Scar
Carly Simon Lyrics

A grey day in February
The start of something new, but not necessarily good. A time of transition when the past is fading but the future is not yet clear.

Some flecks of white, but mostly brown
The remaining signs of winter blended with the newness of spring. Life is not yet in full bloom, but there are signs of growth.

Purple surprises riding in on a nerve
The excitement of new experiences, even if they are uncomfortable or challenging. Embrace the unexpected.

Begins to excite you before it settles down
The initial rush of adrenaline and anticipation when faced with something new or unknown. Eventually, the excitement fades as familiarity sets in.

It's after the knives and the sutures and needles
The aftermath of physical and emotional pain. A reminder of what has been overcome.

I'm left with an arrow that points at my heart
A lasting reminder of past struggles that has become a part of who we are.

I call it the seat of my sentimental sorrow
A way of describing the emotional pain that lingers long after the physical wounds have healed.

Gone seems to be one of the sum of my parts
Something has been lost due to the trauma, whether it is physical or emotional. The person has been changed by their experience.

And the night is cold
A time of loneliness and isolation.

As the coldest nights are
Exaggerating the coldness of the night to emphasize the depth of the feeling.

There's a wise woman
A source of wisdom and guidance when it is most needed.

She comes from an evening star
An otherworldly figure, associated with the cosmos and greater forces beyond everyday life.

She says: Look for the signs
Encouraging the listener to pay attention to their surroundings, to be open to new information.

You won't have to look far
Assuring the listener that what they need is within reach, they just need to be willing to see it.

Lead with your spirit and follow
A call to find the inner strength to move forward, even in difficult times.

Follow your scar
Rather than hiding from their pain or their past, the listener is encouraged to embrace it as a part of who they are and use it to guide them.

A man I knew once said he wanted to see me
A reference to a specific event, demonstrating the way that trauma and emotional pain can color all aspects of life, even social interactions.

I said I'd been sick but was on the mend
Acknowledging the pain of the past but also the progress and healing that has been made.

I told him a few of the overall details
Being open and honest with others about past trauma.

He said: That's too bad
A dismissive or unsympathetic response, typical of those who have not experienced trauma themselves.

And he's never called me again
Demonstrating the way that trauma can isolate people and make them feel disconnected from others.

What a gift in disguise that poor little puppy
A metaphor for how trauma can sometimes be viewed as a negative, but provides an opportunity for growth and change.

So scared of misfortune and always on guard
Describing the fear and hypervigilance that can result from trauma.

A big man will love you
Assuming the listener is female, a reference to finding someone who will accept and love them for who they are, including their scars.

Even more when you're hurtin'
Suggesting that, in some way, people are drawn to those who have gone through trauma and pain because they see something special in them.

And a really big man
Someone who is truly special, not just in physical size, but in their ability to see past the scars and love the person underneath.

Loves a really good scar
The true measure of someone's worth is not in their physical appearance or their lack of scars, but in the strength of their character and their ability to overcome adversity.

Cause the dawn breaks
A metaphor for new beginnings, fresh starts.

And it's breaking your heart
The struggle of moving forward, the sense of nostalgia and grief for what has been lost.

There's a wise woman
Returning to the image of a source of wisdom and guidance.

She sits at the end of the bar
This time, she is within reach, a more mundane figure but still wise and insightful.

Because the night is warm and all full of stars
A juxtaposition to the earlier description of a cold and lonely night, suggesting that things have changed for the better.

She's moved right into my heart
The guidance and wisdom sought is now internalized, a part of the listener themselves.

She says: Look for the signs
Repeating the earlier encouragement to remain open and aware.

Follow, follow your scar
Closing with a repetition of the message that guidance can be found in past trauma and that the listener should embrace it as a part of themselves.