You were wrong when you said everything's gonna be alright
You were wrong when you said everything's gonna be alright

You were right when you said all that glitters isn't gold
You were right when you said all we are is dust in the wind
You were right when you said we're all just bricks in the wall
And when you said manic depression's a frustrated mess

You were wrong when you said everything's gonna be alright
You were wrong when you said everything's gonna be alright
You were wrong when you said everything's gonna be alright

You were right when you said you can't always get what you want
You were right when you said it's a hard rain's gonna fall
You were right when you said we're still running against the wind
Life goes on long after the thrill of living is gone
You were right when you said this is the end

Do you ever think about it?
Do you ever think about it?
Do you ever think about it?
Do you ever think about it?


Lyrics submitted by swomprat, edited by bof

You Were Right song meanings
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48 Comments

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  • +2
    General Comment

    Damn, "aRealFake" is an idiot.

    I think this song is about a breakup or a depression and just being able to relate your life by the music you hear. When you're in a good mood, happy music like Marley. When you're down and out, then negative lyrics in songs stand out as truth a whole hell of a lot more.

    Unrighton May 03, 2006   Link
  • +2
    Link(s)

    Quotes from Classic Rock songs explained here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You_WereRight(Built_to_Spill_song)

    RadioDetoxon July 06, 2012   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Ok guys, here's how it works:

    • "Everything's gonna be alright"
      • "No Woman, No Cry" - Bob Marley
    • "All that glitters isn't gold"
      • "Stairway to Heaven" - Led Zeppelin
    • "All we are is dust in the wind"
      • "Dust in the Wind" - Kansas
    • "We're all just bricks in the wall"
      • "The Wall" - Pink Floyd
    • "Manic Depression's A frustrated mess"
      • "Manic Depression" - Jimi Hendrix
    • "You can't always get what you want"
      • "You can't always get what you want" - Rolling Stones
    • "It's a hard rain's gonna fall"
      • "Hard Rain's gonna Fall" - Bob Dylan
    • "We're still running against the wind"
      • "Against The Wind" - Bob Seger
    • "Life goes on long after the thrill of living is gone"
      • "Jack and Diane" - John Cougar Mellencamp
    • "This is the end"
      • "The End" - The Doors

    There you have it. All that's correct. And Doug Martsch is a musical genious to think of incorporating all of those songs into one compilation like this. It's great and just testament to his amazing ability as a song writer.

    JimmyJimJimon May 12, 2003   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    bizarre- that is true but i'm sure he's referring to "stairway to heaven" because its all song lyrics

    wishiwasemoon June 30, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    a break up song. we can all relate.

    kaijaon June 08, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    i think he talks about the effect of music on his life through out his relationships if you notice he quotes all the famous songs

    Hindenbergon August 17, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This songs gives me chill bumps evertime i hear it. I feel like crying, but i'm too cool for that. Very well put together song. I love it mucho!

    weezerockon September 27, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It's made up of lines from other songs... I wish I remembered the website, cuz I don't know much of the songs they were taken from. Only one I know for certain is the "all that glitters isnt gold" from Stairway to Heaven.

    BurningBrazilon March 07, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Some of the lyrics I think from other songs are...

    "everything's gonna be alright" -Bryan Adams "C'mon C'mon C'mon" possibly?

    "all that glitters isn't gold" -Led Zeppelin "Stairway To Heaven"

    "all we are is dust in the wind" -Kansas "Dust In The Wind"

    "we are all just bricks in the wall" -Pink Floyd "Another Brick In The Wall"

    "you can't always get what you want" -Rolling Stones "You Can't Always Get What You Want"

    Anyways this a great song and Built to Spill is a band I hope will continue to stay around for a long time.

    insulatedsoulon March 08, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Some of the lyrics I think from other songs are...

    "everything's gonna be alright" -Bryan Adams "C'mon C'mon C'mon" possibly?

    "all that glitters isn't gold" -Led Zeppelin "Stairway To Heaven"

    "all we are is dust in the wind" -Kansas "Dust In The Wind"

    "we are all just bricks in the wall" -Pink Floyd "Another Brick In The Wall"

    "you can't always get what you want" -Rolling Stones "You Can't Always Get What You Want"

    Anyways this a great song and Built to Spill is a band I hope will continue to stay around for a long time.

    insulatedsoulon March 08, 2003   Link

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