Slow dancing
On the boulevard
In the quiet moments
While the city's still dark

Sleepwalking through the summer rain
In the tired spaces
You could hear her name

When she was warm and tender and you
Pulled her arms around you
There was nothing but her
Love and affection she was
Crazy for you now she's
Part of something that you lost

And for all you know
This could be
The difference between what you need
And what you want to be

Night swimming
In her diamond dress
Making small circles
Move across the surface

Stand watching
From the steady shore
Laying wide open
And waiting for

Something warm and tender while she's
Moving further from you
There was nothing that could
Make it easy on you
Every step you take reminds you
That she's walking on

And for all you know
This could be
The difference between what you need
And what you want to be

Every word you never said
Echoes down your empty hallway
Everything that was your world
Just came down
It just came down

Day break on the boulevard
Feel the
Sun warming up your secondhand heart
Light swimming right across your face
You think
Maybe someday
Maybe someday

And for all you know
This could be
The difference between what you need
And what you want to be


Lyrics submitted by ruben, edited by eldub23, sammer

The Difference Lyrics as written by Robert Thomas Rob Thomas

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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The Difference song meanings
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35 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment

    I absolutely love this song. Reminds me of being at college while my ex went to prom with someone else. It's a good example of story telling in a song, because he moves from different moments in this relationship. The beginning is the great part "In the tired spaces You could hear her name" is a really great line about loving someone so much you hear their name even in silence. Then the second verse is it falling apart a little slow, it's like the guy can actually see it happening. Then the third verse which I think is the most amazing stuff Rob has written because it says something very strong that only the love-lost can really understand Feel the Sun warming up your secondhand heart Light swimming right across your face You think Maybe someday Maybe someday" The guy goes through all this depression and anger and bitterness, the one day he's out walking and it comes to him. Maybe it was the difference between what he needs and what he wants to be. He realizes that there's a second chance, that there are second-hand hearts out there. A lot of them. I always want to tear up at "maybe someday, yeah maybe someday" because it's such a powerful psuedo-hopeful outlook. Maybe there's hope after all.

    Jag3892on October 15, 2004   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    I think this song has to to with a girl "discovering" she was a lesbian. Key parts: "When she was warm and tender and you/Pulled her arms around you/There was nothing but her/Love and affection she was/Crazy for you now she's/Part of something that you lost" And then at the end... "This is what you want to be/girl what you want to be"

    duckgirlon April 07, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Am I the only one seeing from the other side? Where it's not the girl who has left the guy, but the guy who has left the girl, and then regrets it so damn much?

    Analog-Fishon May 25, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Since Im the one who requested this song be added (along with all of the others from 'More Than You Think You Are'), I figured I should comment on it. This song is of course about a lost love. The music and the lyrics are so touching. I think just about everyone can relate.

    aRe.Beeon June 25, 2003   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This is such a sad song, it seems to be about this guy losing someone and regretting that he never really let them know how much he loved them. The descriptions of the girl in this song are so beautiful.

    falling_from_graceon May 24, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is my favorite song from "more than you think you are".

    diegorockusaon September 21, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    ahh... i love this song. but what really bugs me about this track is that there's a second song after it which has nothing to do with This, and it's a stupid song anyway (the second one)

    this song seems to be about someone musing about a past relationship. maybe he went out walking where he and his ex used to go, and he began realizing that maybe it wasn't perfect and it was a good thing they're over... i love this song so much

    Desaparecidaon September 22, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    "Every word you never said Echoes down your empty hallway"

    Definitely about a romance that could have been something more, but was lost. Also a call-to-arms to those in relationships, to treasure what you have, because things might be different tomorrow.

    L-Kyneon September 22, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Beautiful.

    $16on November 21, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Well, I think it's about someone who had a good relationship, but then the woman walked out on him. He wanders around, and can't help but notice her and he feels she should love him, and he's waiting for her to come back. Then he suddenly realizes that it's useless to want someone to come back to him and that in the end he can simply forget and know that the sun comes up the next day. A good song, but why the heck was it combined with a stupid driving/tired song?

    Unconquered Sunon March 18, 2005   Link

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