Lungs
Townes Van Zandt Lyrics
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Mine are collapsing
Plant my feet and bitterly
Breathe up the time that's passing.
Breath I'll take and breath I'll give
Pray the day's not poison
Stand among the ones that live
In lonely indecision.
Fingers walk the darkness down
Mind is on the midnight
Gather up the gold you've found
You fool, it's only moonlight.
And if you stop to take it home
Your hands will turn to butter
Better leave this dream alone
Try to find another.
Salvation sat and crossed herself
And called the devil partner
Wisdom burned upon a shelf
Who'll kill the raging cancer
Seal the river at its mouth
Take the water prisoner
Fill the sky with screams and cries
Bathe in fiery answers
Jesus was an only son
And love his only concept
But strangers cry in foreign tongues
And dirty up the doorstep
And I for one, and you for two
Ain't got the time for outside
Keep your injured looks to you
We'll tell the world that we tried
The song "Lungs" by Townes Van Zandt is a contemplative piece that captures the feeling of being lost and uncertain in life. The first verse calls upon the listener to lend their lungs, as the singer's own lungs are collapsing. He asks that they stand among the ones that live in lonely indecision, implying that he is struggling to make sense of his own life. The second verse conjures a sense of darkness and mystery, as fingers walk the darkness down and the mind is on the midnight. The line "Gather up the gold you've found / You fool, it's only moonlight" suggests that the singer is searching for something that is ultimately unattainable.
The third verse continues the theme of searching, this time for salvation and wisdom. However, even those things seem elusive, as salvation has to call upon the devil as a partner and wisdom sits unused on a shelf. The final verse brings in a religious overtone, referring to Jesus as an only son and love as his only concept. However, the line "strangers cry in foreign tongues / and dirty up the doorstep" suggests that even love and religion can be tainted by outside forces. The song ends on a somewhat defeatist note, with the singer acknowledging that he doesn't have the time or energy to deal with the world outside, but will at least tell them that he tried.
Line by Line Meaning
Won't you lend your lungs to me?
Can I rely on you to help me breathe?
Mine are collapsing
My life is falling apart
Plant my feet and bitterly
I'm stuck in one place, feeling lost and hopeless
Breathe up the time that's passing.
Take advantage of every moment and make the most of it
Breath I'll take and breath I'll give
I'll rely on others for help, but I'll also do what I can to help them in return
Pray the day's not poison
Hope that the day won't be filled with negativity and pain
Stand among the ones that live
Be around those who are actually living their lives, not just existing
In lonely indecision.
Feeling lonely and unsure about what to do next
Fingers walk the darkness down
Feeling lost and struggling to find a way out
Mind is on the midnight
Thinking about darkness and the unknown
Gather up the gold you've found
Take advantage of the opportunities you do have
You fool, it's only moonlight.
Don't be fooled by illusions or false hope
And if you stop to take it home
If you get caught up in illusions, you'll lose your way
Your hands will turn to butter
You'll lose your ability to make a difference
Better leave this dream alone
It's better to avoid false hope and move on
Try to find another.
Look for a more realistic option or goal
Salvation sat and crossed herself
Religion can be a source of comfort and refuge
And called the devil partner
Even in faith, there can be doubt and darkness
Wisdom burned upon a shelf
Knowledge is useless if it's not put to use
Who'll kill the raging cancer
Who will put an end to the pain and suffering?
Seal the river at its mouth
Stop the source of pain and negativity
Take the water prisoner
Take control of the situation and make a change
Fill the sky with screams and cries
Express your emotions and don't hold back
Bathe in fiery answers
Get clarity and find a way forward, even if it's painful
Jesus was an only son
Jesus is a symbol of sacrifice and love
And love his only concept
Love is the most important thing
But strangers cry in foreign tongues
There are those who suffer and struggle that we cannot understand
And dirty up the doorstep
They are unwelcome and unwanted by some
And I for one, and you for two
We should all be doing something to help those in need
Ain't got the time for outside
We can't waste our time on superficial things
Keep your injured looks to you
Don't expect others to feel sorry for you
We'll tell the world that we tried
Let's make a concerted effort to make a difference, even if we don't succeed
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Townes Van Zandt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lilywashere27
Well, won't you lend your lungs to me?
Mine are collapsing
Plant my feet and bitterly breathe
Up the time that's passing.
Breath I'll take and breath I'll give
Pray the day ain't poison
Stand among the ones that live
In lonely indecision.
Fingers walk the darkness down
Mind is on the midnight
Gather up the gold you've found
You fool, it's only moonlight.
If you stop to take it home
Your hands will turn to butter
You better leave this dream alone
Try to find another.
Salvation sat and crossed herself
Called the devil "partner"
Wisdom burned upon a shelf
Who'll kill the raging cancer
Seal the river at its mouth
Take the water prisoner
Fill the sky with screams and cries
Bathe in fiery answers
Jesus was an only son
And love his only concept
Strangers cry in foreign tongues
And dirty up the doorstep
And I for one, and you for two
Ain't got the time for outside
Just keep your injured looks to you
We'll tell the world that we tried
@BrianMolinaB
[Verse 1]
Won't you lend your lungs to me? Mine are collapsing
Plant my feet and bitterly breathe up the time that's passing
Breath I'll take and breath I'll give, pray the day's not poison
Stand among the ones that live in lonely indecision
[Verse 2]
Fingers walk the darkness down, mind is on the midnight
Gather up the gold you've found, you fool, it's only moonlight
And if you stop to take it home, your hands will turn to butter
Better leave this dream alone, try to find another
[Verse 3]
Salvation sat and crossed herself and called the Devil "partner"
Wisdom burned upon a shelf, who'll kill the raging cancer
Seal the river at its mouth, take the water prisoner
Fill the sky with screams and cries, bathe in fiery answers
[Verse 4]
Jesus was an only son and love, his only concept
Strangers cry in foreign tongues and dirty up the doorstep
And I, for one, and you, for two, ain't got the time for outside
Keep your injured looks to you, we'll tell the world that we tried
@echolot
My family's been here a long, long time..
@th3m1st0cl3s
"My family's been here a long time...."
@jessiehausner5997
Townes is the best damn song writer that's ever been, & I'll stand on Bob Dylan's dining room table in my cowboy boots & say it.
@katrinawallis-king1540
© Steve Earle.
@jessiehausner5997
@@katrinawallis-king1540 I love you for knowing it.
@rsjcmp2285
Crazy he wasn’t more known
@CatvsCops
Damned right
@jackmitchell2536
And dylan will agree
@thestinkycheeseman2208
This is so otherworldly. Townes is a ghost that all song writers can feel.
@feltongailey8987
Who on this green earth God hath made, would not pay to meet this man?