Rollin
CYNDI LAUPER feat. ANN PEEBLES Lyrics

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Well, I rolled and I tumbled,
Cried the whole night long.
Well, I rolled and I tumbled,
Cried the whole night long.
Well, I woke up this mornin',
Didn't know right from wrong.

Well, I told my baby,

Before I left that town.
Well, I told my baby,
Before I left that town.
Well, don't you let nobody,
Tear my barrelhouse down.

Well, ahh, mmm-hmmm,
Owww, oww ooo, aww, oww, oh.
Aaa, mmm-hmmm, oww, oh oh oh
Owww, oww ooo, aww, oww, oh.

Well, if the river was whiskey,
And I was a divin' duck.
Well, if the river was whiskey,
And I was a divin' duck.
Well, I would dive to the bottom,
Never would I come up.

Well, I could a had a religion,
This bad old thing instead.
Well, I could a had a religion,
This bad old thing instead.

Well, all whiskey and women,
Would not let me pray.

Overall Meaning

In Cyndi Lauper's song Rollin' and Tumblin', the lyrics are a reflection on the singer's experiences with love and loss. The first verse speaks to the overwhelming feelings of sadness and despair that the singer is feeling after a breakup. The repetition of the line "Well, I rolled and I tumbled, cried the whole night long" emphasizes the depth of pain and heartache that the singer is experiencing. The singer then wakes up the next morning feeling lost and unsure of what to do next.

In the second verse, the singer addresses their former lover and asks them not to let anyone destroy their "barrelhouse," which may be interpreted as a metaphor for their love and relationship. This line communicates the singer's desire to preserve the good memories of their relationship and an attempt to hold onto anything positive that may still be left.

The verses that follow make reference to the idea of escape. The singer imagines a scenario in which they could dive into a river (which the whiskey may symbolize) and never come up. This speaks to the singer's desire to escape the pain they are feeling by disappearing altogether. The final verse references how the singer could have found redemption in religion, but ultimately succumbed to the temptations of whiskey and women.

Overall, the song speaks to themes of heartbreak, loss, and the search for escape.

Line by Line Meaning

Well, I rolled and I tumbled, Cried the whole night long.
I was restless and tormented, cried throughout the night.

Well, I woke up this mornin', Didn't know right from wrong.
I woke up bewildered, uncertain of what's right and wrong.

Well, I told my baby, Before I left that town.
I shared with my lover, before leaving town.

Well, don't you let nobody, Tear my barrelhouse down.
Please keep our cherished memories and space intact while I'm gone.

Well, if the river was whiskey, And I was a divin' duck.
If only things were different and my wishes for a different life came true,

Well, I could a had a religion, This bad old thing instead.
I ought to have pursued more virtuous passions and beliefs.

Well, all whiskey and women, Would not let me pray.
The pleasures of life have been a hindrance to my spiritual connection.

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC , Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MORRIS LEVY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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