| Billy Joel – The Stranger Lyrics | 18 years ago |
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I think that Joel's stranger is similar to what archetypal psychologist Carl Jung spoke of as the shadow--parts of ourselves that we disown, usually because they are disapproved of by our society and our intimates. Anything that contradicts our image of ourselves may be consigned to the shadow. The stranger (shadow), says Joel, isn't always evil and he isn't always wrong. Though you drown in good intentions You will never quench the fire You'll give in to your desire When the stranger comes along. In other words, the shadow contains enormous energy and possibilities that we ignore at our peril. If we don't own the dissociated aspects of ourselves, like hungry dogs locked in the basement, they can wreak havok when released. Better to embrace them so we can use their energy for our own growth and development. 1 |
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