baby blue
Barry McGuire Lyrics

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You must leave now, take what you need, you think will last.
But whatever you wish to keep, you better grab it fast.
Yonder stands your orphan with his gun,
Crying like a fire in the sun.
Look out the saints are comin' through
And it's all over now, Baby Blue.

The highway is for gamblers, better use your sense.

Take what you have gathered from coincidence.
The empty-handed painter from your street
Is drawing crazy patterns on your sheets.
This sky, too, is folding under you
And it's all over now, Baby Blue.

Ah, leave your stepping stones behind, someone calls for you.
Forget the dead you've left, they can not follow you.
The vagabond who's rapping at your door

Is standing in the clothes that you once wore
So strike another match, we'll start anew.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Barry McGuire's "Baby Blue" suggest several themes, notably change, departure, and loss. The singer of the song is urging their partner to leave, taking what they need, and forget about the past. The urgency of the situation is further evoked by the line, "whatever you wish to keep, you better grab it fast," suggesting that time is running out. The image of the orphan with a gun crying like a fire in the sun is a metaphor for the chaos and tumultuousness of the moment.

The singer then shifts their focus to the highway, presenting it as a metaphor for life - "the highway is for gamblers, better use your sense." They urge their partner to take what they have learned from their experiences and leave the rest behind. McGuire sings of an empty-handed painter who draws crazy patterns on the sheets, most likely to symbolize the transitory nature of life and the lack of control humans often have over it.

The song's final stanza suggests a rebirth, as the singer encourages their partner to strike another match and start anew. The image of the vagabond standing in the clothes the partner once wore is an allusion to the cyclical nature of life and how everything is connected in some way. Overall, the lyrics of "Baby Blues" convey a message of acceptance of change and loss, and the constant need to adapt and evolve.

Line by Line Meaning

You must leave now, take what you need, you think will last.
You should depart now by taking all the possessions you think will be valuable for your future.

But whatever you wish to keep, you better grab it fast.
If you want to save any of your belongings, it would be wise to do it quickly.

Yonder stands your orphan with his gun, Crying like a fire in the sun.
Over there is your abandoned and vulnerable past, represented by an orphan with a gun, making an emotional appeal like a cry of frustration.

Look out the saints are comin' through, And it's all over now, Baby Blue.
Be aware of the positive changes that are happening now, as they will replace everything that you have experienced before in your life.

The highway is for gamblers, better use your sense.
The road of life seems risky, but it is essential to remain cautious and use your wisdom when making decisions.

Take what you have gathered from coincidence.
Make the most of the opportunities arising from random events that happen in your life.

The empty-handed painter from your street Is drawing crazy patterns on your sheets.
An artist, who has no material possessions, is creating an artistic masterpiece using abstract patterns and shapes.

This sky, too, is folding under you And it's all over now, Baby Blue.
The world as you know it is coming to an end and will be replaced by something new.

Ah, leave your stepping stones behind, someone calls for you.
Move forward and forget your old ways, as someone seeks you to join them on this new path.

Forget the dead you've left, they can not follow you.
Let go of the people who are no longer part of your life, as they cannot keep up with your journey.

The vagabond who's rapping at your door Is standing in the clothes that you once wore.
A wanderer is at your doorstep, wearing the same garments that you have abandoned in the past.

So strike another match, we'll start anew.
Get ready to light up another phase of your life, and begin again.

Contributed by Ruby S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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