All that time I was searching, nowhere to run to, it started me thinking,
Wondering what I could make of my life, who'd be waiting,
Asking all kinds of questions, to myself, but never finding the answers,
Crying at the top of my voice, no one listening,
All this time, I still remember everything you said
There's so much you promised, how could I ever forget.

Listen, you know I love you, but I just can't take this,
You know I love you, but I'm playing for keeps,
Although I need you, I'm not gonna make this,
You know I want to, but I'm in too deep.

So listen, listen to me,
You must believe me,
I can feel your eyes go through me,
But I don't know why.

I know you're going, but I can't believe it's the way that you're leaving,
It's like we never knew each other at all, it may be my fault,
I gave you too many reasons, being alone, when I didn't want to
I thought you'd always be there, I almost believed you,
All this time, I still remember everything you said,
There's so much you promised, how could I ever forget.

Listen, you know I love you, but I just can't take this,
You know I love you, but I'm playing for keeps,
Although I need you, I'm not gonna make this,
You know I want to, but I'm in too deep.

So listen, listen to me,
I can feel your eyes go through me

It seems I've spent too long
Only thinking about myself
Now I want to spend my life
Just caring bout somebody else.

Listen, you know I love you, but I just can't take this,
You know I love you, but I'm playing for keeps,
Although I need you, I'm not gonna make this,
You know I want to, but I'm in too deep.



Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae

Track duration: 05:03

"In Too Deep" as written by Michael/collins Rutherford

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


In Too Deep song meanings
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33 Comments

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  • 0
    My Opinion:One of their best songs this one. There's a bit of room for interpretation in the lyrics; the bloke going off and having affairs, marriage breakdown, unrequited love between two 'friends'...

    Some great lines, best i think;

    It seems I've spent too long
    Only thinking about myself
    Now I want to spend my life
    Just caring bout somebody else.
    Flag YesItsMrPon October 27, 2012   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:"All this time, I still remember everything you said".
    Yep. I always will. Every word that You said. :)
    One of their best songs,and they have a lot of great songs.
    Flag vulnaviaon September 10, 2012   Link
  • +2
    My Interpretation:Everytime I hear this song, I think about him, and I can almost hear him singing it to me...

    He was just so stuck with all his thoughts, about the past and the future, what he had done or could do with his life, that he forgot to care for her, to actually notice that there WAS somebody there for him, instead of just wondering who would be later on. He lived too much in the future, forgetting to enjoy the present. He had too many personal problems and issues, so that kept him from making a move and going for it, even when she promised she would alwaywas be there, no matter what happened between them.

    And he said he loved her, but since he didn't want to have any kind of relationship with her, other than friendship (because of his many personal issues), she came to a point where she thought everything he said was a lie. How could he really love her, if he wasn't gonna try anything? Why not give her the chance, then? So she confronted him and told him everything was a lie.

    But... According to him, everything was true. He DID love her, but he just had too many problems at the time. His mind was so troubled that he couldn't just start a relationship with anyone, since he knew it would be no good. He would end up hurting her, and messing up what they already had. First he had to change all the bad things in his life, so then they could be together in the future.
    He did want her, real bad... But he couldn't take all of it at the time, it was too much for him.

    So, time took its toll on her, and she realized she couldn't just be there on her knees for someone who would never live up to her; she was fighting a war she could not win, or so she thought. She really REALLY loved him so much, but she wouldn't wait forever. She had to be happy as well, and to be happy she had to forget him. But since they spoke everyday and were just as good friends as ever... She had to cut through that friendship, no matter how much it hurted; it was necessary, and he would understand it was for her good.

    After this happened, he just couldn't believe it. Was she for real? What about everything she said and promised? He thought she would always wait for him, no matter what...
    He sort of understood, since he was the one who didn't want to try things out, the one who didn't give her a chance, even when he loved her so much and wanted to be with her, just at the same time he felt so lonely.
    But why just end it up all at once? Not talking anymore, like they were strangers... Did she really hate him that much? Now he had no hope after all, since he thought she was the only one who could understand him, and he almost believed it. But no, she left, and he's alone again.

    And now it's about time he acknowledged all the mistakes he's done. He ruined everything by worrying only about himself and his problems; he spent so much time on it, that he forgot to enjoy life at it's fullest. The fear got a hold on him, so that kept him from trying, and that was what ruined their relationship.
    But he would not make the same mistake again. Now, when the right person came in, he would spend that same time he did on himself, just caring about her, whoever she might be. 'Cause now it was too late to try it with this woman. And he still loves her, and wants her to never forget it or to ever doubt it, because it's true.

