I Don't Want To Change You lyrics by Damien Rice, 6 meanings. I Don't Want To Change You explained, official 2024 song lyrics | LyricsMode.com
Request & respond explanations
  • Don't understand the meaning of the song?
  • Highlight lyrics and request an explanation.
  • Click on highlighted lyrics to explain.
Damien Rice – I Don't Want To Change You lyrics
Wherever you are
You know that I adore you
No matter how far
Well, I can go before you
And if ever you need someone
Well, not that you need helping
But if ever you want someone
Know that I am willing


I don't want to change you
I don't want to change your mind
I just came across a manger
Out among the danger
Somewhere in a stranger's eye


Wherever you go
Well, I can always follow
I can feed this real slow
If it's a lot to swallow
And if you just want to be alone
Well, I can wait without waiting
If you want me to let this go
Well, I'm more than willing


Cause I don't want to change you
I don't want to change your mind
I just came across a manger
Out among the danger
Somewhere in a stranger's eye

I don't want to change you
I don't want to change your mind
I just came across a manger
Out among the danger
Somewhere in a stranger's eye

I've never been with anyone
In the way I've been with you
But if love is not for fun
Then it's doomed
Cause water races
Water races down the waterfalls
Water races
Water races down the waterfall


I don't want to change you
I don't want to change your mind
I just came across a manger
Where there is no the danger
Where love has eyes and is not blind
×



Lyrics taken from /lyrics/d/damien_rice/i_dont_want_to_change_you.html

  • Email
  • Correct
Songwriters: DAMIEN GEORGE RICE
I Don't Want To Change You lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

I Don't Want To Change You meanings Post my meaning

  • o
    + 28
    ohms01
    There is pain in this song. He is offering his heart unconditionally. It is up to her to accept it or break it. He is not rushing her, just staying back waiting for her decision. He is giving her space. He says he is willing to wait and will not try to change her mind, but he is obviously waiting for her to come back to him. I am not sure about the reference to a manger. He is going to keep his eyes open and guard his heart next time he falls in love.
    1 reply
  • e
    + 13
    Erika Lake-Thomas
    It's about being in love with someone who maybe isn't ready for the seriousness/ level of commitment of the relationship he wants. He's willing to wait for her, even if it's killing him, but he will not try to force it b/c he loves her as is. He is willing to go above and beyond b/c he hasn't been with someone like this before (she is special) -she is his shelter from the world/life (a manger out of the danger), something he did not expect to find/ maybe wasn't looking for (somewhere in a stranger's eyes). She really sees him and what they have could be great (Where love has eyes and is not blind) - if only she could/ would take this chance with him. But it's her decision and he'll live by her choice (even if he loses her).
    A beautiful song. One of my favorite artists.
    Add your reply
  • t
    + 12
    Trueloveneverdies
    This song is so beautiful. I think it's about a man who showed a special & unique woman that he likes her. Somehow she knows he is into her but life brought some circumstance (maybe he met another woman who was more confident than the special one he still likes - and chose the common one, only to regret it).
    He compares her to a manger because she's pure and of loyal character so he knows he'll have peace of mind with her. But she's hesitant, not because she doesn't like him, but because she's not the kind of woman who falls easily in love, that's why she's so rare. "Where love has eyes and is not blind" - the end explains a lot. That's why the woman he truly loves is pure and unique, because she doesn't fall blindly for any man but sees well. It's clear that she is sacred in his eyes that's why he doesn't want to change her. His dream is that he'll be assured she wants him and one day will be hers.
    Perfect song.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 10
    Unregistered
    I think he is saying that he has found an angel that he can really trust when he says he has found a manger (Jesus) amongst the danger in the world. That is not good. She is someone special so he is prepared to be honest with her and wait for her or take what she is prepared to give him what she can. So touchingly beautiful.
    Add your reply
  • h
    + 10
    Holly Jago-Eagland
    This is such a beautiful song. I think there's 2 scenarios.

    1.) He had an affair or a dalliance ('i just came across a manger out among the danger, somewhere in a stranger'a eyes) and the whole song is him saying to his long term love or partner that he accepts whatever she decides whether with him or without as he just loves her, no one else and he realizes what she means to him now and he doesn't want to change her. He just gave in to temptation. At the end 'i just came across a stranger, where this is no danger where love is blind it needs no eyes. So it's proper love with his love.

    2.) It's about someone he is in love with. Maybe unrequited but he will take whatever he can from her. He doesn't mind as he just wants her to be her and not sacrifice herself. Again the manger line, she was safety and appealing.
    Add your reply
  • U
    + 3
    Unregistered
    At first glance, this appears to be a sweet love song ("you know that I adore you"...) but I think if you listen carefully some lines make you want to take a second listen.

    "I just came across a manger
    Out among the danger
    Somewhere in a stranger's eye" - this could very well be the reference to an affair he had, "out among the danger in a stranger's eye", the world is a place full of "dangers" to love, different people you meet, different places you go, it's hard to always be faithful to just one person even if it's the one, he may have slipped up, made a mistake

    "I've never been with anyone
    In the way I've been with you
    But if love is not for fun
    Then it's doomed" - this could further confirm my hypothethis with the affair. he pleads with the person this song is directed to that he/she might understand him, he kind of turns it around on him/her, implying that sex is fun and love is for fun, so besides the very serious stuff between the two people bonded in true love there might be others "for fun". or implying it hasn't been fun with her in a while and that's why he cheated.

    also in the two lines above he states how she's his special one but then there's a "but", "but if love is not for fun". basically he says he adores her but then again love if for fun, so hey, girl, don't be such a nag.

    "Cause water races
    Water races down the waterfalls" - time flies by and things will be forgotten. he might want to say that the affair shouldnt matter that much because everything changes so fast constantly.

    "I just came across a manger
    Where there is no the danger
    Where love has eyes and is not blind" - this might refer to his true love - whereas the other similar lines above referred to his affair - now his true love is the manger and because she's the one, there's no danger and real love "has eyes", is sophisticated enough to know that true love is above the wordly things such as sex and making a mistake. one last time he pleads with the one this song is directed to to forgive him and believe him that she's really the one and the other one was just a mistake.

    personally i think this is a typical man-move. they make a mistake and then they have all these pretty words and show so much emotion that women are instandtly wooed and want to forgive them. also they turn it around on us so that we almost feel like we're being stupid if we don't forgive them, that it's the only logical step to forgive them.

    so in the end this song leaves me with a weird feeling that the love explained here isn't as unconditional as the speaker wants us to believe it is. in fact, it's very conditional. the condition is that they play by his rules. he explains away his mistake so that she doesnt have any 'right' to be angry anymore.

    he says "i dont want to change you/r mind", but in fact that's all this song wants. this song basically wants to manipulate her - softly and sweetly - into forgiving him. so he's lying. he wants to change her mind. why does he not just say so?

    i do not in any way think this is the only interpretation for this song. i might be totally off, but that's how i make sense of the lyrics personally. im excited to know what you think of it.

    Add your reply
    View 1 more meaning

    Write about your feelings and thoughts about I Don't Want To Change You

    Know what this song is about? Does it mean anything special hidden between the lines to you? Share your meaning with community, make it interesting and valuable. Make sure you've read our simple tips.
    U
    Min 50 words
    Not bad
    Good
    Awesome!

    Top meanings Post my meaning

    • o
      + 28
      ohms01
      There is pain in this song. He is offering his heart unconditionally. It is up to her to accept... Read more →
    • e
      + 13
      Erika Lake-Thomas
      It's about being in love with someone who maybe isn't ready for the seriousness/ level of... Read more →

    official video

    Featured lyrics

    0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z