my darlin' hangs her head in sorrow... leaving me to guess
that some things must be said in silence... noo anger can express
and I'm caught one more time... trapped in my own lines...
torn between loving you... and just letting you go... your own way.
...
times I ought to bite my tongue... choke on my own words...
if you weren't taking all I'm saying wrong... this couldn't have occurred...
I see anguish in your eyes... too late I realize...
that things said in jest... put a love to the test... everyday.
...
all in all, there's been damage done; we can't easily disguise
or expect that we could carry on... in this state of compromise
I heard you talking in your sleep... exposing what you keep
deep inside your heart... it's tearing me apart... to know the truth.
(my darlin' hangs her head in sorrow... repeat first verse...)
...well... don't we all fear what we might let slip in our sleep? ... dreams hold us all captive in one way or another, and though we may be the author on a subconscious level, oftentimes they seem to direct the action of their own accord. This is a very old song, and yet it seems to have application in every situation since. Perhaps this is why a songwriter needs to get beyond the immediate autobiographical nature of a lyric (easier said than done) and allow the material to speak to the 'human condition' on a broader scale. I rarely feel the need to look beyond my own life experience for material (indeed, the songs often come looking for me, rather than I for them). And yet... one always hopes that a song will 'strike a chord' with others. Otherwise, why would we? ... love to all, (especially those who try, or have tried; to love me). d.