Lonely Town Lonely Street
Bill Withers Lyrics
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You can walk along a crowded street
But the city really ain't no bigger
Than the friendly people, friendly people that you meet
You might be a sweet young, sweet young pretty, pretty
At the dances you can't keep your seat
But if dances don't lead to romances
You might be a sweet-toned sure 'nuff high-class talker
You might be a stone, stone expert at kissing
But it don't do too much good to be talkin'
Brother, when there ain't no, ain't nobody listenin'
And if you are shy, just not much of a talker
Don't impress the people that you meet
Might as well be a lonely walker
In a lonely town, on a lonely street
The song Lonely Town Lonely Street by Bill Withers speaks about living in a city surrounded by people yet feeling lonely. The first verse establishes that the city may be crowded but it is still a small place, and it's the people encountered that make it what it is. In the second verse, the singer warns that having a charming personality might not be enough to find a romantic partner because it takes more than just good looks and smooth talk to build a meaningful connection. The third verse addresses the issue of communication - even if someone is an expert in a certain area, it's useless if nobody is there to listen.
The final verse speaks to those who may feel shy or intimidated in social situations. The singer acknowledges that being a lonely person in a lonely town on a lonely street is not an easy experience, but it's okay to be shy and not everyone is going to be impressed by you. It's a message of acceptance that encourages people to be true to themselves and not to try too hard to impress others.
Overall, the song is a poignant reflection on the human search for connection in a world that can often feel disconnected.
Line by Line Meaning
You can live your life in a crowded city
Living in a crowded city is one way to live your life
You can walk along a crowded street
Walking along a crowded street is something you can do in a city
But the city really ain't no bigger
Despite being crowded, the city isn't really that big.
Than the friendly people, friendly people that you meet
The people you meet in the city are what make it feel small and friendly.
You might be a sweet young, sweet young pretty, pretty
You might be young and attractive
At the dances you can't keep your seat
You enjoy dancing and can't resist getting up to dance
But if dances don't lead to romances
If going to dances doesn't result in finding a romantic relationship
You might as well be born, be born with two left feet
Then your efforts are futile and unproductive.
You might be a sweet-toned sure 'nuff high-class talker
You might be very good at speaking with style and confidence
You might be a stone, stone expert at kissing
You might be very skilled at kissing
But it don't do too much good to be talkin'
But these skills don't matter much if you don't have anyone to share them with.
Brother, when there ain't no, ain't nobody listenin'
And if there's no one listening, then your skills don't have much value.
And if you are shy, just not much of a talker
If you're shy and not very talkative
Don't impress the people that you meet
Then you won't make a good impression on those you encounter
Might as well be a lonely walker
You might as well be alone
In a lonely town, on a lonely street
In a place without much social interaction or connection.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Bill Withers
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind