This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
I don't want to get over you
I guess I could take a sleeping pill
And sleep at will
And not have to go through what I go through
I guess I should take Prozac, right
And just smile all night
At somebody new
Somebody not too bright
But sweet and kind
Who would try to get you off my mind
I could leave this agony behind
Which is just what I'd do
If I wanted to
But I don't want to get over you
'Cause I don't want to get over love
I could listen to my therapist
Pretend you don't exist
And not have to dream of what I dream of
I could listen to all my friends
And go out again
And pretend it's enough
Or I could make a career of being blue
I could dress in black and read Camus
Smoke clove cigarettes and drink vermouth
Like I was seventeen
That would be a scream
But I don't want to get over you
I guess I could take a sleeping pill
And sleep at will
And not have to go through what I go through
I guess I should take Prozac, right
And just smile all night
At somebody new
Somebody not too bright
But sweet and kind
Who would try to get you off my mind
I could leave this agony behind
Which is just what I'd do
If I wanted to
But I don't want to get over you
'Cause I don't want to get over love
I could listen to my therapist
Pretend you don't exist
And not have to dream of what I dream of
I could listen to all my friends
And go out again
And pretend it's enough
Or I could make a career of being blue
I could dress in black and read Camus
Smoke clove cigarettes and drink vermouth
Like I was seventeen
That would be a scream
But I don't want to get over you
Lyrics submitted by wickedlittlegirl
I Don't Want to Get Over You Lyrics as written by Stephin Raymond Merritt
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"--I could dress in black and read Camus, smoke clove cigarettes and drink vermouth like I was 17 that would be a scream " hilarious. fantastic song once again.
Totally my first boyfriend. Except without the self-awareness.
fucking genius!
Stephen Merrit does it again. With the way he can set up a true-to-life scenario with few words and make you feel all the pain or elation he went experienced, I consider his songs bona fide poetry, right up there with the masters: Morrissey, Nick Drake, The Flaming Lips, and Neutral Milk Hotel. Just wonderful.
You were not living, you were existing, then.
"I could leave this agony behind which is just what I'd do if I wanted to, but I don't want to get over you cause I don't want to get over love
the feelin of being in love is so powerfull he doesn't want to quit, even though he's suffering so. love is his drug!
I ADORE this song. and i don't wanna get over it!!
Cause I don't want to get over love...
&
I could listen to all my friends And go out again And pretend it's enough....
= favorite lines.
i'm conflicted as to whether or not a hip-hop song would be cool coming from stephin merritt, but that'd be almost out of character..
ha - brilliant song. He just captures so much reality in words its alarming !
he's amazing all right....i've never read any lyrics like his....they are so sex! :)
he really manages to satirize every type of music, doesn't he?