Dark End Of The Street
Aretha Franklin Lyrics
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That's where we always meet
Hiding in shadows where we don't belong
Living in darkness to hide our wrong
You and me at the dark end of the street you and me
I know that time's gonna take its toll
We have to pay for the love we stole
Oh but our love keeps a coming on strong
Steal away to the dark end of the street you and me
They're gonna find us yes they're gonna find us
They're gonna find us oh some day
You and me at the dark end of the street you and me
And when the daylight hours roll around
And by ten we're both downtown
If we should meet you just walk right on by
Oh my darling now please don't you cry
Tonight we'll meet at the dark end of the street you and me
The lyrics to Aretha Franklin’s “Dark End of the Street” depict a clandestine affair happening in desolate and shadowy spaces. The opening line, “At the dark end of the street, that's where we always meet”, instills an atmosphere of mystery and danger. The lovers know that their relationship is wrong and a sin, as they are both committed to other people. They are forced to hide in the darkness to conceal their wrongdoings.
The second verse acknowledges the consequences of their passionate affair, “I know that time's gonna take its toll, We have to pay for the love we stole”. They are aware that they will eventually get caught, and they will have to pay a price for their actions. However, despite their awareness, they are unable to stop and are overpowered by their love, “Oh but our love keeps a-coming on strong. Steal away to the dark end of the street you and me”.
The final verse outlines the restrictions of their affair and their sorrow for their predicament. They are only able to meet at night, and they must keep their relationship a secret from the world, “And when the daylight hours roll around, and by ten we're both downtown, if we should meet you just walk right on by. Oh, my darling, now, please don't you cry. Tonight we'll meet at the dark end of the street you and me”.
Overall, this song is a haunting and emotional ballad that speaks to the complexities of love, desire, and the consequences of our actions.
Line by Line Meaning
At the dark end of the street
We secretly meet at a place far from prying eyes and curious minds
That's where we always meet
It's the place where we consistently rendezvous and do what we shouldn't do
Hiding in shadows where we don't belong
We are living double lives, pretending to be who we are not and doing things we shouldn't be doing
Living in darkness to hide our wrong
Our guilt and shame made us embrace secrecy and concealment
You and me at the dark end of the street you and me
It's just the two of us, sharing forbidden love and hidden desires
I know that time's gonna take its toll
I am aware that eventually, we will have to face the consequences of our actions
We have to pay for the love we stole
We took something that wasn't ours to take, and we will have to suffer the repercussions
It's a sin and we know it's wrong
Deep down, we acknowledge that what we're doing is morally and socially unacceptable
Oh but our love keeps a coming on strong
But we can't help the intensity of our love, and we keep on falling for each other despite the risks
Steal away to the dark end of the street you and me
We have to be discreet and sneaky to meet each other at our secret spot
They're gonna find us yes they're gonna find us
We know that eventually, our secret will be revealed, and the truth will come out
They're gonna find us oh some day
We can't keep our affair hidden forever, and we will have to face the consequences of our actions someday
You and me at the dark end of the street you and me
Regardless of the risks and dangers, we'll keep on meeting at the same place where our love first began
And when the daylight hours roll around
In the morning, when the sun shines and the world wakes up
And by ten we're both downtown
When it's already late in the morning, and we're both at the center of the city
If we should meet you just walk right on by
If we bump into each other during the daytime, it's better to pretend we don't know each other
Oh my darling now please don't you cry
Don't feel sad or upset if we have to act like strangers in front of others
Tonight we'll meet at the dark end of the street you and me
But tonight, we'll meet again at our secret place, where nothing and no one can stop us from loving each other
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Chips Moman, Dan Penn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind