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Gordon Lightfoot – Sundown Lyrics 17 years ago
The lyrics should read "satin" not "faded" in the first line...

Gordon Lightfoot is a recovering alcoholic. He's talking about his drinking/alcoholism in an allegorical manner, giving liquor the role of a prostitute/mistress in his life.

I can see her lyin' back in her satin dress
- he's visulizing alcohol and remembering the "satin" smooth feel of liquor

In a room where you do what you don't confess
- getting drunk in a bar

Sundown you better take care
If I find you been creepin' 'round my back stairs
- warning himself of the danger of letting alcohol sneak back into his life

She's been lookin' like a queen in a sailor's dream
- liquor and sex, two things many sailor's want when then hit port. He's reinforcing the association...

And she don't always say what she really means
- drinking starts with the promise of good times, but doesn't always deliver time.

Sometimes I think it's a shame
When I get feelin' better when I'm feelin' no pain
- "feeling no pain" is a common expression for being drunk. He recognizes there's a problem that he has to be drunk in order to feel better

I can picture every move that a man could make
- since he's an alcoholic, he knows from personal exerience

Getting lost in her lovin' is your first mistake
- it's a mistake to lose yourself to drinking

Sundown you better take care
If I find you been creepin' 'round my back stairs
- restating the dangers of alcohol sneaking back into his life again

Sometimes I think it's a sin
When I feel like I'm winnin' when I'm losin again
- drinking/getting drunk makes you feel/think you're better off when it's actually creating a problem

I can see her lookin' fast in her faded jeans
She's a hard lovin' woman, got me feelin' mean
- alcohol is hard on the body and can bring out a nasty side in people

Sometimes I think it's a shame
When I get feelin' better when I'm feelin' no pain
Sundown you better take care
If I find you been creepin' 'round my back stairs
Sundown you better take care
If I find you been creepin' 'round my back stairs
Sometimes I think it's a sin
When I feel like I'm winnin' when I'm losin' again
- lamenting, reminding himself about the dangers (twice), still lamenting though

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