Almost

I see it as a song where someone wants to move on, but they miss the excitement of an old flame. They know that nothing good can come of a reunion, but they crave the return, almost like an addiction.

Here are the lyrics (including punctuation and capitalization) from the CD jacket:

I almost dialed your number when I thought the coast was clear 'cause it's looked up for so long at me and said "call me please"

But the place was closing and the counter girl turned the sign the cooks were getting their coats and I got mine and said "goodnight" to a sea of empty seats

And if I am the sailor you are the warm gulf wind and you've blown into this little port and roused my dreams again

I see my mouth moving when I talk to you I do I see my lips and I feel like a kid who can't keep something hid

I've been under the paper you were writing on you left your impression long after you'd gone on me marks only I can see

And if I am the sailor you are the warm gulf wind and you've blown into this little port and roused my dreams again When we say sometime later you know that we don't say when you have blown into [this little]* port and roused my dreams again

sailor to wind

*Typo in the jacket reads "little this"

Why can't all failed relationships end where both parties want nothing to do with each other ever again? It would make life much easier. However, the relationship related in this song seems much more common: the one's we never forget and always leave a sore spot on your heart that remains sensitive to the touch. The individuals we truly loved - and perhaps still do.

We would give almost anything to try again but know the reality is rarely ever the same as the dream. Then again, Sarah, perhaps you should have called, you never know...

He's back and she's not completely sure she wants him?

What do you think?

This song is absolutely, absolutely beautiful.

"You have blown into this little port And roused my dreams again." Favourite line!

I might see this as someone who long ago let go of a loved one, but now they've stirred their life up again. The speaker is harried.

I have a bit of a different take on the meaning of this song. It's about this individual who has gone snooping into a journal or diary or some other form of writing of someone they admire greatly - a fairly new acquaintance I'd wager. Whatever it was this person read about the other changed them tremendously - it moved them. But the two aren't together now for whatever reason and it's driving this person crazy partly because of the guilt of reading such private matters without permission but also, mainly, because they're falling head over heels for this writer.

I see this song as very different in meaning from the other interpretations I read in here. It's not a song to an old flame, or to somebody she's "snooping" on. I think it's much simpler than that. She has crossed paths with somebody, she is interested in them. They have met casually or perhaps just accidentally and for long enough that she has the other person's number and has been invited to call. But she is reluctant. Why? I think it's because she is healing from a previous relationship and is wondering if it's been long enough to "get back out there". That isn't spelled out in the lyrics, but the description of the opening scene, where she's hanging around by herself in some diner or restaurant that is closing makes it sound like she is on her own, and stays until closing because she has nowhere in particular to go. And when it says "roused my dreams again", it's not referring to the other person being an old flame. Rather, this new person is rousing those feelings of attraction in her that she hasn't felt since her last break-up.