Meaning and Lyrics of It’s All Been Done by Barenaked Ladies

“It’s All Been Done” by Barenaked Ladies is a song that blends humor, historical references, and a touch of existential contemplation within its catchy melody and engaging lyrics. The song seems to reflect on the idea of recurring experiences across different times and scenarios, suggesting that everything we go through has already been experienced before.

Verse 1 opens by setting an intriguing historical stage: “I met you before the fall of Rome.” This line immediately transports the listener to a time long past, implying a sense of timelessness or past lives. By saying, “I begged you to let me take you home,” the speaker suggests a longing and a connection that has endured. This verse closes on a somewhat wistful note with, “You were wrong, I was right / You said goodbye, I said goodnight,” indicating a disagreement and an eventual parting of ways, framed in the context of a significant historical event.

Chorus, with its repetition of “It’s all been done,” reinforces the song’s main theme. The triplet iteration “(Ooh-ooh-ooh)” drives home the idea that our lives and actions are part of a much larger cycle of repeated experiences. This serves as a reminder that our individual journeys are perhaps not as unique as we believe them to be.

Verse 2 continues this theme, bringing us to another significant period: “I knew you before the West was won.” Again, the lyrics place the relationship in a different historical context, with “the past was much more fun” adding a nostalgic tone. The verse concludes with “You go your way, I go mine / But I’ll see you next time,” alluding to the cyclical nature of their encounters and reinforcing the idea of a perpetual connection.

Bridge introduces a more personal note, with the singer questioning whether his expressions of love and familiar actions, such as playing “the same three chords,” will be met with indifference. The line “Will you just yawn and say / ‘Ah, I hate it'” suggests a fear that the repetition and routine of love might lead to boredom or disdain.

As the song reaches Verse 3, a futuristic scenario is introduced: “Alone and bored on a thirtieth-century night.” This verse juxtaposes the mundane modern reality with the timelessness discussed earlier. The mention of “The Price Is Right” grounds the future in a familiar, everyday activity, inviting listeners to consider how even centuries from now, human experiences and interactions might remain unchanged. The questions “Will I cry? Will I smile? / As you run down the aisle?” express the mixed emotions and inevitable repetition of life’s stages.

The final Chorus echoes the recurring theme “It’s all been done before,” underscoring the cyclical nature of life’s experiences. This repetition, both lyrically and musically, creates a powerful reminder of the song’s core message: no matter how unique or significant we think our individual moments are, they are part of an endless, almost universal loop of experiences.

In summary, “It’s All Been Done” by Barenaked Ladies artfully combines humor, historical references, personal reflections, and existential musings in a melodic and catchy format. The song suggests a reflective acceptance that life’s events are part of a greater, cyclic pattern that transcends time and space.