Don't Be Scared
Yoko Ono Lyrics


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Don't be scared
Don't be scared
Don't be scared to love
Better to love than never love at all
Don't be scared

Don't be shy
Don't be shy
Don't be shy to tell
You may lose the chance to tell
Don't be shy

When your hearts are lit
Drop your survival kit
Then you never have to
Run or split

Sun in the east
Moon in the west
This boat's moving slow
There's no land in sight at all
Away we go

Don't be scared
Don't be scared
Don't be scared to love




It's better to love than never love at all
Don't be scared

Overall Meaning

Yoko Ono's song "Don't Be Scared" is a message of encouragement to anyone feeling hesitant about love. The first verse repeats the phrase "Don't be scared" three times, then adds "to love." The repetition emphasizes her message; don't be afraid to take the risk of love. She then follows with the line "Better to love than never love at all," reminding the listener that even if love doesn't work out, the experience is still valuable.


The second verse encourages the listener not to be shy about telling someone how they feel. The consequences of not speaking up can be losing the chance to tell the person how you feel. The following lines "When your hearts are lit/Drop your survival kit" suggest that when you are experiencing love, it is important to be vulnerable and open to the experience. If you are always trying to protect yourself, you will miss out on the joys of love.


The final verse uses imagery to suggest that love is an adventure. The sun and moon are used to represent the passage of time and the difficulty of the journey. The line "This boat's moving slow/There's no land in sight at all" suggests that sometimes love can be slow-going and uncertain. However, the final line "Away we go" is a promise that even without certainty, love is still worth pursuing.


Line by Line Meaning

Don't be scared
Do not feel afraid or frightened


Don't be scared
Do not feel afraid or frightened


Don't be scared to love
Do not be afraid or frightened to express love


Better to love than never love at all
It is more preferable and worthwhile to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all


Don't be scared
Do not feel afraid or frightened


Don't be shy
Do not be bashful or hesitant


Don't be shy
Do not be bashful or hesitant


Don't be shy to tell
Do not be reluctant or timid in sharing


You may lose the chance to tell
If you do not speak up, you may miss your opportunity to communicate


Don't be shy
Do not be bashful or hesitant


When your hearts are lit
When your emotions and passions are ignited


Drop your survival kit
Abandon your defensive and protective mechanisms


Then you never have to Run or split
If you remain vulnerable and open, you do not have to flee or separate yourself from others


Sun in the east
The sun rises in the east


Moon in the west
The moon sets in the west


This boat's moving slow
The journey is progressing at a leisurely pace


There's no land in sight at all
There is no destination or end point in view


Away we go
We continue on our journey


Don't be scared
Do not feel afraid or frightened


Don't be scared
Do not feel afraid or frightened


Don't be scared to love
Do not be afraid or frightened to express love


It's better to love than never love at all
It is more preferable and worthwhile to have loved and lost than to have never loved at all


Don't be scared
Do not feel afraid or frightened




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: YOKO ONO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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