I think this song was written about the same woman who inspired Lightfoot to write Sundown, which spoke of his intense jealousy when she went out. Here he’s processing the end of the relationship and telling himself he’d be foolish to go back, I.e., “climb a tree too weak to stand”. He’s also aware of the irony of him penning love songs when he feels he’s defiled love with lust (been unfaithful?) and thus it’s better for him to be free instead of being monogamous. He owns up to his own choices, saying he wasn’t shamed by the world, alternatively, the world was in his hands. A honest assessment by the songwriter at a certain moment in his life.
I think this song was written about the same woman who inspired Lightfoot to write Sundown, which spoke of his intense jealousy when she went out. Here he’s processing the end of the relationship and telling himself he’d be foolish to go back, I.e., “climb a tree too weak to stand”. He’s also aware of the irony of him penning love songs when he feels he’s defiled love with lust (been unfaithful?) and thus it’s better for him to be free instead of being monogamous. He owns up to his own choices, saying he wasn’t shamed by the world, alternatively, the world was in his hands. A honest assessment by the songwriter at a certain moment in his life.