When It Was Done

Song Meaning

The narrator is consumed by a desperate desire to connect with someone, to understand and possess their inner world. There's a palpable sense of longing to shield this person from an external influence, referred to as "that world of his," and to decipher the core of their being, asking, "Then I'd know where your soul is." This yearning drives a fantasy of ultimate power and influence, suggesting a belief that if they could just manipulate the right elements, they could secure this person's affection and dependence. The central tension lies in the narrator's perceived inability to truly reach the other person. They imagine grand gestures, like holding stars or confronting God, as potential means to gain understanding and leverage. However, these fantasies are undercut by a self-deprecating acknowledgment of their own limitations, stating, "But then I'll never be no dancer." This suggests a fundamental disconnect, a feeling of being out of step or lacking the grace needed to truly win the person over, even with immense power. The recurring phrase "When it was done" acts as a powerful conditional promise, a hypothetical endpoint where the narrator's imagined efforts culminate in possession. It's a future that hinges entirely on the narrator's hypothetical actions and the other person's subsequent need. This creates a sense of anticipation and desperation, as the narrator is trapped in a loop of what-ifs, constantly replaying scenarios where their ultimate success is contingent on a future that may never arrive. Ultimately, the lyrics resonate because they capture the agonizing frustration of unrequited or unattainable love, amplified by a sense of inadequacy. The narrator's elaborate, almost cosmic fantasies highlight the depth of their desire, while their own self-doubt reveals the painful gap between their ambition and their perceived reality. The repeated "When it was done I'd hold you" isn't just a hopeful conclusion; it's a plea born from the fear that without these impossible feats, they will never achieve that closeness.