Vodka Tonic Blues
Adam West Lyrics


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when i walk i won't see you there
i can't feel my legs i can't feel you near
got the world locked up in a little ball
never been so blind not to see you fall

i got the world i got the prize
my glass is empty but i've still got the ice
i don't need to run
i don't need to hide
i can read your thoughts but i don't know why
so come and tell me

and i feel it, too, my love

you speak to me you speak out loud
your lips will move and tell the promise you vowed
i ain't got no glass
i ain't got no ice
i can breathe again looking into your eyes
so come and save me





come unto me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Adam West's "Vodka Tonic Blues" reflect a sense of disillusionment and detachment, as the singer seems to be struggling with a lack of emotional connection, even with those closest to him. The opening lines of the song paint a picture of a solitary figure, walking through a world that seems to have lost its color and vibrancy. The lines "when I walk I won't see you there / I can't feel my legs I can't feel you near" suggest a sense of physical and emotional numbness that pervades the singer's existence. In the following lines, the world is depicted as being "locked up in a little ball," indicating a sense of claustrophobia and confinement that speaks to the singer's sense of being trapped.


As the song continues, the singer speaks of having "the world" and "the prize," yet despite this seeming success, he is unable to find fulfillment or meaning in his existence. His glass may be empty, but he still has the ice - a metaphor that speaks to his sense of detachment and emotional distance. He proclaims that he doesn't need to run or hide, yet at the same time he admits to being unable to understand the thoughts and feelings of those around him. The line "so come and tell me / and I feel it, too, my love" suggests a desire for connection and communication, but also hints at a sense of inadequacy and uncertainty on the part of the singer.


In the final verse, the mood of the song shifts slightly as the singer speaks of someone coming and speaking "out loud" to him. This person's lips will move and tell him "the promise you vowed." The lack of glass and ice in this verse seems to indicate a willingness to be vulnerable and exposed, as the singer is able to "breathe again" when looking into the other person's eyes. He begs the person to "come and save me," suggesting a sense of desperation and need that runs counter to the detached, cynical tone of the rest of the song.


Overall, the lyrics of "Vodka Tonic Blues" paint a picture of someone who is struggling with emotional disconnection and detachment, even in the face of worldly success. The singer desires connection and intimacy, yet seems to be unable to find it in the world around him.


Line by Line Meaning

when i walk i won't see you there
I will miss you when I go away.


i can't feel my legs i can't feel you near
I cannot feel your presence anymore due to physical and emotional detachment.


got the world locked up in a little ball
I am carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders.


never been so blind not to see you fall
I have failed to see you suffering and falling apart in front of me.


i got the world i got the prize
I have everything in my hands and achieved what I desired.


my glass is empty but i've still got the ice
Though I have lost everything, I am still holding onto some hope.


i don't need to run
I can stand tall and face my problems without running away.


i don't need to hide
I am ready to confront the truth and come out of hiding.


i can read your thoughts but i don't know why
I can sense your emotions, but I cannot understand why you feel that way.


so come and tell me
Please communicate with me and share your feelings so that we can sort out our differences.


and i feel it, too, my love
I also share the same feeling of love for you.


you speak to me you speak out loud
You are talking to me, revealing your innermost secrets.


your lips will move and tell the promise you vowed
You are reminding me of the promises we made to each other.


i ain't got no glass
I am not holding anything to drink from.


i ain't got no ice
I have nothing left to hold onto.


i can breathe again looking into your eyes
I can find solace in your eyes and breathe easy.


so come and save me
Please come and rescue me from this loneliness.


come unto me
I am inviting you to come and be with me.




Contributed by Lucas Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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