Soho
Bert JanschJohn Renbourn Lyrics
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And colour bright the corners
Of love with the earth
See the dazzling nightlife grow
Beyond the dawn and burning
In the heart of Soho
And see their wares displayed
Through the window of your soul
Come watch the naked dance
That spins before your very eyes
Naked like the sun
Step inside where men before
Have drunk to fill to senseless
Till the dreams fade and die
And free and easy
Does the blood red wine come flowing
From the glass to your veins
And the midday dream is silent
Thou gardens where you're resting
From the troubles of your mind
And though the sun is burning brightly
All within the gardens
Are the sleeping oris dead
And through the afternoon
The buzzing bees do harmonise
Through the rushing sale daylight
The song "Soho" by Bert Jansch and John Renbourn is a vivid representation of the bustling yet complex environment of Soho, a neighborhood in central London. The lyrics encourage the listener to take a walk along the streets of crime and explore the vibrant nightlife of the area. The singers differentiate between the daytime and nighttime activities, highlighting the thriving market atmosphere during the day and the lively club scene at night. The line "Come watch the naked dance/That spins before your very eyes" further emphasizes the decadence of the nightlife scene in Soho.
Throughout the song, the authors evoke the contrast between the external chaos of Soho and the inner struggle within people's minds. The lyrics suggest that alcohol and dreams are ways to escape reality, but they eventually fade away. Towards the end of the song, the authors introduce the theme of death, referring to the silent midday dreams and the dead in the gardens. This theme adds a somber tone to the overall lyrics, highlighting the fleeting nature of pleasures and the inevitability of mortality.
In conclusion, "Soho" is a complex and multi-layered song that captures the essence of the lively yet tumultuous neighborhood of Soho. The authors explore the external and internal aspects of people's experiences in Soho, describing the excitement and chaos of the nightlife while acknowledging the fleeting nature of pleasure and the presence of death.
Line by Line Meaning
Come walk the streets of crime
Join me as we wander through the sinful streets of Soho
And colour bright the corners
Let's add some vibrant hues to the dull corners of our love
Of love with the earth
We should love each other with a pure, sincere heart like the earth's soil
See the dazzling nightlife grow
Witness the bright, intoxicating nightlife of Soho as it continues to thrive
Beyond the dawn and burning
Even after the sun rises and the night is over, the excitement and energy of Soho continues
In the heart of Soho
This is all happening in the center of Soho
Hear the market cries
Listen to the loud and urgent calls of the vendors in the market
And see their wares displayed
Observe the merchandise they're selling proudly on display
Through the window of your soul
Internalize these sights and sounds and make them a part of your being
Come watch the naked dance
Let's observe the shameless dance happening right in front of us
That spins before your very eyes
This dance is so captivating, it feels like it's taking over our sight completely
Naked like the sun
The dancers are completely exposed, like the unfiltered sun in the sky
Step inside where men before
Let's follow in the footsteps of the many men before us
Have drunk to fill to senseless
Who drank excessively until they were numb and senseless
Till the dreams fade and die
Their grand dreams and aspirations eventually vanished into thin air
And free and easy
The wine flows smoothly and without any restriction
Does the blood red wine come flowing
The deep red wine flows like it's blood
From the glass to your veins
Let us drink it until it's coursing through our veins
And the midday dream is silent
The dreamy state of mind that wine put us in is starting to fade in the afternoon sun
Thou gardens where you're resting
We're now resting in gardens, possibly the Soho Square Garden, trying to escape our daily troubles
From the troubles of your mind
Leaving behind our mental burdens and worries for a short while
And though the sun is burning brightly
The sun is still shining strongly despite our attempts at seeking refuge
All within the gardens
Everyone who's present in the garden at the moment
Are the sleeping oris dead
Seem to be lost in deep sleep or have used the garden as their final resting place
And through the afternoon
As the day progresses
The buzzing bees do harmonise
The bees are buzzing and humming, creating a harmonious background soundtrack
Through the rushing sale daylight
All these events and sounds are taking place during the hustle and bustle of the daytime
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BERT JANSCH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind