That impression that i get

Перевод The Mighty Mighty Bosstones – The Impression That I Get

Текст :

Have you ever been close to tragedy? Or been close to folks who have?
Have you ever felt the pain so powerful, so heavy you collapse?
I’ve never had to knock on wood, but I know someone who has.
Which makes me wonder if I could.
It makes me wonder if I’ve never had to knock on wood.
And I’m glad I haven’t yet because I’m sure it isn’t good,
That’s the impression that I get.
Have you ever felt the odds stacked up so high, you need a strength most don’t possess?
Or has it come down to do or die? You’ve got to rise above the rest.
I’ve never had to knock on wood, but I know someone who has.

Перевод :

Вы когда-нибудь были близки к трагедии? Или были близки к людям, которые имеют?
Вы когда-нибудь чувствовали боль такую ​​сильную, такую ​​сильную, что рухнули?
Мне никогда не приходилось стучать по дереву, но я знаю кого-то, кто имеет.
Что заставляет меня задуматься, смогу ли я.
Это заставляет меня задуматься, не приходилось ли мне стучать по дереву.
И я рад, что еще не сделал, потому что уверен, что это не хорошо,
Это впечатление, которое я получаю.
Вы когда-нибудь чувствовали, что шансы складываются так высоко, что вам нужна сила, которой большинство не обладает?
Или все сводится к тому, чтобы сделать или умереть? Вы должны подняться над остальными.
Мне никогда не приходилось стучать по дереву, но я знаю кого-то, кто имеет.

The Impression That I Get

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

Have you ever been close to tragedy
Or been close to folks who have?
Have you ever felt the pain so powerful
So heavy, you collapse?
No? Well

I’ve never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if

I’ve never had to knock on wood
And I’m glad I haven’t yet
Because I’m sure it isn’t good
That’s the impression that I get

Have you ever had the odds stacked up so high
You need a strength most don’t possess?
Or has it ever come down to do or die?
You’ve got to rise above the rest
No? Well

I’ve never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if
I’ve never had to knock on wood
And I’m glad I haven’t yet
Because I’m sure it isn’t good
That’s the impression that I get

I’m not a coward I’ve just never been tested
I’d like to think that if I was I would pass
Look at the tested and think there but for the grace go I
Might be a coward
I’m afraid of what I might find out

Never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if

I’ve never had to knock on wood
And I’m glad I haven’t yet
Because I’m sure it isn’t good
That’s the impression that I get

Never had to but I’d better knock on wood
‘Cause I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if

I’ve never had to but I’d better knock on wood
‘Cause I’m sure it isn’t good
And I’m glad I haven’t yet
That’s the impression that I get

Lyrics submitted by Jurak, edited by drakeland

The Impression That I Get Lyrics as written by Joseph Gittleman Dicky Barrett

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

69 Comments

General CommentOK, I think a big comma needs to be noted in the lyrics of this song in the chorus line, it should read «I’ve never had to, knock on wood», and it talks about the western tradition of ‘knocking on wood’ (see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…).

I think song is about this writer’s admiration for people who have survived through adversity and about him wondering if he was put in a challenging situation whether he could get through it.

«I’ve never had to, knock on wood,
But I know someone who has,
Makes me wonder if I could,
Makes me wonder if. «

«I’m not a coward, I’ve just never been tested,
I’d like to think that if I was I would pass,
Look at the tested and think but for the grace go I,
Might be a coward, I’m afraid of what I might find out.

These lines are about the writer never having to face adversity, and how he’s glad he hasn’t because he’s not sure how he’d cope, he might be a coward but he doesn’t know because he’s never been tested.

@MammothChris : Yes, thank you! Finally, this song makes sense! For YEARS, I have criticized this song for singing about the opposite of what he means. When people knock on wood, it’s because life is good and they want it to stay that way. For someone to say «I’ve never had to knock on wood,» means the singer’s life has never been good. So why does he say that he’s sure it isn’t good to have to knock on wood? I just had this discussion with my wife on the way to work today when this song came on the radio.

But your comment about the comma makes it all fall into place!

General CommentI’m absolutely stunned at the misinterpretation of the meaning of this song, but I guess it does possibly make sense to older people. Regardless of the inspiration, this song is as straight as it gets with lyrics means.

«There but for the grace go I».

The entire song reads exactly as it is written. Everything in it is either literal or a common phrase that you could search for on google and find other people using.

I heard it was written about a relative of a band member, but i’ve heard much of the sentiment expressed in this song after all kinds of tragedies.

@davidk I’m one who misinterpreted it, but I don’t see why it would stun you. The comma or pause that is necessary for the song to make sense isn’t in the chorus. Ever since I heard the song, I assumed the writer didn’t notice that he’d actually written the opposite of what he meant to.

When people knock on wood, it’s because life is good and they want it to stay that way. For someone to say «I’ve never had to knock on wood,» means the singer’s life has never been good. So why does he say that he’s sure it isn’t good to have to knock on wood?