If You Could Read My Mind Lyrics
What a tale my thoughts could tell.
Just like an old time movie
About a ghost from a wishing well.
In a castle dark or a fortress strong
With chains upon my feet.
You know that ghost is me
And I will never be set free
As long as I'm a ghost that you can't see.
What a tale your thoughts could tell.
Just like a paperback novel,
The kind the drugstore sells.
When you reach the part where the heartaches
Come the hero would be me.
Heroes often fail.
And you won't read that book again
Because the endings just to hard to take.
Who gets burned in a three way script.
Enter number two, a movie queen
To play the scene of bringing all the good things out in me,
But for now love lets be real.
And I've got to say that I just don't get it.
I don't know where we went wrong
But the feelings gone and I just can't get it back.
What a tale my thoughts could tell.
Just like an old time movie about a ghost from a wishing well.
In a castle dark or a fortress strong
With chains upon my feet the story always ends.
And if you read between the lines
You'll know that I'm just trying to understand
The feeling that you left.
And I got to say that I just don't get it.
I don't know where we went wrong
But the feelings gone
And I just can't get it back.
This song makes me cry when I hear it. It reminds me of when I was a kid, and couldn't understand it. And now that I'm older and have lived this song, it resonates so much with me.
There's so much in this song that it's hard to break down. But here's how I see it.
"If you could read my mind, love What a tale my thoughts could tell Just like an old time movie 'Bout a ghost from a wishing well In a castle dark, or a fortress strong With chains upon my feet, you know that ghost is me And I will never be set free As long as I'm a ghost that you can't see."
This verse describes what is going on in the man’s mind, feeling trapped and invisible, not sure how to mend the relationship or make his feelings known. The figurative chains on his feet keep him from both expressing his feelings and from leaving … he feels powerless. He wishes she could read his mind -- hence the song title -- because that would be the only way for her to really see how he feels.
The second verse, "If I could read your mind, love, what a tale your thoughts could tell Just like a paperback novel, the kind the drugstores sell When you reach the part where the heartaches come The hero would be me, but heroes often fail And you won't read that book again because the ending's just too hard to take."
describes the woman's mind, like a romance novel or a fairy tale — dreaming of the knight in shining armor she hopes for her love to be. He realizes that she wanted for him to be the hero, the knight in shining armor … but he failed. And now she won’t come back to him because it is too painful and she already knows how it will turn out.
"I'd walk away like a movie star who gets burned in a three way script, Enter number two A movie queen to play the scene Of bringing all the good things out in me But for now, love, let's be real I never thought I could act this way And I've got to say that I just don't get it I don't know where we went wrong but the feeling's gone And I just can't get it back."
Here, he describes the end of the paperback novel and what was simultaneously occurring in his mind. His pride (as the movie star) makes him want to walk away rather than compromise or communicate. He thinks that there's some other woman out there who will bring out all the good things in him, and he won't have to work on the relationship or deal with arguments. In "escaping" from the relationship and the chains upon his feet, he is expecting to find the perfect relationship to take its place, but realizes this is unrealistic and can’t figure out why he thinks this way.
The last verse,
"If you could read my mind, love, what a tale my thoughts could tell Just like an old time movie, 'bout a ghost from a wishing well In a castle dark or a fortress strong with chains upon my feet But stories always end And if you read between the lines, you'll know that I'm just trying to understand The feelings that you lack I never thought I could feel this way and I've got to say that I just don't get it I don't know where we went wrong but the feeling's gone and I just can't get it back."
Relationships, like stories, come to an end. He uses an interesting tactic to show the abrupt end — unlike the first verse where he finishes the thought, he interrupts the verse to say “but stories always end.” He can’t understand how she doesn’t care anymore, in the powerful line, " And if you read between the lines, you'll know that I'm just trying to understand the feelings that you lack."
