Lock All The Doors
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings Lyrics
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There's a long list of whys
You're not here tonight
It's dark outside
You couldn't find a ride
Things were loose
Time got tight
You'll write me of where you might be
Now the candle's burned out and the wine's all gone
And the dogs outside are gonna howl 'til dawn
I'm gonna lock all the doors
I'm gonna bolt all the windows
I'm gonna turn off that lonesome song
I'm gonna wipe out your words
I'm gonna tear up your picture
I'm gonna pray that it won't be long
Until your memory's gone
Out of touch out of time
Spend a quarter drop a dime to find out
What loneliness is about
Tell the truth
Make it good
And you'll hear it in the neighbourhood
To haunt you
Come to taunt you
But you don't have to waste another word
'Cause I've got everything a fool deserves
I'm gonna lock all the doors...
These lyrics are from the perspective of someone who has been stood up or abandoned by a loved one. The first verse sets the scene of the person waiting for their partner who hasn't shown up, and they begin to realize that they're not coming. The candle has burned out, and the wine is all gone, and the person is left alone with their thoughts. The second verse seems to be directed towards the absent partner, with lines like "Out of touch out of time, Spend a quarter drop a dime to find out what loneliness is about." The chorus then reveals the singer's plan to shut out the memories of their lover by locking all the doors, bolting the windows, wiping out their words, and tearing up their picture. It's a heartbreaking image of someone trying to move on by erasing anything that reminds them of the person who left them.
The song has a somber tone, and the lyrics hit an emotional nerve. The haunting melody emphasizes the feeling of loneliness and heartbreak, and the repetition throughout the song adds to the sense of despair. The lyrics are powerful in their simplicity, and they effectively capture the feeling of being abandoned and left alone.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a long list of whys
I have a lot of questions about why you're not here tonight
You're not here tonight
You didn't show up and I am left alone
It's dark outside
It's nighttime and everything is quiet
You couldn't find a ride
You didn't have means of transportation to come here
Things were loose
Plans were uncertain and unclear
Time got tight
Time was running out and became limited
Must've been an oversight
Maybe you forgot or didn't realize the importance of being here
You'll write me of where you might be
You promised to let me know where you are
Now the candle's burned out and the wine's all gone
The candle has burned down and the wine has been consumed, indicating that time has passed
And the dogs outside are gonna howl 'til dawn
The dogs are barking loudly and nonstop throughout the night
I'm gonna lock all the doors
I am going to secure my home by locking all the doors
I'm gonna bolt all the windows
I am going to secure my home by bolting all the windows
I'm gonna turn off that lonesome song
I am going to stop listening to that sad song
I'm gonna wipe out your words
I am going to remove all traces of you from my life
I'm gonna tear up your picture
I am going to destroy the only physical reminder of you that I have
I'm gonna pray that it won't be long
I hope the pain of missing you will not last forever
Until your memory's gone
Until I can forget about you entirely and move on
Out of touch out of time
We have lost touch and time has passed us by
Spend a quarter drop a dime to find out
I would spend money just to know what happened to you
What loneliness is about
To experience true loneliness and understand its pain
Tell the truth
Be honest about why you didn't show up
Make it good
Make your explanation a good one
And you'll hear it in the neighbourhood
If you give a good explanation, people will talk about it in the neighborhood
To haunt you
To remind you of your failure to show up
Come to taunt you
To tease you about your absence
But you don't have to waste another word
You don't have to say anything else if you don't want to
'Cause I've got everything a fool deserves
I have been foolish for waiting and expecting you to show up
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ANGELO T. PETRAGLIA, COLIN LINDEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind