The lyrics should read "satin" not "faded" in the first line...
Gordon Lightfoot is a recovering alcoholic. He's talking about his drinking/alcoholism in an allegorical manner, giving liquor the role of a prostitute/mistress in his life.
I can see her lyin' back in her satin dress
he's visulizing alcohol and remembering the "satin" smooth feel of liquor
In a room where you do what you don't confess
getting drunk in a bar
Sundown you better take care
If I find you been creepin' 'round my back stairs
warning himself of the danger of letting alcohol sneak back into his life
She's been lookin' like a queen in a sailor's dream
liquor and sex, two things many sailor's want when then hit port. He's reinforcing the association...
And she don't always say what she really means
drinking starts with the promise of good times, but doesn't always deliver time.
Sometimes I think it's a shame
When I get feelin' better when I'm feelin' no pain
"feeling no pain" is a common expression for being drunk. He recognizes there's a problem that he has to be drunk in order to feel better
I can picture every move that a man could make
since he's an alcoholic, he knows from personal exerience
Getting lost in her lovin' is your first mistake
it's a mistake to lose yourself to drinking
Sundown you better take care
If I find you been creepin' 'round my back stairs
restating the dangers of alcohol sneaking back into his life again
Sometimes I think it's a sin
When I feel like I'm winnin' when I'm losin again
drinking/getting drunk makes you feel/think you're better off when it's actually creating a problem
I can see her lookin' fast in her faded jeans
She's a hard lovin' woman, got me feelin' mean
alcohol is hard on the body and can bring out a nasty side in people
Sometimes I think it's a shame
When I get feelin' better when I'm feelin' no pain
Sundown you better take care
If I find you been creepin' 'round my back stairs
Sundown you better take care
If I find you been creepin' 'round my back stairs
Sometimes I think it's a sin
When I feel like I'm winnin' when I'm losin' again
lamenting, reminding himself about the dangers (twice), still lamenting though
All the pieces fit for this interpretation. For so long I believed the song to be about the futile male quest to harness the love of a desirable woman exclusively and to fend off the legion of pursuers. "I can picture every move that a man could make."
All the pieces fit for this interpretation. For so long I believed the song to be about the futile male quest to harness the love of a desirable woman exclusively and to fend off the legion of pursuers. "I can picture every move that a man could make."
While the conundrum of one man retaining the singular affections of an exquisite woman, capable of enchanting all of those who cross her path, remains unresolved, I bow to Toner's interpretation that alcohol is the true object of desire in this piece. As to the question of which subject is...
While the conundrum of one man retaining the singular affections of an exquisite woman, capable of enchanting all of those who cross her path, remains unresolved, I bow to Toner's interpretation that alcohol is the true object of desire in this piece. As to the question of which subject is more destructive, that is another matter entirely, and the two forces working together would be the ruin of any man.
I think TheToner's interpretation is great! Great poets like Lightfoot unconsciously imbed several layers of meaning in their work. While he was writing something deeply personal (of which the narrative in Sundown is) the universality of the allure and awful consequences of alcohol abuse emerged as well. Where have all the good song writers gone?
I think TheToner's interpretation is great! Great poets like Lightfoot unconsciously imbed several layers of meaning in their work. While he was writing something deeply personal (of which the narrative in Sundown is) the universality of the allure and awful consequences of alcohol abuse emerged as well. Where have all the good song writers gone?
The lyrics should read "satin" not "faded" in the first line...
Gordon Lightfoot is a recovering alcoholic. He's talking about his drinking/alcoholism in an allegorical manner, giving liquor the role of a prostitute/mistress in his life.
I can see her lyin' back in her satin dress
In a room where you do what you don't confess
Sundown you better take care If I find you been creepin' 'round my back stairs
She's been lookin' like a queen in a sailor's dream
And she don't always say what she really means
Sometimes I think it's a shame When I get feelin' better when I'm feelin' no pain
I can picture every move that a man could make
Getting lost in her lovin' is your first mistake
Sundown you better take care If I find you been creepin' 'round my back stairs
Sometimes I think it's a sin When I feel like I'm winnin' when I'm losin again
I can see her lookin' fast in her faded jeans She's a hard lovin' woman, got me feelin' mean
Sometimes I think it's a shame When I get feelin' better when I'm feelin' no pain Sundown you better take care If I find you been creepin' 'round my back stairs Sundown you better take care If I find you been creepin' 'round my back stairs Sometimes I think it's a sin When I feel like I'm winnin' when I'm losin' again
All the pieces fit for this interpretation. For so long I believed the song to be about the futile male quest to harness the love of a desirable woman exclusively and to fend off the legion of pursuers. "I can picture every move that a man could make."
All the pieces fit for this interpretation. For so long I believed the song to be about the futile male quest to harness the love of a desirable woman exclusively and to fend off the legion of pursuers. "I can picture every move that a man could make."
While the conundrum of one man retaining the singular affections of an exquisite woman, capable of enchanting all of those who cross her path, remains unresolved, I bow to Toner's interpretation that alcohol is the true object of desire in this piece. As to the question of which subject is...
While the conundrum of one man retaining the singular affections of an exquisite woman, capable of enchanting all of those who cross her path, remains unresolved, I bow to Toner's interpretation that alcohol is the true object of desire in this piece. As to the question of which subject is more destructive, that is another matter entirely, and the two forces working together would be the ruin of any man.
You may have cracked the code....
You may have cracked the code....
I think TheToner's interpretation is great! Great poets like Lightfoot unconsciously imbed several layers of meaning in their work. While he was writing something deeply personal (of which the narrative in Sundown is) the universality of the allure and awful consequences of alcohol abuse emerged as well. Where have all the good song writers gone?
I think TheToner's interpretation is great! Great poets like Lightfoot unconsciously imbed several layers of meaning in their work. While he was writing something deeply personal (of which the narrative in Sundown is) the universality of the allure and awful consequences of alcohol abuse emerged as well. Where have all the good song writers gone?