Night
Callahan Bill Lyrics
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That wasn't what I heard
For the sake of conversation
I took her at her word
The lights went out behind us
The fireflies undressed
The broken sidewalk ended
I touched her sleeping breasts
Like lilies from the dead
Behind a fine embroidery
Her nipples rose like bread
Then I took off my necktie
And she took off her dress
My belt and pistol set aside
We tore away the rest
The night of Santiago
And I was passing through
So I took her to the river
As any man would do
Her thighs, they slipped away from me
Like schools of startled fish
Though I've forgotten half my life
I still remember this
Now, as a man I won't repeat
The things she said aloud
Except for this, my lips are sealed forever
And for now
And soon there's sand in every kiss
And soon the dawn is ready
And soon the night surrenders
To a daffodil machete
I gave her something pretty
And I waited till she laughed
I wasn't born a gypsy
To make a woman sad
The night of Santiago
And I was passing through
I took her to the river
As any man would do
The night of Santiago
And I was passing through
I took her to the river
As any man would do
I didn't fall in love of course
It's never up to you
But she was walking back and forth
And I was passing through
When I took her to the river
In her virginal apparel
When I took her to the river
On that night of Santiago
And yes she lied about it all
Her children and her husband
You were born to judge the world
Forgive me but I wasn't
The night of Santiago
And I was passing through
I took her to the river
As any man would do
The night of Santiago
And I was passing through
I took her to the river
As any man would do
The night of Santiago
And I was passing through
So I took her to the river
As any man would do
The night of Santiago
And I was passing through
So I took her to the river
As any man would do
The lyrics to Callahan Bill's song "Night of Santiago" tell the story of a man passing through Santiago who meets a woman and takes her to the river. Despite her claiming to be a virgin, the singer is skeptical as he had heard otherwise. As they undress and make love, the imagery of fireflies, lilies, and bread is used to evoke sensuality. The next morning, as she walks back to her life, the singer does not pretend that he has fallen in love. He acknowledges that he took her to the river as any man would do.
The lyrics paint a picture of a fleeting encounter between two people who will never see each other again. Despite this, their time together is sensual and ultimately a positive experience for both. The use of natural imagery and sensory language adds to the intimacy of the moment. However, the singer is also aware of the power dynamic at play and understands that he cannot judge her actions.
Overall, "Night of Santiago" is a complex exploration of sexuality, perception, and morality. It explores the themes of intimacy, fleetingness, and the judgement of others. The story leaves the listener with a sense of ambiguity, as the singer's feelings towards the encounter are left open to interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
She said she was a maiden
She claimed to be innocent and pure
That wasn't what I heard
I had heard differently
For the sake of conversation
To continue talking with her
I took her at her word
I pretended to believe what she said
The lights went out behind us
The street lights turned off as we walked away
The fireflies undressed
The fireflies stopped glowing and disappeared
The broken sidewalk ended
The uneven pavement stopped
I touched her sleeping breasts
I caressed her breasts as she slept
They opened to me urgently
Her breasts responded eagerly to my touch
Like lilies from the dead
Her breasts emerged like flowers from a dead body
Behind a fine embroidery
Covered by delicate fabric
Her nipples rose like bread
Her nipples became erect like rising bread dough
Then I took off my necktie
I removed my tie
And she took off her dress
She undressed
My belt and pistol set aside
I put down my weapons
We tore away the rest
We discarded the rest of our clothes
Her thighs, they slipped away from me
She moved away and escaped my grasp
Like schools of startled fish
Her thighs moved like fish swimming away
Though I've forgotten half my life
I have forgotten many things from my past
I still remember this
I remember this experience vividly
Now, as a man I won't repeat
I won't say what she said out loud
The things she said aloud
The explicit things she said
Except for this, my lips are sealed forever
I will never reveal what she said except for this exception
And for now
At this moment
And soon there's sand in every kiss
The sand is getting everywhere as we kiss
And soon the dawn is ready
The dawn is approaching quickly
And soon the night surrenders
The night ends and gives way to day
To a daffodil machete
To an odd and unpredictable action
I gave her something pretty
I gave her a nice gift
And I waited till she laughed
I waited for her to enjoy the gift and laugh
I wasn't born a gypsy
I didn't grow up wandering like a gypsy
To make a woman sad
I didn't intend to hurt her emotionally
And yes she lied about it all
She lied about being a maiden and probably other things too
Her children and her husband
She had a family of her own
You were born to judge the world
You are supposed to be God, who judges everyone
Forgive me but I wasn't
I am not God to judge her
I didn't fall in love of course
I didn't develop feelings of love toward her
It's never up to you
You can't control your emotions
But she was walking back and forth
She was pacing nervously
When I took her to the river
When we went to the river
In her virginal apparel
In her white dress which symbolized innocence
And yes she lied about it all
Once again, she lied about everything
The night of Santiago
The night when I met her in Santiago
And I was passing through
I was traveling, not staying in Santiago
So I took her to the river
I decided to take her to the river
As any man would do
I did what any other man might have done in my place
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Leonard Cohen, Philip Glass, Adam Cohen
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
S M
We do not know how things work
We do not know where you go
In the night
Through the door
Through the door that holds you
Through the door that holds you
Out of the blue
We do not know
The door that holds you
Silent as glue
We stand under it
But we don't understand it
We stand under it
But we don't understand it
The door that holds you
Silent as glue
And stars fall on
Stars fall on
Silent as glue
S M
We do not know how things work
We do not know where you go
In the night
Through the door
Through the door that holds you
Through the door that holds you
Out of the blue
We do not know
The door that holds you
Silent as glue
We stand under it
But we don't understand it
We stand under it
But we don't understand it
The door that holds you
Silent as glue
And stars fall on
Stars fall on
Silent as glue
Dan Bujor
Great tunes on Transparent, and this is one of the best.
Sally Marsden
Heard this in Transparent and had to find it - so so hauntingly beautiful!
megha chakraborty
The voice!!!!! lovely. :)
ozgur yavuz
House m.d. 7/5. Great scenes, great song
Georgina Miller
..."we stand under it but we don't understand it..." SO BRILLIANT; SO TRUE BILL!!!
V
Georgina Miller couldnt understand it actually.. care to share the lyrics' meaning iyo?
Gwendolynn Bates
House once again has me hunting for songs :) Does anyone know if this song is on Spotify and how I can find it there? Thanks.
Dancer the Math Geek
It is now
s ochoa
Gwendolynn Bates Sadly. Not on spotify.