Works Progress Administration's song It's Over Now explore the end of a romantic relationship and the aftermath of the breakup. The first stanza talks about dividing the assets – the house and the car – while the singer decides to keep the microphone and guitar, implying music is his way of coping with the split. The scene then shifts to a park where they sit in silence and observe kids play. The implication is that they were once those kids, carefree and playful until life got in the way. They share the same history, yet they have grown apart to a point where they cannot express their feelings anymore.

The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "It's over now," signifying the finality of the situation. The singer acknowledges his former partner has had enough and leaves it at that. The second verse hints at a sense of uncertainty about the future – will they reconcile, or is it truly over? The line "Maybe there's hope for us" suggests that the singer still cares for his ex-girlfriend and wants to believe there's a chance for them. However, he also recognizes that life goes on, and they both have work to do, with or without each other. The last line, a reference to Star Wars characters Padme and Darth Vader, is cryptic but suggests that the relationship might have turned toxic or abusive, and the singer struggles to come to terms with it.

Line by Line Meaning

You take the house
You can have the physical structure that we called home

You take the car
You can have the vehicle that we once shared for transportation

I'll take the microphone
I'll keep the tool that allows me to express myself through song

And my guitar
And also my instrument that I use to create music

Meet in the park
Let's convene at a public place where we can discuss our situation

And watch the kids playing
While we observe the children engaging in playful activities

Silently guess what the others not saying
We'll observe each other and ponder on the unspoken feelings inside

It's over now
Our relationship is entirely over

You've had enough
You've endured all that you can handle

Maybe there's hope for us
Perhaps it's still possible for us to rekindle our love

I don't want to doubt you
I don't want to question or hesitate our path forward