Chris Smithers song "Love you like a man" from Smithers first album has been famously covered by Bonnie Raitt who has made it a signature song of hers under the title "Love me like a man" (published on her second Album "Give it up")- she has openly expressed admiration for Chris Smithers songwriting and guitarplaying. Later Raitt's version of the song has been covered by The Dixie Chicks and Diana Krall.
The protagonist of Linda Barnes's series of "Carlotta Carlyle" mysteries is a fan of Smither's music and several of her books mention it.
Footloose
Chris Smither Lyrics
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If you find them and they fit, they're yours for free
I lost my voice from talking
Had no more to say, just walked away
If you find it, just amuse it
Every time I try to use it
All it does is sing a simple song for me
Tongue-tied and turned around
Tongue-tied and turned around
Footloose with your feet stuck in the ground
I know my name and now I know it ain't no secret
If you know it I will claim I'm not to blame
I'd be mad to seek it
Seemed to grow some wings and sail away
I for one have seen it fly
And it never screams, it only sighs
It makes me cry each time I hear the sound
Oh, tongue-tied and turned around
Footloose with your feet stuck in the ground
Oh, tongue-tied and turned around
Footloose with your feet stuck in the ground
Oh. tongue-tied and turned around
Footloose with your feet stuck in the ground
Oh. tongue-tied and turned around
Footloose with your feet stuck in the ground
A sinking sun and rising sun are most amazing
When the difference doesn't matter much to you
Just blazing cloud horizons
Going in and out from red to mainly blue
And this confusion ain't for nothing
It's what you get for something
That you could have done but never seemed to do
Because you're tongue-tied and turned around
Footloose with your feet stuck in the ground
Tongue-tied and turned around
Footloose with your feet stuck in the ground
I've lost my shoes, but I don't feel like walking
The song “Footloose” by Chris Smither is a contemplative tune about feeling lost and stuck in one’s own thoughts and actions. The first verse speaks of losing one’s shoes but not wanting to walk, which could symbolize being lost and directionless. The offer of giving away the shoes if they fit someone else could also speak to the idea that sometimes we need to shed our old ways and start anew.
The second verse delves deeper into the idea of feeling lost and not wanting to be found. The singer claims that he knows his name and it's not a secret, but he doesn't want to claim it. He has nothing more to say and just wants to sail away. The line “it never screams, it only sighs” could refer to a sense of resignation or feeling stuck in a certain situation.
The final verse speaks to the confusion that comes from feeling stuck and not being able to move forward. The mention of the “sinking sun and rising sun” could represent the passing of time and the inability to catch up to it. The repetition of “tongue-tied and turned around” and “footloose with your feet stuck in the ground” emphasizes the feeling of being unable to make progress or escape the stagnant place the singer finds himself in.
Overall, “Footloose” is a melancholic reflection on feeling stuck and directionless, and struggling to break free.
Line by Line Meaning
I've lost my shoes, but I don't feel like walking
I am feeling aimless and disinterested in taking action right now, even though I am lacking something important.
If you find them and they fit, they're yours for free
If someone happens to come across my missing shoes and they happen to be a good fit, they can have them.
I lost my voice from talking
I spoke so much that my voice gave out.
Had no more to say, just walked away
I was done talking and just left the conversation.
If you find it, just amuse it
If someone happens to find my missing voice, they can try to have some fun with it.
Every time I try to use it
Whenever I attempt to speak, my voice won't cooperate.
All it does is sing a simple song for me
When my voice does work, it isn't capable of much more than basic sounds.
Tongue-tied and turned around
I'm feeling lost and unsure of what to say or do.
Footloose with your feet stuck in the ground
I feel unattached and free to move, but am actually feeling stuck or trapped.
I know my name and now I know it ain't no secret
I am aware of my own identity and that it is not a secret.
If you know it I will claim I'm not to blame
If someone else knows or reveals my identity, I won't take responsibility for any negative consequences.
I'd be mad to seek it
I'd be crazy to actively pursue my identity.
Seemed to grow some wings and sail away
My identity feels elusive and hard to grasp or hold onto.
I for one have seen it fly
I personally have witnessed my identity slipping away or changing.
And it never screams, it only sighs
My changing identity is not dramatic or attention-seeking, just quietly evolving.
It makes me cry each time I hear the sound
Thinking about my ever-changing identity is emotional and sometimes brings me to tears.
A sinking sun and rising sun are most amazing
Watching the sun set and rise can be a beautiful and awe-inspiring experience.
When the difference doesn't matter much to you
The specific timing of sunrise or sunset isn't significant or meaningful to me.
Just blazing cloud horizons
The sky's colors and shapes are captivating.
Going in and out from red to mainly blue
The colors of the sky fluctuate and change.
And this confusion ain't for nothing
My feelings of confusion are not unfounded or invalid.
It's what you get for something
These confusing feelings are the result of my choices and actions.
That you could have done but never seemed to do
I had the opportunity to take a different course of action, but did not.
Because you're tongue-tied and turned around
My confusion and inaction are a result of feeling lost and unsure.
Footloose with your feet stuck in the ground
Although I feel free and unattached, I am actually feeling trapped and stuck.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: SMITHER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind