Your grand dad left home for the circus
He was young just like me,
with hope to explore
He married a girl in Virginia
She could swing the trapeze,
they could sleep on the floor

Your mother was born in December,
on the one sunny day that winter gave up
With warm summer eyes that flickered like fireflies,
and she stared at the world

So why do you leave these stories unfinished,
my Cheshire cat doorstop with tears in your eyes?
And why do you look when you've already found it?
And what did you find that would leave you walking by?

She was raised in a New England village
Then she moved to LA with her firefly stare,
and you loved sunset strip when it sparkled
You grew up and you sparkled, but why don't you care?

And why do you leave these stories unfinished,
my Cheshire cat doorstop with tears in your eyes?
And why do you look when you've already found me?
And what did you find that would leave you walking by?

And these nights I get high just from breathing
When I lie here with you I'm sure that I'm real
like that firework over the freeway
I could stay here all day but that's not how you feel

So why do you leave these questions unanswered?
The circus awaits and you're already gone
My Cheshire cat doorstop with fear in your smile,
what makes it so easy for you to be walking by?
And what did I do that you can't seem to want me?
And why do we lie here and whisper goodbyes?
Where can I go that your pictures won't haunt me?
What makes it so easy for you to be walking by?
Walking by



Lyrics submitted by LittleNemo

Track duration: 04:30


Walking By song meanings
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216 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:it has taken me so long to interpret this song, but i feel it is about how him or the girl he is singing about haven't realised their feelings for each other, and the perseverance that it took before they realised what they felt. the references to the family and how much time they spent together show they know eachother very well but don't what to do with their connection.

    i love the 'cheshire cat doorstep' part, makes me think of how he remembers clearly each time she leaves him and how precious each day is they spent together.

    also get a sense of guilt with all the rhetorical questions in the last verse, with how what he's done isn't good enough
    Flag FloSeyon November 18, 2012   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:maybe he's confused that she's smiling all the time, so he explores her background (her grand-dad, parents, etc) and realises she is lost and uncertain but smiles all the time to hide it.
    Flag RyanGillianon November 04, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:some of the lyrics to this song are just amazing.

    Your mother was born in December,
    on the one sunny day that winter gave up
    ___

    The part that gets me every time:

    And these nights I get high just from breathing
    When I lie here with you I'm sure that I'm real
    like that firework over the freeway
    I could stay here all day but that's not how you feel
    Flag WaitByAPalmTreeon October 25, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Andrew says what this song is about... his wife, Kelly:

    When I was working on the Audioboxer EP with the boys, I happened to meet a nice young girl in the process. Two days before the record was finishing up, I wrote this song in an attempt to win her affections. I called the guys on the phone and was like, “I know the record is almost done, but can I please add this song? I think it might help me.” And it did because I ended up marrying that girl.



    youtube.com/…
    Flag xxmodernloveon April 29, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:cheshire cat doorstop is referring to a time when andrew was little and his sisters attacked him with this cheshire cat doorstop they had. it was an inside joke. he told the story at a show I was at.
    and this song was written for kelly, the girl he is married to.
    Flag rentsarehighon April 07, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is such an excellent song, I love it, even though it is sad.
    "Cheshire cat doorstop" is referencing from Alice in Wonderland, who always smiled. So it's like she's standing there, smiling but crying. It's very moving.
    I also think, with the 'doorstop' part, it means that she's stopping him from closing his 'door' on her. He can't forget her, no matter what, even though his heart's breaking. Even though she's leaving, she's his smiling 'doorstop.'
    Flag idcfouron December 24, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I think in this song, he loves he greatly and she loves him but she just hasn't realized it yet. He knows she loves him but he can't get her to see it.
    Flag jamnj9on November 16, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is just incredible. Everythin Andrew McMahon does is amazing. The live version of Walking By from their DVD is pretty spectacular. youtube.com/… I actually prefer this to the original recording.
    Flag Chadillac22s05on July 27, 2009   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation:This is beautiful, sad song about longing...the girl he loves used to tell him stories, but left them unfinished when she leaves him...

    "Chesire cat doorstop"-the chesire cat from "Alice in Wonderland" disappears and reappears, with a big grin on its face...doorstops keep doors open. The girl must have left him without explaining, looking for somebody else. The singer can't let go of the past because she is the "doorstop" keeping the door of the past opened...
    Flag cooldason March 21, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:my favorite lines are the "you loved sunset strip when it sparkled
    you grew up and you sparkled, but why dont you care"

    make me want to cry but so amazing and emotional
    i absolutely LOVE andrew
    Flag trsjmsocoon January 03, 2009   Link

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