This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
When you greet a stranger
Look at his shoes
Keep your money in your shoes
Put your trouble behind
When you greet a stranger
Look at her hands
Keep your money in your hands
Put your travel behind
Who are you going to call for?
What do you have to say?
Keep your hat on your head
Home is a long way away
At the end of the day, I'll forget your name
I'd like it here if I could leave
And see you from a long way away
When you greet a stranger
Look at his shoes
Keep your memories in your shoes
Put your travel behind
Who are you going to call for?
What do you have to say?
Keep your hat on your head
Home is a long way away
At the end of the day
When there are no friends
When there are no lovers
Who are you going to call for?
What do you have to change?
A familiar face, a foreign place
I'll forget your name
I'd like it here if I could leave
And see you from a long way away
Who are you going to call for?
What do you have to say?
Keep your hat on your head
Home is a long way away
Look at his shoes
Keep your money in your shoes
Put your trouble behind
When you greet a stranger
Look at her hands
Keep your money in your hands
Put your travel behind
Who are you going to call for?
What do you have to say?
Keep your hat on your head
Home is a long way away
At the end of the day, I'll forget your name
I'd like it here if I could leave
And see you from a long way away
When you greet a stranger
Look at his shoes
Keep your memories in your shoes
Put your travel behind
Who are you going to call for?
What do you have to say?
Keep your hat on your head
Home is a long way away
At the end of the day
When there are no friends
When there are no lovers
Who are you going to call for?
What do you have to change?
A familiar face, a foreign place
I'll forget your name
I'd like it here if I could leave
And see you from a long way away
Who are you going to call for?
What do you have to say?
Keep your hat on your head
Home is a long way away
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More Featured Meanings
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
I think the opening line - "When you greet a stranger, look at his shoes. Put your money in your shoes, put your trouble behind." - is one of the best lyrics not only on this album, not only by R.E.M., but ever written. The whole song is haunting yet strangely beautiful, along with many of the other tracks on this album. I think of it as the real conclusion to the Fables album, with "Wendell Gee" being the epilogue. What a great, great song. I wish R.E.M. still wrote songs this good. They'll never be able to top their peak again, and as far as songwriting goes, Fables was their peak. That being said, I still think Murmur was their best overall, but my favorite changes constantly. I love early R.E.M. The R.E.M. that existed between the years of 1980 and 1987 was the best band ever, in my opinion. Suck it, Beatles.
Being weary of the road and just wanting to find aplace where you can stay and be appreciated.
Infidelity.
definately seems to me a meeting between a man and a prostitute. They are strangers, neither really looking at the other. And, probably for both, home is a long way away. (traveling business man and run-away turned prostiture). The singer is giving the advice to "keep your hat on your head" meaning keep your clothes on. And I think that advice is to both of them. "I'd like it here if I could leave and see you from a long way away" refers to both parties disconecting themselves from their interaction.
Invoking loneliness. Good craftsmanship if you're into that.
"When you greet a stranger look at his shoes, keep your money in your shoes," says people are not to be trusted, although they appear to be trustworthy. "I'd like it if I could leave and see you from a long way away" so that perhaps a person could loosen up and show more of themselves from a safe emotional and physical distance
The "good advices" seem to be safety guidelines like a parent might tell a child when leaving the home, then the song seems to lament the over abundance of meaningless two dimensional relationships along the way... And longs for something deeper.
At the end of the day, I'll forget your name I'd like it here if I could leave And see you from a long way away