This is oh so representative of the lack of clear communication in so many relationships. We sit there, feeling so many things that we just can't express. And we wish that the other person could just read our mind and understand us. But our pride gets in the way. And we are silent. Then those feelings gradually fade and we can't understand where they went or how our relationship went wrong.
Dear Hope and Understanding
Dear Hope and Understanding
I respect your enthusiasm for this great work of art and I think we agree on the generalities of the song. Two people are in a relationship. They love and respect each other. One person is happy with the terms of the relationship, but the other (the narrator) is unhappy with the terms of the relationship. The narrator must end the relationship to put an end to the emotional distress he is experiencing. He ends this relationship with a heavy heart……this song has sorrow in the words and voice like almost no other……but he ends the...
I respect your enthusiasm for this great work of art and I think we agree on the generalities of the song. Two people are in a relationship. They love and respect each other. One person is happy with the terms of the relationship, but the other (the narrator) is unhappy with the terms of the relationship. The narrator must end the relationship to put an end to the emotional distress he is experiencing. He ends this relationship with a heavy heart……this song has sorrow in the words and voice like almost no other……but he ends the relationship without any regrets………it is something he knows that he must do.
But I do disagree with some of your more specific conclusions.
First some facts. This song is about GL’s breakup from his first wife (which eventually led to divorce). When GL wrote this song, he was young (31 years old). He had been married for 6 years. He had two very young children (5 & 3 years old) that he cared for very much. He was far from wealthy at the time (If You Could Read My Mind would change that…….that was his first major hit), and I would dare say not in the best shape financially.
To understand the meaning of this song, you have to look at it from this context. Given the facts, what is so firmly driving GL to end this relationship has to be a BIG deal. This is not small stuff. This conflict is not just between two adults; the welfare of 2 young children is at stake.
Now, just to cite a few examples of why you think he is leaving (and I paraphrase):
-He is not sure how to mend the relationship or make his feelings known -He would rather leave than compromise or communicate. -He thinks that there's some other woman out there who will bring out all the good things in him
>
I’ll say this…..I am the father of two children (now teenagers)……..and if I had left my kids at that young of an age for the reasons stated above, the last thing I would have done was write a song about it. I would have been far too ashamed. You mentioned GL’s pride was also a factor…….how on earth could GL (or anyone) be proud of that? Not exactly the behavior of a Movie Star, don't you think?
So I think your specific conclusions are wrong. Again, this was a bold, thoughtful, and excruciating decision. I think GL is taking action because of something that is concrete, specific, and well understood. He leaves because he knows that there is no chance that it can be resolved. And he knows that if he chooses to stay, it will do more harm than good to his family.
Sexual incompatibility is a common reason for marital strife and break up (poke around the internet and see for your self). Simply put, one person’s sex drive is substantially higher than the sex drive of the partner that they committed to. When the drives become too far apart…….one person’s minimal needs exceeds the others maximum tolerance……..the options for compromise are severely limited and usually unacceptable to either party. Often these relationships start out with both having high/compatible sex drives (the honeymoon period), but then one of the parties loses interest…..which causes the other party to fall into depression and emotional distress. Again, poke around on the internet. Plenty of information and examples. Very common.
My hypothesis is that this song is about this unfortunate, yet common circumstance. When you test this hypothesis against the lyrics, it easily passes the test.
If You Could Read My Mind…….I agree that this title infers that communication is difficult……and you would be hard pressed to find a topic more difficult to discuss than sexual incompatibility.
Chains around my feet……..as in the old saying ball and chain……….chain is a common metaphor for the promise that you will have sex only with your spouse. And when the one you made vows to loses interest, keeping those vows is torture.
Burned in a 3 way script…….the 3 way script is himself, what his wife was (the Movie Queen) early in the marriage and what his wife has become years later (one much less interested in sex). He is doing the honorable thing by being up front and walking away (many men in this situation lie and cheat).
Regarding the enter #2 line…….my interpretation is that in order to save the relationship, she proposes to be the Movie Queen again……..but he knows this would just be an act……he is not interested in obligation sex……….it is time to get real and be true to ourselves.
