Willie Nelson

Phases and Stages (Theme)/Walkin'

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Phases and Stages (Theme)/Walkin' Lyrics

After carefully considerin' the whole situation
I stand with my back to the wall
Walkin' is better than runnin' away
And crawlin' ain't no good at all

And if guilty's the question
Truth is the answer
I've been lyin' to me all alone
There ain't nothin' worth savin'
Except one another
And before you'll wake up
I'll be gone
'Cause after carefully considerin' the whole situation
I stand with my back to the wall
Walkin' is better than runnin' away
And crawlin' ain't no good at all

After carefully considerin' the whole situation
I stand with my back to the wall
Walkin' is better than runnin' away
And crawlin' ain't no good at all
And crawlin' ain't no good at all

Submitted by

songmeanings On Feb 06, 2012

Pancho And Lefty

Always on My Mind (Brenda Lee cover)

Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain

Angel Flying Too Close To The Ground

Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other

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SongMeanings

Submitter

2012-02-06 15:48:17

1 Meaning

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by montresor

10y ago

This song is about a great tragedy, not great in the sense it is happening to someone who is important, but great in the completeness of loss expressed. It starts with the seeming contradiction of being backed into a corner and then walking away from it all. And, yet, that is life - real and true and perfectly understandable in the metaphorical sense. He or she has weighed everything and realized that it has to end and the only question is how - with how much dignity and self-respect left. Unfortunately, the answer is not much (because guilt is the answer to the question that lies within). Now, it turns out that the only thing worth saving is not salvageable. All he or she can do is leave with the full knowledge that the loss is completely realized (after carefully considering). Willie's work had a certain immediateness to it that placed the listener close to the suffering of the human heart.

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