Song Meaning
The lyrics open with an intimate, almost conspiratorial whisper: "Alright for your eyes only." This sets up a secret, a promise of something "No risk damn good for real," immediately hinting at a gamble or a significant, private decision. Yet, a stark warning follows, suggesting that "What goes may never come again" as "The wheel of fortune spins."
This initial promise of safety quickly unravels. The narrator observes someone else's success – "Oh soon he smiled it's gold" – while also seeing them "waiting for the train," perhaps a departure or a missed connection. The "wheel of fortune" is no longer just spinning; it "took me for a ride," directly implicating the narrator in a turn of events that led to a personal loss.
The repetition of "What goes may never come again" evolves into "What goes around may never come around ya," subtly shifting from a general truth to a more personal, cyclical consequence. This linguistic tweak underscores a hard-learned lesson: the speaker is now "left to save those dimes," where even "the pennies have new meaning too," a stark contrast to the initial "no risk" proposition. The "wheel of fortune" now "spins into this dream," suggesting an inescapable, perhaps haunting, reality.
The lyrics effectively convey the sting of regret and the harsh reality of chance. The abrupt, almost desperate plea, "Don't run away," serves as a powerful emotional anchor, suggesting a moment of confrontation or a desperate desire to prevent further loss. This direct address, combined with the recurring image of the relentless "wheel of fortune," leaves the listener with a potent sense of irreversible change and the enduring weight of past decisions.
View Artist