Follow You Down
Alejandro Escovedo Lyrics

In Alejandro Escovedo's song Follow You Down, the lyrics give off a sense of vulnerability and hesitation towards loving someone. The first verse of the song introduces the concept that the singer cannot handle too much love, fearing that it could lead to a breakage. This could either be physically or emotionally, displaying the fragility of both the individual and the relationship. The repetition of "a little tender to the touch" emphasizes this idea and lingers throughout the song as a reminder of the frailty of relationships. However, even with this fear, the singer still proclaims that he will follow this individual around, highlighting the internal battle between love and fear.

In the second verse, the singer seems to struggle with his own insecurities and the fear of not being enough. He expresses difficulty in dancing too closely, and instead turns to "hanging with the ghost." This line could signify that he is stuck in the past, unable to progress or move forward in a relationship due to previous experiences that haunt him. However, he still follows the person around, and it becomes an act of emotive catharsis - a way for the singer to confront his fears and move forward. The last verse dismisses the idea that he can speak softly, effectively acknowledging that he cannot deal with any more emotions, ghosts or baggage. The admission of defeat showcases the singer's feelings of insufficiency and inability to continue to love, but he still continues to follow.

The lyrics overall present a fascinating character who is both afraid of love and haunted by past experiences. As much as the repeated lines suggest repetition and stagnancy, the often-contradictory lines, "I'll follow you down, I'll follow you" show the importance of an individual in his life, one he still finds worth following through his highs and lows. The song exudes a sense of fragility and uncertainty yet concludes in a sort of desperate hope for love.