His most famous work is Alice's Restaurant, a talking blues song that lasts eighteen minutes and twenty seconds (in its original recorded version; Guthrie has been known to spin the story out to forty-five minutes in concert). The song, a bitingly satirical protest against the Vietnam War draft, is based on a true incident. In the song, Guthrie was called up for a draft examination, and rejected as unfit for military service as a result of a criminal record consisting in its entirety of a single arrest, court appearance, fine and clean-up order for littering. In reality, Guthrie, though a carrier of the genetically inherited disease Huntington's chorea, was classified as fit (1A); however, his draft-lottery number did not come up.
If I Could Only Touch Your Life
Arlo Guthrie Lyrics
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Where are the dreams
We dreamed when we were younger
Where are the songs we never got to sing
Oh how cold were the nights we slept without each other
Time doesn't wait, but time won't pass us by
With just one part of me
You'll know how much you're needed
And I'll know I finally succeeded
If I could only touch your life with mine
So green the trees and oh so blue the skies
When you are looking through a lover's eyes
Darling these are the days, our days of love and laughter
There'll be no time for tears, the doubts and fears will fly
If I could only touch your life
With just one part of me
You'll know how much you're needed
And l'll know I finally succeeded
If I could only touch your life with mine
If I could only touch your life
With just one part of me
You'll know how much you're needed
And I'll know I finally succeeded
Oh won't you let me touch your life with mine
Arlo Guthrie's song If I Could Only Touch Your Life is a reflective piece that speaks to the missed opportunities in life and the desire to make up for them. The opening lines of the song speak to the nostalgia that comes with aging - wondering where the dreams and aspirations from one's youth have gone. The lyrics also reflect on the lost chances of love that result from a fear of opening up to others. The pain of loneliness is evident in the lyrics, as the singer describes the coldness of nights spent sleeping without the one they love. However, the song is ultimately about hope and the potential for redemption.
The repeated refrain - "If I could only touch your life" - is a plea for connection and intimacy. The singer wishes to make up for lost time and missed opportunities and longs to convey their love to someone who may have felt neglected or unappreciated. There is a sense in the lyrics that a new chapter is beginning, and that life is too short to let fear and uncertainty get in the way of love and joy. The song speaks to the universal desire for love and connection and encourages listeners to take chances and live life to the fullest.
Line by Line Meaning
Where are the dreams
What happened to the aspirations we had when we were young?
We dreamed when we were younger
The dreams and hopes that we had when we were youthful, full of promise and possibility.
Where are the songs we never got to sing
What about the songs that we had not yet sung?
Oh how cold were the nights we slept without each other
The nights were so cold and sad when we were apart from each other.
Time doesn't wait, but time won't pass us by
Time is always moving, but there is always an opportunity for change.
If I could only touch your life
If only I could transform your life for the better.
With just one part of me
With just a small piece of my soul or body.
You'll know how much you're needed
You'll realize how much you matter and how important you are to me.
And I'll know I finally succeeded
I will know that I have finally accomplished something meaningful.
So green the trees and oh so blue the skies
The natural world is full of vibrant and beautiful colors.
When you are looking through a lover's eyes
The world is seen differently when you are in love.
Darling these are the days, our days of love and laughter
These are the precious times when we are in love, full of joy and merriment.
There'll be no time for tears, the doubts and fears will fly
We won't be bothered by worry, doubt or pain because we will be too happy to care.
Oh won't you let me touch your life with mine
Please allow me to have a positive impact on your life.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: AARON SCHROEDER, DAVID ALAN GROVER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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