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Shy Lyrics

the heat is so great
it plays tricks with the eye
turns the road into water
then from water to sky
there's a crack in the concrete floor
that starts at the sink
there's a bathroom in a gas station
and i've locked myself in it to think

back in the city
the sun bakes the trash on the curb
the men are pissing in doorways
and the rats are running in herds
i got a dream with your face in it
that scares me awake
i put too much on the table
now i got too much at stake

i might let you off easy
i might lead you on
i might wait for you to look for me
and then i might be gone
there's where i come from and
where i'm going
and i am lost in between
i might go out to that phone booth
and leave a veiled invitation
on your machine

you'll stop me won't you
if you've heard this one before
the one where i surprise you
by showing up at your front door
saying let's not ask what next
or how or why
i am leaving in the morning
so let's not be shy

the door opens
the room winces
the housekeeper comes in
without a warning
i squint at the muscular motel light
and say, hey, good morning
as she jumps her keys jingle
and she leaves as quickly
as she came in
i roll over and taste the pillow with my grin

the sheets are twisted and damp
the heat is so great
and i swear i can feel the mattress
sinking underneath your weight
sleep is like a fever
and i'm glad when it ends
the road flows like a river
it pulls me around every bend

stop me won't you
if you've heard this one before
the one where i surprise you
by showing up at your front door
saying let's not ask what's next
or how or why
i'm leaving in the morning
let's not be shy
Song Info
Submitted by
aur0ra On Dec 04, 2001
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11 Meanings

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Cover art for Shy lyrics by Ani DiFranco

alkaline trio uses the second verse when they do 97 live. it's quite interesting, but good.

Cover art for Shy lyrics by Ani DiFranco

Hands-down one of the best songs Ani ever wrote.

Cover art for Shy lyrics by Ani DiFranco

This song is so fun. It explains how it feels to be completely infatuated with a person and not want to waste a second of time pursuing them. And lust can make you do crazy things and alter your logic (The heat is so great it plays tricks with the eye). I love the line (I put too much on the table now Ive got too much at stake) I do that all the time! I reveal my feelings to get them out and wish to take them back. Where I come from and where I'm going is lost in between that breakup stage and finding a new relationship. And the closing line "veiled invitation on your machine" is just a perfect description for this whole situation.

Cover art for Shy lyrics by Ani DiFranco

It's "muscular motel light", not lady. I know lady seems to make more sense, but Ani describes light as being muscular in Dog Coffee too. I think it means that the light is strong and overwhelming.

Cover art for Shy lyrics by Ani DiFranco

reminds me of how time works against us

Cover art for Shy lyrics by Ani DiFranco

that's interesting, the alk3 thing. i'll have to listen for that... i see them in a few weeks.

Cover art for Shy lyrics by Ani DiFranco

oh sleep is like a fever and i'm glad when it ends and the road flows like a river and pulls me around every bend

i hate sleep, ifor sothing close to this, hasnt everybody wanted to leagve that message on someone machine?

Cover art for Shy lyrics by Ani DiFranco

"there's a bathroom in a gas station, and I have locked myself in it to think" I can sure relate to that.

Cover art for Shy lyrics by Ani DiFranco

the part that says "the heat is so great it plays tricks with the eye" is such a great image. i think that she is referring to the "heat" of the moment and how blinding that can be to all reality. i love the way ani phrases it!

Cover art for Shy lyrics by Ani DiFranco

i love it >.