    He really wanted to, but he couldn't...

    And that's my interpretation, since that's how I relate to it. It's purely personal, ok?
    Flag mariiguanaon April 09, 2012   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:This song can mean many things, due to the ambiguity of the lyrics. Here is my interpretation, based on life experience.

    For me, this is a song about alienation and mistrust of your loved one, and paying the price for realizing too late that in being self-protective you shut your lover out, and yet still being unable to connect with that person, even though you know you should. The trust is already broken with that person because they know you don’t trust them, and they are so hurt by your actions that they do not trust you in return.

    The first stanza relates to contemplation; the narrator describing what he kept thinking about within his isolation, and what made him self-protective in the first place. He felt she was never there; that she should have known how alone he felt inside, even though he never communicated to her the isolation he felt. (“Crying at the top of my lungs, with no one listening”)

    The second stanza refers to the surprise of their lover leaving, because he wanted to believe in the promises she made him when their relationship first started (or, in Phil Collins’ case, their marriage vows). He does admit that he bears some responsibility; that he did push her away with his distance. But—he also expected her to ride out the tough times, to understand him when he withdrew from her. When she is leaving him, it’s “like we never knew each other at all,” because, for him, she should have known the reason why he isolated himself, and how lonely he was inside. He thought she’d always be there for him (like she promised in the refrains), but, in being self-protective, he knew to expect the worst—“I almost believed you”, and therefore could not trust her because he never felt she understood him. There is a sense of betrayal here:
    He knows he is to blame for not trusting her, but yet he blames her for not searching for him emotionally when he alienated her.

    All this time, he hasn’t forgotten her words to him. She promised to be with him, good times or bad. He depended on her to keep her word to him.

    The chorus is about the conflicting emotions he feels inside.
    He knows he loves her, but he can’t take the situation (and the way he perceives she is abandoning him)
    He knows he loves her, but he’s playing to protect himself
    He knows he needs her, but he won’t make himself vulnerable to her
    He knows he wants to open up to her, but he’s in too deep with mistrust.

    He begs her to listen to him, but she can see right though him. She doesn’t believe him anymore.

    He now knows he’s been selfish, and he realizes the price.
    He wants to love her now, but it’s too late; she’s leaving, breaking away from him.
    He’s going to spend the rest of his life loving her alone, without her.
    Flag dr21on February 20, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The song is quite simple- it's about an affair. The singer is going back to his wife-

    "It seems I've spent too long
    Only thinking about myself - oh
    Now I want to spend my life
    Just caring bout somebody else."

    This was also used in another context in a Hoskins movie- Mona Lisa I think- about a petty criminal trying to save a prostitute.
    Flag TheAirKingon January 07, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:its about a guy who took a girl for granted and he kept hurting her by going with other women and then when he was about to settle down he go "in too deep" with one of them...and couldn't turn back. (not gonna make this)...
    Flag topofthemillon November 11, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:please don't judge this:

    i believe this is about the guy who broke up with the girl. and i don't believe that the order of the lyrics is NOT chronologically arranged.

    "All that time I was searching, nowhere to run to, it started me thinking,
    Wondering what I could make of my life, and who'd be waiting,
    Asking all kinds of questions, to myself, but never finding the answers,
    Crying at the top of my voice, and no one listening,
    All this time, I still remember everything you said
    There's so much you promised, how could I ever forget."

    this is the girl's point of view that after the guy broke up with her, this is what she has been feeling: lost, confused, and isolated. and she held on to the guy's promises that he will never leave her and what not, but he still did.

    "Listen, you know I love you, but I just can't take this,
    You know I love you, but I'm playing for keeps,
    Although I need you, I'm not gonna make this,
    You know I want to, but I'm in too deep."

    and this is the girl's take if the guy will ever go back to her: that she will not take back the guy even if she loves him so much, because she is in too deep with the sorrow she has been feeling.

    "Ooh I know you're going, but I can't believe
    It's the way that you're leaving,
    It's like we never knew each other at all, it may be my fault,
    I gave you too many reasons, being alone, when I didn't want to
    I thought you'd always be there, I almost believed you."

    the guy broke up with her and gotten back with her for so many times, and she has no upper hand in the relationship in terms of its longevity. the guy still left her even if he was the one who got back with her in the first place. she was demanding and had so many expectations because the guy told her that he's not going to leave her again, and that what is meant by giving too many reasons of being alone. all the girl really wanted was assurance and proof that this time they'll last, so she was badgering the guy to show her that he meant what he said that he's never going to leave again. and she almost believed him, up until the time he broke up with her again.