The feelings that you lack……..this one is obvious and I think the biggest clue…….feelings is a euphemism for sexual desire.
One more final note……when GL sings the song today, he uses the line:
The feelings that WE lack
He does this because he is honoring a recent request by his children from the first marriage. They know exactly what he is talking about………the line feelings that you lack is too revealing………it is easy to understand why they are very uncomfortable with that….being constantly reminded that mom could not put out for dad………they need relief; too painful.
Anyway, that is my take. I hope it was constructive and helpful.
I think you nailed it! What an incredible song and so honest and vulnerable... not to say the clever lyrics... Title: If you could read my mind..... ;;;;;then that ending line, And if you read BETWEEN the lines ,you'll know that I'm just trying to understand the feelings that you lack...
I think you nailed it! What an incredible song and so honest and vulnerable... not to say the clever lyrics... Title: If you could read my mind..... ;;;;;then that ending line, And if you read BETWEEN the lines ,you'll know that I'm just trying to understand the feelings that you lack...
@hopeandunderstanding I think you're right on the money. When you hear it as a kid and a teenager you can feel the hurt but through life experience you really get it. Well done.
@hopeandunderstanding I think you're right on the money. When you hear it as a kid and a teenager you can feel the hurt but through life experience you really get it. Well done.
This song is beautiful and poignant and just because what I say may make the protagonist seem like a bad guy to some of you, that should not detract from it. It is really straight forward. It is about a couple and the guy falls out of love, then into love with another woman.It is one of those things that just happens and Lightfoot uses the analogy of a "dime store novel" or an old movie to describe the situation. Consider the part where he describes that there is just one actress then, "Enter Number two: a movie queen to play the scene while bringing all the good things out in me." He also draws a parallel between himself and the hero of a dime store novel saying, "When you reach the part when the hero comes, the hero would be me and heroes often fail," which means that he failed her by falling for someone else. He alludes to the fact that his first love will not take him back because it would be too painful: "And you won't read that book again because the ending just too hard to take." He explains that he does not understand why their feelings towards each other changed "the feelings gone and I just can't get it back." The song is about falling for someone else, not being able to help it and saying good bye to the old lover while trying to explain.
KittenThinks- you are close, but not quite.
KittenThinks- you are close, but not quite.
While the narrator may have eventually acquired "feelings" for other women (which may be what he is referring to in "I never thought I could act/feel that/this way".....I am not sure), that is not what caused this relationship to fail.
While the narrator may have eventually acquired "feelings" for other women (which may be what he is referring to in "I never thought I could act/feel that/this way".....I am not sure), that is not what caused this relationship to fail.
The most important and powerful words in the song are in the last verse:
The most important and powerful words in the song are in the last verse:
And if you read between the lines You'll know that I'm just trying to understand The feelings that YOU lack
And if you read between the lines You'll know that I'm just trying to understand The feelings that YOU lack
These lines are so powerful and personal that Lightfoot's (now grown up)...
These lines are so powerful and personal that Lightfoot's (now grown up) children from this broken marriage have requested that he use the line "the feelings that WE lack" (which changes the true meaning of the song, IMO) when he now performs this in concert. Gordon has honored their request. What can you say, he is a great guy. Anyway, this passage is the song's biggest clue about what is going on here.
Your "movie queen is another woman" explanation almost works. But the narrator is the one who is "burned in a three way script". If the "movie queen" (number 2 in the script) was a mistress or another lover in waiting, then it would be the wife who was burned, not the narrator.
The correct explanation (which I learned from this forum....this passage always confused me before I discovered this forum) is that the 3 way script involves himself (#1), the woman he dated and married (#2- the movie queen), and the woman his wife became and now is (#3). The third verse is about informing his wife he is leaving and why, and she counter offers to be (or essentially pretends to be) the movie queen again to save the marriage.......and he says "but for now love, let's be real".......in other words, let's stop pretending, this will not work in the long run, you lost your feelings for me, it has taken a long time but I have accepted that, I have now lost my feelings for you, and now it is time for me to move on.
