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.
Hundred Dollar Valentine
Chris Smither Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I can't see anymore
My sun is rising but it just don't shine
There ain't no light through my door
I flip my switches but I don't turn on
I ain't a flicker, baby, I got no juice today
I have a lighter and my carry on
You know it ain't just my sight that you stole
My house beneath
My wheels are spinning but they just don't roll
I'm standing there on my feet
I can't go out and baby, I can't stay home
I'm crying showers, yeah, my minds are hurricane
I called a taxi 'bout an hour ago
But I think he's lost in the rain
No mail today, yeah, my phone never rings
Nothing works when you're grown
My mind is humming but my heart won't sing
Baby, can't you please come home?
I got time on my hands, you on my mind
I got a heart that's beating like a hundred dollar valentine
I know you told me, you'll be home by 4
But I just can't take it no more
Yeah, I know you told me you'll be home by 4
But I just can't take it no more
The lyrics to Chris Smither's "Hundred Dollar Valentine" refer to a person who is struggling with the absence of their loved one. The opening lines express the singer's frustration with the passage of time, with their inability to see clearly anymore. Despite the fact that the sun is rising, it is not shining in the singer's life. There is a lack of light, a lack of energy, and a sense of disconnect from the world outside.
The singer then goes on to explain that they are struggling to function without their loved one. They are unable to turn on their proverbial switches and feel that they have no juice, no power. They are carrying a lighter and a carry-on bag as they try to escape their emptiness. The singer cannot move forward in their life, and neither can they find solace at home. They are crying uncontrollably and their mind is like a hurricane. The singer tries to take action by calling a taxi, but it seems as though the universe is conspiring against them.
The chorus repeats several times throughout the song, emphasizing the loneliness and the singer's inability to function without their loved one. The last line of the chorus reveals the depth of the singer's longing, comparing their heart to a hundred dollar valentine. The song's final lines reveal that the singer was waiting for their loved one to return home but couldn't wait any longer, implying a sense of desperation and hopelessness.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me why years, months are gone
I'm in a state of confusion and uncertainty, wondering how so much time has passed and where it all went.
I can't see anymore
I'm blinded by sadness and can't seem to find my way through it all.
My sun is rising but it just don't shine
I'm trying to find hope and positivity, but everything around me feels dull and lifeless.
There ain't no light through my door
I feel like I'm trapped in darkness and can't find a way out or any form of illumination.
I flip my switches but I don't turn on
I'm trying to motivate myself and feel alive, but I just can't seem to get going.
I ain't a flicker, baby, I got no juice today
I'm feeling completely drained of energy and unable to function properly.
I have a lighter and my carry on
I'm trying to escape my current situation and find a way out, even if it's just for a little while.
Took the airline to get away
I've gone to great lengths to try and find some peace and distance from my problems.
You know it ain't just my sight that you stole
It's not just my physical eyesight that's affected, but my overall sense of well-being and happiness.
My house beneath
You've taken away the foundation of my life, leaving me feeling unsteady and lost.
My wheels are spinning but they just don't roll
I'm trying to move forward, but it feels like I'm stuck in place and can't make any progress.
I'm standing there on my feet
Physically I'm present and accounted for, but mentally and emotionally I'm checked out and struggling.
I can't go out and baby, I can't stay home
No matter where I am, I feel unhappy and unsatisfied. I can't seem to find any solace or comfort.
I'm crying showers, yeah, my minds are hurricane
My emotions are all over the place and I can't seem to control them. It's like a storm of sadness and pain inside my head.
I called a taxi 'bout an hour ago
I'm trying to reach out for help and support, but it feels like no one is coming to my aid.
But I think he's lost in the rain
Even when I do reach out for help, it seems like it's all for nothing. The world is against me and I feel helpless and alone.
No mail today, yeah, my phone never rings
No one seems to be trying to reach out to me, leaving me feeling forgotten and unimportant.
Nothing works when you're grown
It feels like nothing in my life is going right and I can't seem to make things better, no matter how hard I try.
My mind is humming but my heart won't sing
I can't seem to find joy or happiness in anything, no matter how hard I try to lift myself up.
Baby, can't you please come home?
I'm desperate for companionship and connection, and I'm hoping that you'll come back to me soon.
I got time on my hands, you on my mind
I'm stuck in this limbo with nothing to do but think about you and how much I miss you.
I got a heart that's beating like a hundred dollar valentine
Despite everything that's happened, I still love you with all my heart, and it's beating stronger than ever.
I know you told me, you'll be home by 4
I'm holding onto the hope that you'll come back soon and make everything better.
But I just can't take it no more
I'm at my breaking point and can't seem to bear the weight of everything that's happened on my own anymore.
Writer(s): Chris Smither Copyright: Homunculus Music
Contributed by Dominic I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
jdlestina
I see several websites have some real screwball lyrics posted for this song. I know he kinda mumbles like a Blues Guy, but i think this is close to accurate.
Tell me why the moment you are gone
I can’t see anymore
That sun is rising but it just don’t shine
There ain’t no light through my door
I flip my switches but I don’t turn on
There ain’t a flicker baby, I got no juice today
I had a lighter in my carry on
But the airline took it away
You know it ain’t just my sight that you stole
My hearts been missing a beat
My wheels are spinning but they just don’t roll
I’m standing dead on my feet
I can’t go out and baby I can’t stay home
I’m crying showers yeah, my mind’s a hurricane
I called a taxi bout an hour ago
But I think he got lost in the rain
No mail today, yeah, my phone never rings
Nothing works when you’ve gone
My mind is humming, but my heart won’t sing
Baby can’t you please come home?
I got time on my hands, you on my mind
I got a heart that’s beating like a hundred dollar valentine
I know you told me you’ll be home by 4
But I just can’t take it no more
Yeah, I know you told me you’ll be home by 4
But I just can’t take it no more.
Holly Burke
I can't get enough of this guy
Jim M
My wife and I have seen Chris perform a couple of times here in the Providence (RI) area, and he is one terrific talent. His Live As I'll Ever Be CD from 2000 is superb, as is Train Home from 2003. Well, you can't go wrong with any of his albums!
Craig Stuck
I smile and feel relieved at the end of the song every time I hear it... even when it is the 5th time I've listened to it in a row.
PINEPUPPY
Great writing, playing, and singing. He's got he package!
Alan Pat
Isn't this guy just amazing!!!
slywlf54
Love it! He is so amazing, still pumping out real music after all this time ;-) I was fortunate enough to see/hear him at a wonderful small local venue - the kind where there is no such thing as a bad seat. After the show he was right there, signing autographs and chatting. To my embarrassment I went all fan-girl on him and had my hubby snap a photo of us together - which he seemed to get a kick out of since I'm nearly 60 myself ;-)
Steve Bennett
I love this more each time I hear it!
Dianne Rechel
Fabulous concert- loved it!
Rose Nygren
Some good rhythm and blues and Country here! Love it! Thanks!
jefferson ross
Damn it.....he is still the man. John Hurt meets Bob Dylan. Good stuff.