I been burned
By a cold empty fire
I been turned and led astray
But you learn
When you deal with a liar
It's a cold cold world
Cold world when it's
Your friends

I bee taken
Down a blind street
I been shaken and led astray
You awaken
With a bad bad feelin'
It's a cold cold world
When it's your friends

You might listen you might
Not it don't bother me
You won't know till the
Time catches up with you
Can't you see how close I'm
Watching you

Feel like dirt
They've taken my pride
And what's worse
I've been so betrayed
And it hurts you deep down inside
It's a cold cold world
Cold world, when it's your friends

You know trust is so hard to give
But you must or you're gonna be alone
When you're dust it just should not be
That it was a cold cold world
Cold world, cold cold world
In the end

Overall Meaning

The song "Cold Cold World" by Stephen Stills is a powerful commentary on the betrayal and disappointment one can experience at the hands of those they consider to be friends. The lyrics describe the singer's experiences with dishonesty and manipulation, which have left them feeling burnt, shaken, and deeply hurt. Despite the pain they have endured, the singer acknowledges the importance of trust in relationships - "Trust is so hard to give, but you must, or you're gonna be alone" - and warns others to be mindful of those who might seek to deceive them.

The song's bleak portrayal of human relationships is underscored by its musical arrangement, which features sparse instrumentation and minimal production. The repetitive guitar riff and haunting harmonies create a sense of isolation and vulnerability, reinforcing the song's underlying message about the dangers of blindly trusting those around us.

One of the most interesting facts about "Cold Cold World" is that it was originally written in 1975, but was not released until 1991, when it appeared on Stills' album "Stills Alone". Despite its long gestation period, the song has resonated with listeners for decades, and has been covered by a number of artists over the years.

Line by Line Meaning

I been burned
I've been hurt deeply

By a cold empty fire
By a relationship that had no true warmth or love

I been turned and led astray
I've been betrayed and guided onto the wrong path by someone I trusted

But you learn
But these experiences teach you important lessons

When you deal with a liar
When you interact with someone who is deceitful and dishonest

It's a cold cold world
The world can be a cruel, harsh place

Cold world when it's
This is especially true

Your friends
When the ones who hurt you are your closest companions

I bee taken
I've been led down the wrong path

Down a blind street
Down a path with no clear direction or purpose

I been shaken and led astray
I've been deeply disturbed and misled

You awaken
But eventually you realize the truth

With a bad bad feelin'
With a deep sense of unease and negativity

It's a cold cold world
The world can be a cruel, harsh place

When it's your friends
Especially when those who hurt you are the people closest to you

You might listen you might
I may try to make you see things my way

Not it don't bother me
But if you don't, it won't affect me

You won't know till the
You won't understand until later on

Time catches up with you
When the consequences of your actions catch up with you

Can't you see how close I'm
Can't you see how carefully I'm watching you

Watching you
And trying to protect myself

Feel like dirt
I feel worthless and low

They've taken my pride
Someone has stripped me of my dignity and self-respect

And what's worse
And to make matters worse

I've been so betrayed
I have been deeply let down and hurt by someone I trusted

And it hurts you deep down inside
And the pain is felt deeply within you

It's a cold cold world
The world can be a cruel, harsh place

Cold world, when it's your friends
Especially when it's the people closest to you who've hurt you

You know trust is so hard to give
It's difficult to trust people

But you must or you're gonna be alone
But if you don't try, you'll end up isolated and lonely

When you're dust it just should not be
When you're gone, it shouldn't be like this

That it was a cold cold world
That the world was so harsh and cruel

Cold world, cold cold world
A world where people hurt each other

In the end
Ultimately

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