You think you had the last laugh
Now you know this can't be true
Even though the sun shines down upon you now
Sometimes you must feel blue
You make the best of each new day
You try not to be sad
Even though the sky falls down upon you
Call it midnight, feelin' bad

When you wake up to the promise
Of your dream world comin' true
With one less friend to call on
Was it someone that I knew
Away you will go sailin'
In a race among the ruins
If you plan to face tomorrow
Do it soon

The road to love is littered
By the bones of other ones
Who by the magic of the moment
Were mysteriously undone
You try to understand it
But you never seem to find
Any kind of freedom comin' clean
Is just another state of mind

When you wake up to the promise
Of your dream world comin' true
With one less friend to call on
Was it someone that I knew
Away you will go sailin'
In a race among the ruins
If you plan to face tomorrow
Do it soon

So take the best of all that's left
You know this cannot last
Even though your mother was you maker
From her apron strings you pass
Just think about the fool
Who by his virtue can be found
In a most unusual situation
Playin' jester to the clown

When you wake up to the promise
Of your dream world comin' true
With one less friend to call on
Was it someone that I knew
Away you will go sailin'
In a race among the ruins
If you plan to face tomorrow
Do it soon

When you wake up to the promise
Of your dream world comin' true
With one less friend to call on
Was it someone that I knew
Away you will go sailin'
In a race among the ruins
If you plan to face tomorrow
Do it soon


Lyrics submitted by pharmageek

Race Among the Ruins Lyrics as written by Gordon Lightfoot

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

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Race Among the Ruins song meanings
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  • +1
    My Interpretation

    This is somewhat about mental health as well as "growing up". Moreover, this song is about a retrospective/ introspective look at the emotions and feelings one may have about past relationships and the lasting effect they have on you and others. The "ruins" are the bits and pieces of us we all leave behind somewhere with the bits and peices of other people (and perhaps their friends)after people change and their relationships change/ end. 'Racing through" them is sometimes what we do to cope with those memories or to deal with how they affect us in new relationships... or maybe just the long term effects they have on us... maybe lasting guilt, feeling foolish, even a sense of accomplishment that you got out of a terrible relationship. It's amazing how we can feel all those things at once! Also, it seems some people are hurt so bad it seems they are always waiting for the other shoe to fall even though their relationship seems so strong now.

    XUPNon July 24, 2010   Link

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