Treat Me Like a Stranger
Bobby Long Lyrics


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You say you can tell the different parts of me,
One a falling bird, another a lonely child,
If it's gonna be you, my judge and my saviour,
Bury me in rock, just like I told you,
If I had a candle, I'd light it at your end,
But you won't light me up, not even a part of me,
So let the colours run, my lover, my friend,
Bury me in sand, right up till the end
But maybe for tonight, treat me like a stranger
Like I was never here, in the wake of the danger,
One more time around, treat me like a stranger,
Then you won't recognize me,
Turn me over babe, turn me loose and under,
Then you can drift away, leave me to the lonely tide,
But I'm glad it was you, my friend and my lover,
Give me to the waves, send me down under,
At least you told the truth, somewhere so low beneath,
Hanging from the noose, the parts of me,
Swinging underneath, somewhere so high above
Tied to the tree, the parts of me
Hanging from the noose, the parts of me,
Swinging underneath, somewhere so high above
Tied to the tree, the parts of me

But maybe for tonight, treat me like a stranger
Like I was never here, in the wake of the danger,




One more time around, treat me like a stranger,
Then you won't recognize me,

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Treat Me Like a Stranger" by Bobby Long reveal a sense of emotional detachment and the need for a fresh perspective. The singer addresses his lover, acknowledging her astuteness in perceiving the different parts of his personality. He recognizes his vulnerable nature, comparing himself to a falling bird and a lonely child. He implores her to be his "judge and savior," burying him in rock, a metaphor for stability and constancy. The singer expresses his desire for intimacy and connection, offering a symbolic gesture of lighting a candle in his lover's honor. However, he laments that his lover refuses to reciprocate, refusing to light him up and only focusing on certain parts of his personality.


The singer then shifts his tone, asking his lover to treat him like a stranger for the night, erasing any preconceptions and biases she may hold towards him. He acknowledges the danger of their situation, possibly inferring the instability of their relationship or the danger of their strong emotions. The singer allows his lover to turn him over and loose by the end of their interaction, leaving him to the "lonely tide." Despite the painful nature of their relationship, the singer is still grateful for his lover, thanking her for her honesty and acknowledging the different parts of his personality that she observes.


Overall, "Treat Me Like a Stranger" is a poignant exploration of the complexities of human emotions and relationships. It shows the difficulties of true intimacy and the importance of seeing someone in their entirety, rather than only focusing on certain aspects of their personality.


Line by Line Meaning

You say you can tell the different parts of me,
You claim to see various sides of my personality


One a falling bird, another a lonely child,
One part of me is vulnerable and afraid, while another is helpless and alone


If it's gonna be you, my judge and my saviour,
If you're going to be the one to evaluate and save me,


Bury me in rock, just like I told you,
Put me in a solid and unchanging environment, as I previously instructed


If I had a candle, I'd light it at your end,
If I could bring light into your life, I would do so


But you won't light me up, not even a part of me,
However, you won't return the gesture, not even a little bit


So let the colours run, my lover, my friend,
Let our emotions spill out without restraint, my romantic partner and confidant


Bury me in sand, right up till the end
Cover me in sand until the very end


But maybe for tonight, treat me like a stranger
Perhaps, just for tonight, pretend you don't know me


Like I was never here, in the wake of the danger,
As if I never existed, after the difficult times have passed


One more time around, treat me like a stranger,
Once more, act like you don't recognize me


Then you won't recognize me,
So that you won't see or know the real me


Turn me over babe, turn me loose and under,
Let me go, loosen my hold and set me free


Then you can drift away, leave me to the lonely tide,
Then you can drift off into the distance and leave me alone with my feelings


But I'm glad it was you, my friend and my lover,
Nevertheless, I'm grateful that you were the one, my companion and significant other


Give me to the waves, send me down under,
Let the waves take me away and submerge me


At least you told the truth, somewhere so low beneath,
At least you were honest, even if it was deep down inside


Hanging from the noose, the parts of me,
Parts of me are still being held back and weighed down


Swinging underneath, somewhere so high above
While other parts of me are suspended above, swinging back and forth


Tied to the tree, the parts of me
Some parts of me are secured to the tree, unable to move on


But maybe for tonight, treat me like a stranger
Once more, please act like you don't know me, just for tonight


Like I was never here, in the wake of the danger,
Like I was never present, after all the problems have subsided


One more time around, treat me like a stranger,
Once more, please act like you don't recognize me


Then you won't recognize me,
Then you won't know who I am




Writer(s): LONG ROBERT THOMAS

Contributed by Alexander T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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