Just an interpretation from me... I have known this song for some decades. I think literary texts (song lyrics included) have many different possible interpretations. I see this song as having three very different but connected parts. In the first part, he talks about what women may find while trying to relate with men. In the second, he talks about what men may find while trying to relate with women. In the third, it looks to me a little like a description of the situation with men and women after having related to each other for some time. So, up to strangers laughing out loud, it seems to me that he is depicting possibly a man in some pain perhaps for having been cheated upon, or for having been forsaken, etc. Right after it, it looks like the description of a woman coming back home after cheating. I see "step light on old toes" as a person tiptoeing, avoiding making sounds. Anyway, the parts of the lyrics are masterly crafted, in my opinion, and are superbly woven together.
Just an interpretation from me... I have known this song for some decades. I think literary texts (song lyrics included) have many different possible interpretations. I see this song as having three very different but connected parts. In the first part, he talks about what women may find while trying to relate with men. In the second, he talks about what men may find while trying to relate with women. In the third, it looks to me a little like a description of the situation with men and women after having related to each other for some time. So, up to strangers laughing out loud, it seems to me that he is depicting possibly a man in some pain perhaps for having been cheated upon, or for having been forsaken, etc. Right after it, it looks like the description of a woman coming back home after cheating. I see "step light on old toes" as a person tiptoeing, avoiding making sounds. Anyway, the parts of the lyrics are masterly crafted, in my opinion, and are superbly woven together.
Julio Siqueira juliocbsiqueira2012@gmail.com