Below is a guide for some of the key metaphors in the song. With these metaphors understood, this enigmatic song becomes crystal clear
feelings- sexual interest
castle dark/fortress strong/chains upon my feet- having a strong libido, but allowing your sex life to be under the control of someone no longer interested in sex
hero- for the welfare of your children and out of respect for your wife, remaining faithful in a committed relationship with the wife through very challenging circumstances. The hero "fails" when he realizes he can no longer carry the burden of the circumstances.
So the failure in the relationship is due to incompatible libidos (which may have lead to another woman).
One thing is for sure.......Gordon Lightfoot (who was on the road quite a bit himself)has much more quality of character than Tiger Woods. Tiger could learn a lot from listening to Lightfoot's music.
Not real sure why some people are so determined that their own interpretation of a song is correct in the face of all others, but I would like to thank KittenThinks for sharing their view of this song. It is not one I considered before but I think it is a very appropriate interpretation for many situations. Knowing Gordon Lightfoot's history does not mean you know why he wrote this song, or what he used for inspiration. Continuing froM Kittens interpretation of the "movie Queen" verse, I propose that the #2 that enters is indeed another woman whom he thinks will...
Not real sure why some people are so determined that their own interpretation of a song is correct in the face of all others, but I would like to thank KittenThinks for sharing their view of this song. It is not one I considered before but I think it is a very appropriate interpretation for many situations. Knowing Gordon Lightfoot's history does not mean you know why he wrote this song, or what he used for inspiration. Continuing froM Kittens interpretation of the "movie Queen" verse, I propose that the #2 that enters is indeed another woman whom he thinks will love him the way he desires. She plays the scene of bringing all the good things out in him, however, it is only a scene and in the end, he realizes that she can never live up to the role she is trying to play. Thus, he is burned by thinking she will be better for him than #1 and by the time he realizes it, the relationship between he and #1 has been sufficiently damaged that both realize it cannot be repaired.
It's also frankly honest about his own egotism ("Like a movie star burned in a three way script"). I've been there. I loved a girl and couldn't see how my own egotism got in the way of seeing how it was killing love. Welcome to the human condition.
my favorite line as well, there is an incredibly haunting sound in that line......enter number two, A MOVIE QUEEN WHO PLAYS THE SCENE OF BRINGING ALL THE GOOD THINGS OUT IN ME...BUT FOR NOW LOVE LETS BE REAL.
my favorite line as well, there is an incredibly haunting sound in that line......enter number two, A MOVIE QUEEN WHO PLAYS THE SCENE OF BRINGING ALL THE GOOD THINGS OUT IN ME...BUT FOR NOW LOVE LETS BE REAL.
UNBELIEVABLE!
This song is about a man in love with something that doesn't exist - ie, mutual love. This is a classic song of unrequited love, nothing more. I love it. It may be my favorite lovelorn song of all time. The lyrics are true tear-jerker, and the music/production are so fine that they only magnify the lyrics.
These lines never fail to bring tears to my eyes...
"But heroes often fail And you won't read that book again Because the ending's just too hard to take"
Also, the music and production of this tune is exquisite - listen to the subtle bass lines, chord changes and strings. Good listen with headphones. The VI-II-V-I progression is one of the most common progressions in all of pop music. But in this tune tune the progression is as fresh as it has ever been - it brings the listener through the lyrics as gently yet sadly as could be, enhancing the lyrics by an order of magnitude. Lots of subtle harmonies hidden in this tune.
My only complaint is the duration of this song, I wish it would go on for 2 hours!
You really express this well, ....to me, there is NO song quite like this....
You really express this well, ....to me, there is NO song quite like this....
@tsreyb Yes, the part about the book always brings tears to my eyes as well... it reminds me of the fact that though most storybooks have happy endings, our lives are not guaranteed to end happily.
