I'll remember it
And Dublin in a rainstorm
And sitting in the long grass in summer
Keeping warm
I'll remember it
Every restless night
We were so young then
We thought that everything
We could possibly do was right
Then we moved
Stolen from our very eyes
And I wondered where you went to
Tell me when did the light die
You will rise
You'll return
The phoenix from the flame
You will learn
You will rise
You'll return
Being what you are
There is no other Troy
For you to burn
And I never meant to hurt you
I swear I didn't mean
Those things I said
I never meant to do that to you
Next time I'll keep my hands to myself instead
Oh, does she love you
What do you want to do?
Does she need you like I do?
Do you love her?
Is she good for you?
Does she hold you like I do?
Do you want me?
Should I leave?
I know you're always telling me
That you love me
Just sometimes I wonder
If I should believe
Oh, I love you
God, I love you
I'd kill a dragon for you
I'll die
But I will rise
And I will return
The Phoenix from the flame
I have learned
I will rise
And you'll see me return
Being what I am
There is no other Troy
For me to burn
And you should've left the light on
You should've left the light on
Then I wouldn't have tried
And you'd never have known
And I wouldn't have pulled you tighter
No I wouldn't have pulled you close
I wouldn't have screamed
No I can't let you go
And the door wasn't closed
No I wouldn't have pulled you to me
No I wouldn't have kissed your face
You wouldn't have begged me to hold you
If we hadn't been there in the first place
Ah but I know you wanted me to be there oh oh
Every look that you threw told me so
But you should've left the light on
You should've left the light on
And the flames burned away
But you're still spitting fire
Make no difference what you say
You're still a liar
You're still a liar
You're still a lawyer



Lyrics submitted by JordyWordy

Track duration: 06:35


Troy song meanings
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11 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:the theories of her lover were what i'd go with, but for me I can resonate with the posting about the parents' divorce, forced move and abandonment of father and family.
    Flagged cheekym65on May 05, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:The last line is not 'lawyer'. In fact there are several errors here, so I wonder where the lyrics come from on this site - presumably not from an official source, so you have to take them with a pinch of salt.

    Nevertheless, a great song, the reference to W.B.Yeats is there for sure (as for many Irish artists; Yeats' works have informed The Pogues, Waterboys, Andy White and others). Personally I think it's just a jilted lover song, albeit more intelligent than most.
    Flag SomeOldGuyon March 22, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Just to clarify, the song does not refer to a lawyer. At the end of the song, she is saying "you're still a liar", not lawyer. This song is amazing.
    Flag jdmac28on September 07, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Her most emotional work. Powerful
    Flag twigletmaniaon October 21, 2009   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:This is a very impassioned song, which elicits some strong emotion. Based on what I've read about Sinead O'Connor, I believe this song is about her father and how her life changed after her parents separated. I interpret the song as trying to convey the emotions she felt as a child when her parents divorced, and how her life was no longer as simple. She starts out by talking about her fond memories as a child when everything was effortless, but then the tone changes and the lyrics talk about how that all disappeared, this is probably referencing the time when her father left and the family probably had to move. The lyrics go on to indicate a child begging for her father to stay, to come back home and make things right again. Her father met another woman and I believe Sinead went to live with them; the later lyrics denote a questioning of her father's new wife and where she as his daughter stands. Some of the meaning behind the lyrics is still unclear, but I think you can get a pretty good idea of what the song is about. The last line "you're still a lawyer" makes it clear this is about her father, who was a barrister in Ireland.
    Flag MichaelDRennieon May 20, 2008   Link
  • +2
    General Comment:I've always loved this song, but the meaning recently fell into place a little more for me when I read the poem "No Second Troy" by WB Yeats. Here it is:

    Why should I blame her that she filled my days
    With misery, or that she would of late
    Have taught to ignorant men most violent ways,
    Or hurled the little streets upon the great.
    Had they but courage equal to desire?
    What could have made her peaceful with a mind
    That nobleness made simple as a fire,
    With beauty like a tightened bow, a kind
    That is not natural in an age like this,
    Being high and solitary and most stern?
    Why, what could she have done, being what she is?
    Was there another Troy for her to burn?
    Flag mld1989on December 12, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Right here:
    No I wouldn't have pulled you to me
    No I wouldn't have kissed your face
    You wouldn't have begged me to hold you
    If we hadn't been there in the first place

    on the second line, her voice is beyond words.

    Throughout the whole song, actually, but especially there.
    Flag iluomoon December 12, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:An absolute masterpiece.
    Flag sokrateszon November 08, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:This song is and probably will always be Sinead O'Connor's most enduring masterpiece, even if a certain Prince cover gets more attention. It's devastatingly beautiful and beautifully devastating. It's half tragic and half triumphant in a manner that seeks parallels but has a hard time finding them. If you haven't heard it, you haven't lived. Nothing compares to...er, this.
    Flag raffishtenant2on October 27, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This is a phenomenal song from Sinead O'Connor and besides it, on a purely objective level, probably being her greatest track, it's also my favorite.
    Flag mcilrogaon September 29, 2007   Link

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