    "It seems I've spent too long
    Only thinking about myself - oh
    Now I want to spend my life
    Just caring bout somebody else."

    the girl held on and spent all her time waiting for the guy even if he was the one who's always breaking the relationship apart. and that is what thinking about myself means. that she has given so much in the relationship so she thinks it's worth it to expect and wait for the guy's return, again and again. and it came to a point that finally she wants to move on, to not go back to that situation again, and just look for a new person that she can love: somebody else, just not him, again.

    yes, i am currently experiencing that situation, so please don't judge me. i know i am irritating, impulsive, and a nagger. but everytime the guys does something bad to me, i just express my anger, but i never did call it quits, and i always apologize and take back every hurtful words i've said because it's just me showing how angry and hurt i am for what he did. it was always him who's leaving me for four times now. :(
    Flag allaloneinthison August 18, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:please don't judge this:

    i believe this is about the guy who broke up with the girl. and i don't believe that the order of the lyrics is chronologically arranged.

    "All that time I was searching, nowhere to run to, it started me thinking,
    Wondering what I could make of my life, and who'd be waiting,
    Asking all kinds of questions, to myself, but never finding the answers,
    Crying at the top of my voice, and no one listening,
    All this time, I still remember everything you said
    There's so much you promised, how could I ever forget."

    this is the girl's point of view that after the guy broke up with her, this is what she has been feeling: lost, confused, and isolated. and she held on to the guy's promises that he will never leave her and what not, but he still did.

    "Listen, you know I love you, but I just can't take this,
    You know I love you, but I'm playing for keeps,
    Although I need you, I'm not gonna make this,
    You know I want to, but I'm in too deep."

    and this is the girl's take if the guy will ever go back to her: that she will not take back the guy even if she loves him so much, because she is in too deep with the sorrow she has been feeling.

    "Ooh I know you're going, but I can't believe
    It's the way that you're leaving,
    It's like we never knew each other at all, it may be my fault,
    I gave you too many reasons, being alone, when I didn't want to
    I thought you'd always be there, I almost believed you."

    the guy broke up with her and gotten back with her for so many times, and she has no upper hand in the relationship in terms of its longevity. the guy still left her even if he was the one who got back with her in the first place. she was demanding and had so many expectations because the guy told her that he's not going to leave her again, and that what is meant by giving too many reasons of being alone. all the girl really wanted was assurance and proof that this time they'll last, so she was badgering the guy to show her that he meant what he said that he's never going to leave again. and she almost believed him, up until the time he broke up with her again.

    "It seems I've spent too long
    Only thinking about myself - oh
    Now I want to spend my life
    Just caring bout somebody else."

    the girl held on and spent all her time waiting for the guy even if he was the one who's always breaking the relationship apart. and that is what thinking about myself means. that she has given so much in the relationship so she thinks it's worth it to expect and wait for the guy's return, again and again. and it came to a point that finally she wants to move on, to not go back to that situation again, and just look for a new person that she can love: somebody else, just not him, again.

    yes, i am currently experiencing that situation, so please don't judge me. i know i am irritating, impulsive, and a nagger. but everytime the guys does something bad to me, i just express my anger, but i never did call it quits, and i always apologize and take back every hurtful words i've said because it's just me showing how angry and hurt i am for what he did. it was always him who's leaving me for four times now. :(
    Flag allaloneinthison August 18, 2011   Link
  • +3
    My Interpretation:I've always thought of this song as a guy who loves the girl perhaps more than she loves him. He's letting her go before its too late for him to love someone else. He knows this isn't going to work despite how much he wants it to.
    Flagged peptasticon May 25, 2011   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:To me this song is about a person who was not giving enough love to the girl in his life .. and though she promised a lot , now that since she didnt get reciprocation from him.. she is moving on.

    And he though he didnt treat her as she should have been, always took her for granted that she will be with him and now that she is leaving he could not believe it.

    He realizes that he needs her .. to care for her.. but now she is with some one else and
    though he wants to get back to her and make her his own, he could not do it. And he is not able to take it.

    Flag Indhuon April 08, 2011   Link

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