She sends me blue valentines
All the way from Philadelphia
To mark the anniversary
Of someone that I used to be
And it feels just like a warrant
Is out for my arrest
Baby, you got me checkin'
In my rearview mirror
That's why I'm always on the run
That's why I changed my name
And I didn't think you'd ever find me here

To send me blue valentines
Like half-forgotten dreams
Like a pebble in my shoe
As I walk these streets
And the ghost of your memory
Baby, it's the thistle in the kiss
It's the burglar that can break a rose's neck
It's the tatooed broken promise
I gotta hide beneath my sleeve
I'm going to see you every time I turn my back

She sends me blue valentines
Though I try to remain at large
They're insisting that our love
Must have a eulogy
Why do I save all of this madness
Here in the nightstand drawer
There to haunt upon my shoulders
Baby, I know
I'd be luckier to walk around everywhere I go
With this blind and broken heart
That sleeps beneath my lapel

Instead, these blue valentines
To remind me of my cardinal sin
I can never wash the guilt
Or get these bloodstains off my hands
And it takes a lot of whiskey
To make these nightmares go away
And I cut my bleedin' heart out every night
And I'm going to die a little more on each St. Valentines day
Don't you remember, I promised I would write you
These blue valentines
Blue valentines
Blue valentines


Lyrics submitted by yuri_sucupira, edited by Memento22Mori

Blue Valentines Lyrics as written by Tom Waits

Lyrics © JALMA MUSIC, Capitol CMG Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind

Blue Valentines song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

15 Comments

sort form View by:
  • +3
    General Comment

    this song is just about running away from the memories that you've shared with another; its about how they haunt you with feelings of remorse and guilt and feeling like you owe something in compensation; baby just let me go.

    JAKEZEIGLERon February 06, 2008   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    how does this song have no comments? a lot of tom waits songs don't have comments, and i don't get it. he is one of the most amazing singer/songwriter's ever. crimeney.

    fromawireon July 30, 2005   Link
  • +1
    General Comment

    Possibly my favourite song EVER :) Tom Waits is genius, he's a poet as far as I'm concerned. This song is beautiful. The way he sings it can't be beaten, his voice is perfect... he sounds just drunk enough to slur his words, but the parts where he suddenly goes higher and louder and his voice breaks a bit... it's like his heart breaking. He's a legend!

    elle91on January 10, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    how does this song have no comments? a lot of tom waits songs don't have comments, and i don't get it. he is one of the most amazing singer/songwriter's ever. crimeney.

    fromawireon July 30, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this is one of my top ten waits songs easily. i can't relate personally but i can feel what tom is trying to express without a doubt

    snarlin_jimon August 10, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    It sounds to me like he's running from a divorce, maybe.

    Nommoon October 06, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think its about a woman who broke up with a man on valentines day and he has all these memories and they are just getting to him

    tamyb171on December 19, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is just about running away from the memories that you've shared with another; its about how they haunt you with feelings of remorse and guilt and feeling like you owe something in compensation; baby just let me go.

    JAKEZEIGLERon February 06, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I've never heard this song. I just came by the lyrics by accident and I love this part:

    "She sends me blue valentines Though I try to remain at large"

    I'm going to go listen to the song.

    ILOVEBOSTONon July 25, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    ummm, did he kill her?? Was murder the "cardinal sin" he mentions? Is that why changed his name, is always on the run, checking his rearview mirror, and has bloodstains on his hands? Or is that all just figurative? I guess it's just open to the listener's interpretation. Tom Waits is a freakin' lyrical genius.

    I can relate to this song on a certain level -- my ex wife and I were married on Valentines Day.

    illrideron September 13, 2009   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Holiday
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday". I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
When We Were Young
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Album art
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.