With a big-as-the-room persona, an ability to rock the doors off the most jaded of clubs, the heart to hold a room completely still with just his guitar, and a genius for arrangement, Bobby Bare, Jr. and his band of merry makers are one of the most unique bands around. They are adept at abandoning common sense in favor of laying themselves at the feet of a rambunctious, freewheeling, and unfettered and unhinged muse.
Few that we have found can combine humor, pain, and anger in such an effortlessly well-crafted manner. If encountered in public, beware: Bobby is a big, gregarious, good-natured fellow who will giddily talk music (from the Smiths to Roger Miller to Metallica to Dolly Parton--sometimes in one breath) until the bartender is tossing you both out.
From his first release on Bloodshot, Bobby has testified as one of the most innovate songwriters and performers, content on warping the classic Nashville sound and embracing the eccentric. Bare has been known to pair up with some of the most unlikely suspects to contribute to his sound, including everyone from Shel Silverstein to Duane Dennison of Jesus Lizard to Andrew Bird.
Valentine
Bobby Bare Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
she is spinning out of time
like a hunter who's gone blind
My Valentine
she humiliates the best
couldn't take no more I guess
of my Valentine
Valentine
I killed my valentine
and I laughed until I cried
for my Valentine
Valentine
I killed my Valentine
and I shall gladly do the time
for my Valentine
Beneath her rugged skirt
she does most of her work
laughing while you hurt
for my Valentine
In the middle of every dream
is a lie that holds the key
to free you from all you think you need
like Valentine
Valentine
I killed my valentine
and I laughed until I cried
for my Valentine
Valentine
I killed my Valentine
and I shall gladly do the time
for my Valentine
The lyrics to Bobby Bare Jr.'s song Valentine are dark, cryptic and intriguing. From the very first line "Inside her feeble mind, she is spinning out of time", he sets a scene of confusion and disorientation. The person being referred to as "My Valentine" is described as being lost and helpless, while also having the power to humiliate those around them. The line "couldn't take no more I guess" implies that the singer has reached their limit and has decided to take action.
The chorus of the song is where things take a dark turn. The singer declares that they have killed their Valentine and that they laughed until they cried. The repetition of the line "for my Valentine" adds to the sense of obsession and possessiveness. The second verse provides more insight into the character of "My Valentine", describing them as someone who laughs while others hurt. The line "In the middle of every dream, is a lie that holds the key to free you from all you think you need" is perhaps the most enigmatic of the entire song. It could mean that the singer has discovered some kind of truth about their Valentine that has allowed them to break free from their grasp.
One possible interpretation of the lyrics is that the singer is describing a toxic relationship in which they feel powerless and trapped. The image of the blind hunter suggests a lack of control or aimlessness, while the references to humiliation and hurting also point to an abusive dynamic. The killing of the Valentine could be read as a metaphor for finally escaping from this person's influence, even if it means taking extreme measures.
Line by Line Meaning
Inside her feeble mind
In her weak and vulnerable mind
she is spinning out of time
she is struggling to keep up with reality
like a hunter who's gone blind
like a skilled person who lost their abilities
My Valentine
Referring to the person he once loved
Beside her velvet nest
Beside her cozy and comfortable place
she humiliates the best
She degrades the most impressive people around her
couldn't take no more I guess
He couldn't handle her behavior anymore
of my Valentine
of the person he once loved
Valentine
Title of the song
I killed my valentine
Metaphorically killed the love he had for the person
and I laughed until I cried
Feels relieved and emotional about it
for my Valentine
Referring to the person he once loved
Valentine
Title of the song
I killed my Valentine
Metaphorically killed the love he had for the person
and I shall gladly do the time
Willing to pay the consequences
for my Valentine
Referring to the person he once loved
Beneath her rugged skirt
Under her tough exterior
she does most of her work
She is secretly in control and powerful
laughing while you hurt
She finds pleasure in other's pain
for my Valentine
Referring to the person he once loved
In the middle of every dream
In the center of every imagined situation
is a lie that holds the key
Deceptive information that unlocks secrets
to free you from all you think you need
To break away from everything you believe you require
like Valentine
Referring to the person he once loved
Valentine
Title of the song
I killed my valentine
Metaphorically killed the love he had for the person
and I laughed until I cried
Feels relieved and emotional about it
for my Valentine
Referring to the person he once loved
Valentine
Title of the song
I killed my Valentine
Metaphorically killed the love he once had for the person
and I shall gladly do the time
Willing to pay the consequences
for my Valentine
Referring to the person he once loved
Contributed by Peyton C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.