2 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
Martha Sways Lyrics
Martha’s thin
and pretty just like you
I held her close
like I held you
Martha sways
and I follow suit
she fills my glass
and I toss it back
into the space that once held you
and dance dance to the radio
while the devil takes control
there’s a weight
holding me down
Martha says
it’s all in my head
I look at the lights
dancing in her eyes
I wanna die
dancing in her eyes
dance dance to the radio
while the devil takes control
Martha spins
and I catch her hand
she smiles and laughs
bringing me back
and pretty just like you
I held her close
like I held you
and I follow suit
she fills my glass
and I toss it back
into the space that once held you
while the devil takes control
holding me down
Martha says
it’s all in my head
dancing in her eyes
I wanna die
dancing in her eyes
while the devil takes control
and I catch her hand
she smiles and laughs
bringing me back
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
I think the protagonist is an old man that lost his wife years ago and is drifting in and out of lucidity. He remembers his dear Martha as he hears the old lovesong that is playing either through the rest home speakers or just through the soundtrack in his foggy mind. He remembers his love for her and being an old gentleman, his rugged passions she stirred in him as "the devil takes control". He is speaking to his caregiver that reminds him of her as she is simply stabilizing him while getting him ready for another night that he longs for her and his passed life. He drifts into a wonderful night he spent with her, tipsy on drink, dance and love. He had everything he could desire right then, enough to "want to die" in his memory so he didn't face the loss of her he can't contemplate. So he allows himself to fall deeper into his memory as they "Dance dance to the radio While the devil takes control". He falls deeper and deeper into his beautiful Martha's arms until there is nothing left of his aching, frail body so close to death. He feels her so deeply as they spin and he "catches her hand" when "she smiles and laughs bringing me back" as once again she isn't there to hold onto.
Aging and death suck, there's nothing good about them. Isaiah 25:8 "He will swallow up death forever, And the Sovereign Lord Jehovah will wipe away the tears from all faces. The reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, For Jehovah himself has spoken it."
That's a promise. So is Revelation 21:3,4
I can’t say, and this wasn’t my first impression, but after some thought, I think this is about a man who went to a prostitute to try and get over his old love. He’s trying to replace his old girlfriend with this person. She’s beautiful, fun, and engaging, but in the end it’s not the same. So he dances with her anyway and lets nature takes its course.
I actually hope I’m wrong and there’s a deeper meaning. It’s a beautiful song. I just wish the devil wasn’t a part of it, but it’s also why I think this interpretation makes the most sense.