@tsreyb Yes, the part about the book always brings tears to my eyes as well... it reminds me of the fact that though most storybooks have happy endings, our lives are not guaranteed to end happily.
one of my favorites
"And I will never be set free As long as I'm a ghost that you can't see" "And if you read between the lines You'll know that I'm just trying to understand The feelings that you lack I never thought I could feel this way And I've got to say that I just to get it I don't know where we went wrong But the feeling's gone And I just can't get it back "
I think these are the most telling lines. I think this song is about someone he is very much in love with and its all of a sudden falling apart. he feels like a ghost to her, she's not seeing him the way she used to and he'll never be set free again until she sees him again. Also he's saying he's never felt this way about anyone before and he's trying to understand how she lost the love for him and how to get it back. Its like his final acceptance of a love lost.
i agree with you
i agree with you
Yea, I agree too, but Every verse is what makes this song so beautiful.... this last verse really "closes the book", but nothing hits me emotionally like losing someone you love who has made you a better person...bringing all the good things out in me...
Yea, I agree too, but Every verse is what makes this song so beautiful.... this last verse really "closes the book", but nothing hits me emotionally like losing someone you love who has made you a better person...bringing all the good things out in me...
It's a brilliant song. I can't find the right words to even begin to describe it. Every time I play it, it helps me think about the dark and light side of every relationship.
me too. the heartbreak of it not working out, the memory of how a person can bring all the "best things" out of you, the realization that just becauise you love someone doesn't mean theiy're oing to love you back....... the feelings that you lack..... I wonder how he came up with that incredible line.... all of them for that matter.... but that line completes the song, but leaves the wound open....
me too. the heartbreak of it not working out, the memory of how a person can bring all the "best things" out of you, the realization that just becauise you love someone doesn't mean theiy're oing to love you back....... the feelings that you lack..... I wonder how he came up with that incredible line.... all of them for that matter.... but that line completes the song, but leaves the wound open....
Break it down by stanza, and you can see the story form...
1st - he refers to "an old time movie" which says to me "silent film" for whatever reason. He talks about being shackled in chains in a dark and impenetrable place, stuck by a wishing well, where she can't see him... he feels trapped, invisible, and muted with his wishes of what their relationship could be, or could have been, and she doesn't recognize, nor wants to recognize, what his desires.
2nd - he refers to "paperback novel, the kind that drugstores sell"; this makes me think of harlequin romance novels. When the climax of the novel comes, and the hero is supposed to come in and save the day, sweep her off her feet, he has failed somehow... He sees that she is expecting their relationship to be like a romance novel, and he hasn't lived up to her fantasy, so she no longer wants him or their relationship anymore (she won't pick up the book again).
3rd - this continues vaguely from the last - the 3 way script is him, her, and the third is her fantasy version of him. he gets burned in it because she would rather be with the imagined fantasy him instead of the real him. He doesn't know where it all went wrong, but neither of them are in love anymore, and he can't get it back.
4th - the reprise of the first, except he states that this time, instead of going on forever like the ghost, the story is ending. He never thought he could fall so far out of love and is just trying to understand why and where it all fell apart.
On a more personal note, I love Gordon Lightfoot and have since my youth (I'm 26), and although there are songs of his that I like better, I still absolutely love this song.
I think it was around 1968...junior high for me....when we were wearing out the 45 of this song on the old HiFi set. This beautiful song is so unique in it's "sound" that you could really never pair another song with it....except another Gordon Lightfoot song like "Beautiful". I could list 30 or 40 other 45s that were in the same stack with this song....and they are all obscure 60's classics.....but none have survived like If You Could Read My Mind. "As long as I'm a Ghost you can't see"....what junior high kid hasn't felt that?
@kitconsul ...what "human being" hasn't felt this??
@kitconsul ...what "human being" hasn't felt this??
A lovely song, very thought-provoking, but true - "When you reach the part where the heartache come The hero would be me But heroes often fail" Beautiful.