Lyric discussion by jlbrpt 

Cover art for Don't Talk lyrics by 10,000 Maniacs

It is about a woman in love with an alcoholic who is drunk at the moment. She is trying to go to sleep and avoid confrontation with him, and trying to protect herself from falling for his empty promises about giving up drinking, as well as avoiding being a target for his verbal abuse. Basically, she's trying to tune him out while he's drunk, and will talk with him later when he's sobered up.