| Tracy Chapman – Never Yours Lyrics | 11 months ago |
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yummyindietunes, Is really close to my interpretation and I got really happy to see it written down here 17 years ago after fully listening to the song as deep as I could. But my interpretation added some to his. So I believe the song is strongly presenting different ways to view the specific phrase “I’ve been a lot of things but never yours” A general establishment of the phrase. As a recollection to a memory of a bad prom night. The gossip from it, This is a night that I believe she was emotionally and physically raped by someone. Who I also think was a highschool crush -The first part: Recalling the grandness of the night coming, Wanting this night to happen, Her dad even leading her to the door. She can’t help but having the feeling all night she’s getting a cold shoulder. Disinterest. Ultimately realising her feelings of sorrow and loneliness, Rejection and her reality “I’ve been a lot of things. But never yours” -The second part: A self assured facade to cover pain. The feeling of appalled irony in her lines all in an attempt to maintain a tough composure, Almost like she was disgusted saying it “I let you hold me, Trying to kiss me on the dancehall floor” basically ensuring him “I’ve been a lot of things. But never yours.” I feel this might be a stretch… But, I feel like it switches perspectives to the other person in the exchange after this. -The third: He explains he did it all for a bet. It was all a lie and he needed the money, so the line continues, he equated his manipulation that day to that of “a game of pool or cards” following up casually for why he does it “I repay my families debt”, he didn’t care what they did that night… “I let you lie beside me, With no remorse” and so he rubs it in, I’m not quite sure if also to reluctantly assure her, almost apologetically “I’ve been a lot of things, But never yours.” Another spin that I have is that it still continues from his point of view after that verse and it’s as if these lines, that were hers at the beginning are now his at the end, and this is his song too. I have a strong feeling if this is would be true, It would be enforcing an idea that maybe he too might’ve had a crush on her, And how he repays his families debts and the bet that was made was that he couldn’t sleep with her. He threw himself under the bus for the sake of his family |
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