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Fire Escape Lyrics
Well I don't wanna be President
Superman or Clark Kent
I don't wanna walk 'round in their shoes
'Cause I don't know who's side I'm on
I don't know my right from wrong
I don't know where I'm going to
I don't know about you
[Chorus:]
I'll be the rain falling on your fire escape
And I may not be the man you want me to
I can be myself, how 'bout you?
I don't wanna make you mad
I don't wanna meet your dad
I don't wanna be your dream come true
'Cause I don't know just what I've found
I don't know my sky from ground
I don't know where I'm going to
I don't know about you
[Chorus]
[Repeat Chorus]
I can be myself, how 'bout you?
I can be myself
How 'bout you?
Superman or Clark Kent
I don't wanna walk 'round in their shoes
I don't know my right from wrong
I don't know where I'm going to
I don't know about you
I'll be the rain falling on your fire escape
And I may not be the man you want me to
I can be myself, how 'bout you?
I don't wanna meet your dad
I don't wanna be your dream come true
I don't know my sky from ground
I don't know where I'm going to
I don't know about you
I can be myself
How 'bout you?
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Ok I think the line 'I'll be the rain falling on your fire escape' isn't exactly saying he'll be there for her. A fire escape are those things in apartment buildings that look like little porches with tons of stairs, usually beside brick or concrete walls, and usually made our of some sort of metal. Rain on metal=uber slippery. He's warning her that he won't live up to everything she may be expecting, and her grandeur ideas of what love should be, he may even end up hurting her (being the rain on her fire escape), but he's willing to give it a shot anyway, if she's willing to accept reality.
@missa809 YES!! A fire escape that's slick with rain water is a dangerous proposition. If you try to climb down, you're bound to get hurt. In chaos, you (the listener) aren't left with many sage choices — essentially, you either stay in a room filled with smoke and fire, or attempt escape on a wet ladder that's just as likely to cause you to fall, slip, and get hurt. Do you walk through fire to get out of a burning room? Or do you take your chances on a rain-soaked fire escape? Metaphorically or otherwise, this story does not have...
@missa809 YES!! A fire escape that's slick with rain water is a dangerous proposition. If you try to climb down, you're bound to get hurt. In chaos, you (the listener) aren't left with many sage choices — essentially, you either stay in a room filled with smoke and fire, or attempt escape on a wet ladder that's just as likely to cause you to fall, slip, and get hurt. Do you walk through fire to get out of a burning room? Or do you take your chances on a rain-soaked fire escape? Metaphorically or otherwise, this story does not have a happy ending.
The speaker in this song expresses constant skepticism: he doesn't take sides or even know what side he's on (read: he's loyal to no one and nothing, his ideals and relationships can turn on a whim); he has no plans for his immediate or long-term future because "I don't know where I'm going to." The speaker senses that the person he's addressing has some expectations from him ("I may not be the man you want me to") — but, to me, the truest expression of his doubts is when he admits "I don't know about you." And he doesn't say if this conversation is an introduction — or if the speaker and listener were already intimate for some time and he's only now opening up about who he really is inside. He tells the listener all of the things he doesn't want to do or play at or be in their dynamic: "I don't wanna / I don't know / I don't want." His sole affirmative declaration? "I can be myself." But he won't be your escape or your pleasure. The entire song is basically a warning not to get too close because the speaker will be the rain on your fire escape: treacherous, a shaky proposition, a bad idea. I'm so glad that someone all these years ago recognized the metaphor for what I see it as a cautionary tale the kind of person who will smash your heart and then shrug as they claim, "Well, I warned you from the beginning."
Good comments, especially from missa809. I never thought about the fire escape part like that. I think he's also saying that he's unsure of many things in his life at that point and wants to take things slow before committing to anything.
I think the song is about a guy trying to get a girl to give him a chance but she won't because she's either too egotistical and shallow to or she just doesn't know what she wants. He doesn't want to give up on her and he isn't sure if he wants to be with her, but he's willing to take that chance if it means finding himself.
I got something way different out of this song. I think it's about a guy admitting his imperfections, and telling a girl not to expect much out of him. The girl is probably expecting an ideal, traditional relationship with her knight in shining armor who's going to come rescue her out of her tower ("I don't want to meet your dad/ I don't want to be your dream come true") and I think he's trying to get her to just be what she is. He's saying that he'll be there for her when she needs him ("I'll be the rain falling on your fire escape" rain...fire....rain puts out fire...maybe?), but as far as being perfect, he's far from it and isn't even gonna try.
I've never lived in a building with a fire escape, but I always assumed that they would be noisy in the rain. I interpret that line as meaning he's going to be annoying. He's annoying, he may not always be what she wants, and he isn't going to pretend he's something different.
I think this song is just about being yourself no matter what anybody else thinks you should be.
"And I may not be the man you want me to, I can be myself, how bout you?"
That's really something that is good to live by in today's world. Being yourself is a good quality to have and this is a really great song. One of my Fastball favorties.
Yeah i think all you guys are right about it being about a guy admitting his faults plus this song is so darn catchy. It's so fun and cool.
lovely
My personal feeling is that the song is about a guy that's not necessarily successful in the most common senses of the word. Especially when it comes to love. He realizes this and yet he's fine with it. He doesn't need to become what others feel he should. He's somewhat lost, but he's okay with that. He's going to make things harder on those around him as a result of all this. But, in the end, he can be himself. How 'bout you?
I see the man as telling this woman that he'll be her part-time lover, but he's not going to be her soulmate. He doesn't want the pressure of her expectations, especially since he doesn't even really know how he feels about her. He cares about her, but not enough to commit.
He's essentially offering himself to her as long as she can accept the casual nature of their relationship and won't demand more than he is willing to give.