For me the meaning is very clear. Singer is asking the listener: what are you gonna do when you're at the rock bottom with nothing to lose and no one who cares about you? Are you gonna do something that you're likely going to regret for the rest of your life? Or are you going to think twice before that. Because every action has a consequence and there's no going back.
For me the meaning is very clear. Singer is asking the listener: what are you gonna do when you're at the rock bottom with nothing to lose and no one who cares about you? Are you gonna do something that you're likely going to regret for the rest of your life? Or are you going to think twice before that. Because every action has a consequence and there's no going back.
If you dont like where your life is/headed, mix it up. Dont just fuck around and tolerate it, do something about it. "Your head will collapse if there is nothing in it" meaning, if you feel you have no purpose, you will lose your sense of life, and will to change and do things you love. turn your world upside, stir things around, see how it goes. Cause, honestly, what have you got to lose? Animals hiding behind rocks is a metaphor, obviously, as much is everything he says. Make everything hes saying opposite. ...
If you dont like where your life is/headed, mix it up. Dont just fuck around and tolerate it, do something about it. "Your head will collapse if there is nothing in it" meaning, if you feel you have no purpose, you will lose your sense of life, and will to change and do things you love. turn your world upside, stir things around, see how it goes. Cause, honestly, what have you got to lose? Animals hiding behind rocks is a metaphor, obviously, as much is everything he says. Make everything hes saying opposite. Animals become people, savages of our world today, businessmen, cut-throats, up in your face trying to use you and luring you with advertisements, etc. The little fish, the people you dont really fuckin know or care to, nor will the rest of the world, are the everyday people. water is land, the beautiful carribbean is your shitty apartment. the true metaphor, which is absolutely amazing, is the fact that this song does that. Spectacular. in the song hes crazy, lost, confused, at the same time, telling you that you need a change if you dont like life as it is now. When said exactly opposite, your life is perfect. The scavengers are gone, away, hiding, but not the cool, chill, honest living person you see everyday. Top 5 all time lyrics. Genius.
This song is about the Iranian hostages, held by Ayatollah Khamenei. The song is written as if it is the hostages themselves who are expressing their opinion of the man who imprisoned them "Heaven help the devil." Lightfoot did not perform the song until after the hostages' release, and the song later appeared on his next album Shadows.
This song is about the Iranian hostages, held by Ayatollah Khamenei. The song is written as if it is the hostages themselves who are expressing their opinion of the man who imprisoned them "Heaven help the devil." Lightfoot did not perform the song until after the hostages' release, and the song later appeared on his next album Shadows.
I view the coin that she gives to the blind beggar as a coin of pity for all the (metaphorically) blind men of the world, not least our hero. She is at the gate - a portal to something else: insight? wisdom? - where she comes and goes as she wants, while the only man around is blind, and he probably just sits there, and does not enter.
I view the coin that she gives to the blind beggar as a coin of pity for all the (metaphorically) blind men of the world, not least our hero. She is at the gate - a portal to something else: insight? wisdom? - where she comes and goes as she wants, while the only man around is blind, and he probably just sits there, and does not enter.
She is out in the daylight, while our hero is only slowly waking up in bed, with only a little light shining in through the beat-up shades.
She is out in the daylight, while our hero is only slowly waking up in bed, with only a little light shining in through the beat-up shades.
He wakes up, tries to...
He wakes up, tries to convince himself it does not matter that she is gone - but the very moment that he opens the window and sees the light (=is awake and not blind anymore), he feels an emptiness.
She is born in spring - a time of awakening and increasing light - while he is born too late. He has reached insight about love and his true emotions only when it was too late, and the (more mature and emotionally enlighted) woman was already gone.
listened to this a lot scraping along my rock bottom, it somehow felt comforting. the song was like a drinking buddy. but now I'm sober and it's odd , I haven't listened to it in a while.
listened to this a lot scraping along my rock bottom, it somehow felt comforting. the song was like a drinking buddy. but now I'm sober and it's odd , I haven't listened to it in a while.
1st heard this in high school in '75, but just now learned the correct lyrics; it's about a broken intense relationship and an attempt to reconcile and then resignation & an attempt to come to an understanding, & finally a communique to "look what you did to me/us" Even went so far as to make himself vulnerable & admit that he was Mr. Incomplete, but didn't realize at the time that he could be complete without her (I'm now only half of two)
1st heard this in high school in '75, but just now learned the correct lyrics; it's about a broken intense relationship and an attempt to reconcile and then resignation & an attempt to come to an understanding, & finally a communique to "look what you did to me/us" Even went so far as to make himself vulnerable & admit that he was Mr. Incomplete, but didn't realize at the time that he could be complete without her (I'm now only half of two)