I got half a smile and zero shame,
I got a reflection with a different name.
Got a brand new blues that I can't explain.
Who did you think I was?

In the morning when the day begins
I'm makin' my mind but change it back again.
I am a shifter of the shape I'm in.
Who did you think I was?

[Chorus]
You've got my number but I always new the score.
Who did you think I was?

Am I the one who plays the quiet songs?
Is he the one who turns the ladies on?
Will I keep shinein' 'till my light is gone?
Who did you think I was?

[Chorus]

Here is a line that you won't understand,
I'm half of a boy but I'm twice the man,
Carry the weight of the world in the palm of my hand.
Who did you think I was?
Who did you think I was?


Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings

Who Did You Think I Was Lyrics as written by John Clayton Mayer

Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING

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Who Did You Think I Was song meanings
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6 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    WDYTIW is about the move in a new musical direction, but I think it's also saying "this is who you think i am, but this is really me." People think John has no musical talent and I think this song is kind of a f-ck you.

    superdes_318on March 05, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    dude the where the light version of this is SICKNASTY GOOD!!!!! the part where its like "here is the line that you won't understand" and then everything comes back in; THAT is reeeediculous! and even better is that the line really is quality food for thought:

    "here is the line that you won't understand: i'm half of a boy but i'm twice the man"

    i definitely think that this is a little teaser that john is throwing to the top 40 crowd who just listens to his radio hits and doesn't really stop to think about his music. as far as my interpretation of "boy" and "man", i can't seem to fit one interpretation extremely well, but i have a couple. one is that boy refers to his early music career, where he was compared a lot to dave matthews and he was just another acoustic pop star. then man is his shift in musical direction going where very few can go. or, maybe boy refers to his singing talent, where he is only an average singer, but man refers to his guitar talent, where his playing is in a very elite league of guitar gods.

    who knows. maybe i'm crazy. someone else weigh in please!

    lightbulb12on January 04, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Sorry I didn't get the whole first line. I believe this song is about John's new direction with his music and questioning himself as to if he is doing the right thing. Great song!!

    taofafton September 16, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Fixed...

    taofafton November 12, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love this song, cause it seems like he is finishing what he stater to tell people in Bigger than my Body. In that song he is telling people that he is more than what they think he is and one day they will see that. "Someday I'll fly Someday I'll soar Someday I'll be something much more Cause I'm bigger than my body gives me credit for So Who did you think I was is telling them, see I told you this is what I am about, this is what I can do Superdies 318 is right it is alost like he is telling the people who did not believe him and thought wonderland was all he was, that they can go f-ck themsleves.

    ak231510on December 03, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    maybe "I'm half of the boy but I'm twice the man" is about how he was underestimated in the past. Yes, he's still got some of that boy people claimed him to be, but he's also got so much more yet to be shown and discovered. Plus, he's not only the man people want him be, he's twice as much.

    nnfrton December 17, 2010   Link

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