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He came from somewhere back in her long ago
The sentimental fool don't see
Trying hard to recreate
What had yet to be created once in her life
She musters a smile
For his nostalgic tale
Never coming near what he wanted to say
Only to realize
It never really was
[Chorus]
She had a place in his life
He never made her think twice
As he rises to her apology
Anybody else would surely know
He's watching her go
But what a fool believes he sees
No wise man has the power to reason away
What seems to be
Is always better than nothing
And nothing at all keeps sending him
Somewhere back in her long ago
Where he can still believe there's a place in her life
Someday, somewhere, she will return
[Chorus]
But what a fool believes he sees
No wise man has the power to reason away
What seems to be
Is always better than nothing
There's nothing at all
But what a fool believes he sees
The sentimental fool don't see
Trying hard to recreate
What had yet to be created once in her life
She musters a smile
For his nostalgic tale
Never coming near what he wanted to say
Only to realize
It never really was
[Chorus]
She had a place in his life
He never made her think twice
As he rises to her apology
Anybody else would surely know
He's watching her go
But what a fool believes he sees
No wise man has the power to reason away
What seems to be
Is always better than nothing
And nothing at all keeps sending him
Somewhere back in her long ago
Where he can still believe there's a place in her life
Someday, somewhere, she will return
[Chorus]
But what a fool believes he sees
No wise man has the power to reason away
What seems to be
Is always better than nothing
There's nothing at all
But what a fool believes he sees
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song was written, in a camouflaged way, from the perspective of
the guy - another of the comments said it was ironic that the tune
was so bouncy for such sad stuff - combining these, it's brilliant,
becuz the guy is still, incredibly, upbeat and hopeful, like the music
is - my curiousity would be, as Loggins/MacDonald co-wrote the
song, who did what? both guys are great composers, and probably
both shared lyrics and music - I'm leaning towards MacDonald doing
most of the tune, Loggins most of the lyrics
Kidding. But the same thing happened to me. To her I was a young dude ski instructor that would do nicely to get over her divorce. We had a great time. She moved on and I could never tell her what my true feelings for her were because I figured out what was going on. But it was too late and the damage was done.
I couldnt listen to this song for the longest time because of that.
and here is why...We have a tenancy not to age the people we have loved or love over long periods of time.
We view this relationship as static...everything sort of freezes until the next interaction or meeting "updates" our memory.
Here is what I would add...she once loved him...at the time he was not ready...since then, over time, she moved on. Time passes and he now believes there is a place in her life but now she has moved on.
As far as the song goes, I see it coming from the perspective of the guy. Over the years he has cherished memories of this girl and the times they had. All this time he thought she shared those memories too. And, now that they are together again, he thinks he can rekindle the relationship by recounting them. Unfortunately, she either forgot them, or never saw those experiences as important in the first place. He had always reserved a place for her in his memories, but she didn't do him the same courtesy. The more he tries to share what he sees as a common bond, the more it alienates her. Even as he thinks he is making progress, she is slipping away.
"She had a place in his life" I think this is from her point of view. At one time long ago, she wanted to be with him and have a place in his life. This is also saying he never made the comittment to her.
"He never made her think twice" , and probably took her for granted. She eventually moved on,and he never gave her reason to think twice about leaving him, she felt there was no hope.
As time went by, the guy meets her again and thinks she will return, but he has never come to terms with the fact that she has moved on, and for him, it is better to believe they will someday get together, than to admit and realize there is nothing at all.
What a great song and lyrics.. I like the fact that the song can carry so many different meanings.
"what a fool believes he sees
the wise man has the power
to reason away
what seems to be
is always better than nothing
nothing at all"
most poignant. lyrics. evar.