Well your eyes just haven't been the same, Joseph
Are you bad at dealing with the fame, Joseph
There's a pale moonshine, above you
Do you see both sides, do they shove you, around

Is the touchstone forcing you to hide, Joseph
Are the rumors eating you alive, Joseph

When the holy night is upon you
Will you do what's right, the position is yours

From the temple walls to the New York night
Our decisions rest on a child
When she took her stand
Did she hold your hand
Will your faith stand still or run away
Run away

When they've driven you so far
That you think you're gonna drop
Do you wish you were back there at the carpenter shop

With the plane and the lathe
The work never drove you mad
You're a maker, a creator
Not just somebody's dad

From the temple walls to the New York night
Our decisions rest on a man
When I take the stand
When I take the stand
Will he hold my hand
Will my faith stand still or run away

(Run away)

And the desert
It's a hell of a place to find heaven
Forty years lost in the wilderness looking for God
And you climb to the top of the mountain
Looking down on the city
Where you were born

(On the years since you left gave you time to sit back and reflect)

Better you than me (better you than me)
Better you than me
Yes

Well the Holy night is upon you (better you than me, better you than me)
Do you see both sides, do they shove you, around

Better you than me, Joseph (better you than me)
Better you than me
Joseph, Joseph, Joseph, Joseph
Than me
Better you than me
Better you than me (better you, better you, better you)
Than me

Well your eyes just haven?t been the same, Joseph


Lyrics submitted by ShotgunXXWedding, edited by unillama

Joseph, Better You Than Me Lyrics as written by Elton John Neil Tennant

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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Joseph, Better You Than Me song meanings
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  • +1
    General Comment

    This song sounds like it's about the decision of Joseph to keep the pregnant Mary in the Nativity Story. Mary was pregnant with Jesus at the time, conceived by the Holy Spirit. This could certainly be seen by her contemporaries as some lame excuse, and Joseph had to make a decision to leave her or keep her. According to ancient Jewish customs, he was supposed to leave her, and he was going to (albeit in secret to keep her honor) but was visited by an Angel in a dream telling him to keep her and to name the baby Jesus. I would have to look closer but this song seems like it references this decision, and concludes "better you than me" to make the decision, as in Brandon Flowers admits he wouldn't want to have had to made such a difficult decision. Oh, and Elton John too. Heh.

    Godspeace21on December 18, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    No one has commented yet??

    Not sure about this one, think its growing on me though.....

    glyricson December 08, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Needs a little less Elton John and a bit more Killers me thinks!

    Jay1251on December 09, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    ^yep lol i totally agree. elton john is....well elton john. and the killers are rock geniuses!

    killersss1on December 17, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Ya, this one's about Joseph from the bible. "Bad at dealin with the fame" = all the people around bringing gifts to baby jesus and other things. he's not used to all these people around him like a celebrity almost.

    "Are the rumors eatin you alive" = he didnt conseive the baby so people are bound to talk....

    "When she took her stand did she hold your hand Will your faith stand still or run away" = Will you stay with Mary, or leave her?

    "And the desert It's a hell of a place to find heaven Forty years lost in the wilderness looking for God" = This is referring to Moses leading the Jews out of Egypt. Not sure how this fits in with Joseph, considering he would have been born yet...

    "Better you than me Joseph" = This is obviously a hard situation to be in so the singers are saying they couldnt handle this much responsibility, and 'good for you Joseph' kind of thing

    Great song....at least thats how i take this song.

    Billy2322on December 23, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    jasalan28on December 26, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    idk, this at certain points i am willing to bet isnt brandon... is someone else singing with him?

    silversunloveon September 24, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    AHAHA scratch that last comment...

    silversunloveon September 24, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    40 years in the desert is about the isrealites going across the desert it fits because it's comparing his and the isrealites expirences and saying God taught them both stuff (least I take it in that way)......and also maybe more theologically they they meant it. The isrealights were gods chosen people and were carrying forth his plan by crossing the desert to reach the promised land, J+M were crossing the desert for Jesus to be born in beth (and fufill the prophets) so they were also carrying forth God's plan

    timekeeperon June 01, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i thought moses was involved with the crossing of irsaletes? who's joseph? it doesn't fit with the joseph sold in egypt? I don't get the song.

    charliepop500on October 04, 2011   Link

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