People have the right to fly
And will when it gets compromised
Their hearts say "Move along"
Their minds say "Gotcha heart"
Let's move it along
Let's move it along

And airports
See it all the time
Where someone's last goodbye
Blends in with someone's sigh
'Cause someone's coming home
In hand a single rose

And that's the way this wheel keeps working now
That's the way this wheel keeps working now
And I won't be the last
No I won't be the last,
To love her

You can't build a house of leaves
And live like it's an evergreen
It's just a season thing
It's just this thing that seasons do

And that's the way this wheel keeps working now
That's the way this wheel keeps working now
And you won't be the first
No you won't be the first
To love me

You can find me, if you ever want again
I'll be around the bend
I'll be around the bend
I'll be around,
I'll be around
And if you never stop when you wave goodbye
You just might find if you give it time
You will wave hello again
You just might wave hello again

And that's the way this wheel keeps working now
That's the way this wheel keeps working now

You can't love too much, one part of it
You can't love too much, one part of it
You can't love too much, one part of it
You can't love too much, one part of it

I believe (You can't love too much, one part of it)
That my life's gonna see (You can't love too much, one part of it)
The love I give (You can't love too much, one part of it)
Return to me (You can't love too much, one part of it)
I believe (You can't love too much, one part of it)
That my life's gonna see (You can't love too much, one part of it)
The love I give, return to me
I believe, that my life's gonna see
The love I give
Return to me


Lyrics submitted by spickly, edited by sophielys

Wheel Lyrics as written by John Mayer

Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Wheel song meanings
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  • +4
    General Comment

    At first, I thought wheel was purely a love song. But when I heard the live version off JM's as/is cd, I started to think its deeper than that...

    "Cause I have a feeling it all evens out... at the very end of your life, you're gonna sit down at the table, and you're gonna shuffle out the good and the bad, and it's all gonna make perfect sense to you when you figure out that in the accounting books it comes up completely even... and then you're gonna ask, 'Well, what was it all for?' and they're gonna say, 'Well you did it, didn't you?'"

    It has an existential double meaning; in the same way you love someone and they move along and you can't control it, you live and die and cant control it. Despite that sort of morbid approach, Mayer twists the existentialism into a "carpe diem"-like upbeat mood... he warns us not too love one part of life too much: not money, not success, not even love. Because, as he says, in the end it all evens out. And that the way, this wheel, keeps working out...

    slowhand2444on August 07, 2008   Link
  • +3
    General Comment

    I feel it describes one of those realationships you know will never work out. But it's the only one you want to.. and there really is no explanation. You try to accept the fact that everyone tells you that you'll find someone else, and they will find someone else too. You imagine being in love with someone else and it's very hard to grasp. I feel people in this world don't follow true love anymore. Love is the most important thing in the world and few people now a days end up truly happy because they just seddle for someone who is "safe"... So they have a safe life, secure with boring jobs with a spouse that you just don't feel enough for to love a lifetime. Wait your turn out and allow the wheel to come back to you. Trust me.. it will be worth it. This song breaks my heart

    frederick22on June 15, 2010   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    i've listened to every mayer song, and analyzed them as well. being only 15, i think i've figured most of them out. i can play most of them on guitar too. but i've always overlooked this song. never one of my favorites, which is wierd,because i'm known as the girl obsessed with john mayer. but i heard him play this song live at the 3rd mayer show i went to, and the emotions are so amazing. there's so much behind it. i was nearly in tears when he played it, it was overwhelming. so much passion and meaning. i've finally got it, but i've only figured out what the lyrics mean to me, i think all of his songs mean different things to different people. but everyone can relate to almost all of his songs, so much talent.

    brittlee4on September 17, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment

    I think that with every song, Mayer gives us a glimpse of his innermost self and of the relationships he has shared with the people that meant the most to him. I believe that Wheel is one of the songs in which he holds nothing back and allows us an unobstructed view of how he truly is feeling. I find that the beauty of this song and all music lies in the fact that Mayer is able to selflessly give his fans something to apply to their own lives. This song is versatile in the way that it allows the listener to take multiple perspectives regarding love and love lost...How you take the song depends on where you are sitting on the wheel. No matter where you sit, this song leaves a lasting impression and has always helped to put things in perspective for me.

    mrrighton March 25, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think this is the most beautiful song he has written...I'm glad to see others (as well as John himself) are so moved by it. Almost every time I hear it I am in tears by the end...

    "you can't love too much one part of it..." One of the truest lyrics...I see it as meaning to love and love deeply but don't allow yourself to loose sight of everything else as the "wheel" will keep on turning.

    "I believe, that my life's gonna see, the love I give returned to me..." What a beautiful way to see the world.

    labradogson December 11, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    i'm a hopeless romantic i know, and i recently had a pretty bad break up with my ex. i really thought we were perfect together, but everything is always changing. In the beginning you dont really want to let go but eventually time tell you to move on and it's sad and it's hard, but it's all how the wheel works. when i heard the last part of the song where it says I believe that my life's gonna see The love I give Return to me I had tears running down my face. i do believe love will return to me.

    ksongboion October 05, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    nd if you never stop when you wave goodbye You just might find if you give it time You will wave hello again You just might wave hello again

    The best part of that song by far....its such a great way of saying if it was meant to be it'll be....great break up song too...it leaves you feeling kinda feeling alright about the whole thing but at the same time hitting your heart the right way...It plays into the whole "I sad and want to listen to a sad song" The melody too keeps you relaxed through the whole song gives you a feeling like everything is gonna be alright...the last lines really help you believe that it really will

    I believe that my life's gonna see The love I give Return to me

    Miiiiikeyyon September 12, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    And you can't build a house of leaves And live like it's an evergreen It's just a season thing It's just this thing that seasons do

    You cant build a relationship out of a weak foundation ( house of leaves) because eventually the seasons will come around and the leaves will die( its just this thing the seasons do). so your heart has to be in it. and to be honest and lay all the cards out on the table.

    alexander0405on October 29, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I love this song. Its heartbreaking yet hopeful at the same time. Basically describes my life at the moment. Love is like a wheel; it keeps turning, no matter what, and the cycle goes on and on. You fall in love, face heartbreak, and yet, despite everything, you fall back in love again and go through that same cycle or wheel.

    To me, the song describes a point in which he realizes this cycle. As much as it hurts, he won't be the last to love her and she won't be the last to love him and he knows it. Additionally, he also has a little bit of hope. Knowing that the wheel will keep turning, he still hopes someday she'll come around and want to open the cycle again.

    almostfamous34on November 01, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Speechless.. A Piece Of Me&A Piece Of Us All Are In Every Last Comment.... We Are All On This Wheel Of Life So I'll See You Round The Bend......Hopefully Again &Again:) Amazing talent &Song..JM Is A Legend..In My Eyes W/Tupac & Michael Jackson Lyrically & I Agree ‎~I Believe That My Life's Gonna See The Love I Give Return To Me~...

    taytaytakenon October 08, 2010   Link

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