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People say I'm crazy, doing what I'm doing
Well, they give me all kinds of warnings to save me from ruin
When I say that I'm okay, well, they look at me kinda strange
"Surely, you're not happy now, you no longer play the game"
People say I'm lazy, dreaming my life away
Well, they give me all kinds of advice designed to enlighten me
When I tell them that I'm doing fine watching shadows on the wall
"Don't you miss the big time, boy. You're no longer on the ball"
I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
I really love to watch them roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
I just had to let it go
Ahhh, people ask me questions, lost in confusion
Well, I tell them there's no problem, only solutions
Well, they shake their heads and they look at me as if I've lost my mind
I tell them there's no hurry, I'm just sitting here doing time
I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
I really love to watch them roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
I just had to let it go
I just had to let it go
I just had to let it go...
Well, they give me all kinds of warnings to save me from ruin
When I say that I'm okay, well, they look at me kinda strange
"Surely, you're not happy now, you no longer play the game"
People say I'm lazy, dreaming my life away
Well, they give me all kinds of advice designed to enlighten me
When I tell them that I'm doing fine watching shadows on the wall
"Don't you miss the big time, boy. You're no longer on the ball"
I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
I really love to watch them roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
I just had to let it go
Ahhh, people ask me questions, lost in confusion
Well, I tell them there's no problem, only solutions
Well, they shake their heads and they look at me as if I've lost my mind
I tell them there's no hurry, I'm just sitting here doing time
I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round
I really love to watch them roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round
I just had to let it go
I just had to let it go
I just had to let it go...
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People say I'm crazy, doing what I'm doing (leaving the music business)
Well, they give me all kinds of warnings to save me from ruin (if you leave you wont make it to the top again)
When I say that I'm okay, well, they look at me kinda strange (He fine just taking care of his kid)
"Surely, you're not happy now, you no longer play the game" (Cant be happy since your not making music or in the music business anymore)
People say I'm lazy, dreaming my life away
Well, they give me all kinds of advice designed to enlighten me (encourgement that he could be a father and musician at the same time.)
When I tell them that I'm doing fine watching shadows on the wall ( he ok watching his kid grow up)
"Don't you miss the big time, boy. You're no longer on the ball" ("Dont you want to be 1# in the music business again?")
I'm just sitting here watching the wheels go round and round (Him watching his kid group up over time)
I really love to watch them roll (He loves watching his kid grow up)
No longer riding on the merry-go-round (No longer worrying about his own life but him having to worry about his son growing up)
I just had to let it go (had to leave the business to raise his kid.)
Of course this is my point of view so let me know what you think.
Read more at songmeanings.net/songs/view/8688/
I was a photojournalist that worked my way up to a major newspaper in a highly competitive field. Eventually I became director of photography. I didn't like the person I had become. I had ulcers. My marriage and kids were suffering. So, "I just had to let it go."
I completely threw away my 15-year photojournalism career in a blink of an eye to become a wedding photographer, and stay-at-home Dad during the week. People DID say I was crazy. People did try to give me advice on why I should get back in the game. I lost my friends who could no longer relate to me. People judged me for "losing my ambition." I lost the identity I had my entire adult life.
One day, this song came on the radio and I realized every word of it could be the anthem for what I was going through. My eyes filled up with tears and I just started crying. It was as if I had finally gotten the opportunity to grieve over the loss of a loved one—my former identity.
Here was John Lennon telling me it was okay to make the choice I had made. That I wasn't crazy after all. That everybody else might not understand, but that is okay as long as I do.
Ever since that moment, this song has been the anthem for my life. The ultimate symbol for empowering yourself to take charge of your life, control your own destiny and let others think whatever they are going to think.
Thank you so much John Lennon.
I think few people have already actually hit the nail on the head. John Lennon was infatuated with his son Sean and spent 5 years as a stay-at-home dad. In fact, John hired a photographer to photograph his son every day for the first year of his life. Watching the Wheels is just his response to the public's unfair reaction to him getting out of the spot light. What is truly sad is how John, in the song, talks like he has all the time in the world...but he dies before this song is even released. It's a true message to live everyday like your last. And it hit's me right at home because my mother just died of cancer at the age of 41....life's cruel, and you can never take it for granted. But, John was happy with what he was doing, and he probably died with less regrets then he would of had if he neglected Sean.