She is known for her sense of humor, which is expressed in both her music and her onstage performances. Many of her songs alternate between emotional reflections on romance and outright comedy. Two of her more famous songs include "Sensitive New Age Guys" and "Bald Headed Men".
Rockaway
Christine Lavin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The sky above the water's turned a bitter grey
The Summer people have packed their station wagons
The city is calling them away
The air is not as warm as it once was
The ocean's not as tempting as before
The seagulls cry a mournful tune now
While the trees outside watch their leaves fall to the ground
but these walls inside me, oh they never tumble down
I think of all the chances that have passed me
All the opportunitys I've let slip by
And all the friends along the way I have lost track of
It's enough to make me lay down and cry
And yet I push on blindly toward the future
Though I haven't got a notion of where I am
As I'm moving in some vague direction
There are times when I couldn't give a damn
All the trees outside watch their leaves fall to the ground
Oh But these walls inside me, oh they never tumble down
I'll take one last walk along this angry ocean
Greet the fishermen in my usual way
Maybe stoop to find a pretty piece of beach glass
To remind me of old Rockaway
The salty spray stings my sunburned face now
As I button up my coat against the cold
There's a sorrow I always find in leavin'
That chills me deep into my soul
All the trees outside watch their leaves fall to the ground
But these walls inside me, oh they never tumble down
Tumble down, Tumble down,
Tumble down, Tumble down
Tumble down, Tumble down
In Christine Lavin's song "Rockaway", she reflects on the changing of the seasons and the fleetingness of time. Lavin begins by looking out the window and observing the grey sky above the water, as summer comes to an end and city-dwellers return to their routines. The air and ocean are no longer as warm and inviting as before, and even the seagulls' cries sound melancholic. As she shuts herself into her home, Lavin contemplates missed opportunities and lost friendships, feeling overwhelmed to the point of tears. Despite this, however, she finds herself carrying on towards the future without much direction or enthusiasm, yet with a sense of determination.
Line by Line Meaning
I stop to look out the window
I pause for a moment and stare out the window
The sky above the water's turned a bitter grey
The once beautiful blue sky has turned into a dull, grey color, making everything seem bleak
The Summer people have packed their station wagons
The people who visit the area during Summer have left, as their season is over
The city is calling them away
The city is beckoning these people to leave from this small town and return to their busy lives
The air is not as warm as it once was
The temperature has dropped and the air feels less comfortable and less welcoming
The ocean's not as tempting as before
The once inviting ocean seems less appealing now, possibly due to the cooler weather
The seagulls cry a mournful tune now
The seagulls are emitting a sad sound, which reflects the ambiance of the area
As I shutter up the windows and the doors
I close all the openings in the house, as preparation for the coming cold weather
While the trees outside watch their leaves fall to the ground
As the season transitions to Fall, the trees are losing their leaves, which is visible from outside the house
But these walls inside me, oh they never tumble down
Despite the changes occurring outside, within me nothing ever changes and I remain unchanged
I think of all the chances that have passed me
I reflect on missed opportunities and chances from my past
All the opportunitys I've let slip by
I contemplate the opportunities that I failed to take advantage of
And all the friends along the way I have lost track of
I have lost contact with acquaintances and friends from my past
It's enough to make me lay down and cry
The weight of these regrets is heavy enough to make me feel emotional and even cry
And yet I push on blindly toward the future
Despite my regrets, I continue on my path forward without any clear direction
Though I haven't got a notion of where I am
I am unsure of where I currently stand in life or the direction I am headed
As I'm moving in some vague direction
I am moving forward without much of a sense of where I am going, with no distinct plan
There are times when I couldn't give a damn
There are instances where I am apathetic and indifferent about my lack of direction in life
I'll take one last walk along this angry ocean
I go for a final stroll near the restless sea
Greet the fishermen in my usual way
I go and interact with the usual fishermen nearby
Maybe stoop to find a pretty piece of beach glass
Perhaps I will take a moment to search for a beautiful piece of beach glass
To remind me of old Rockaway
The beach glass serves to remind me of memories I have of the area
The salty spray stings my sunburned face now
The ocean's mist makes my sunburned skin sting, and it feels unpleasant
As I button up my coat against the cold
I prepare for the cold weather by buttoning up my coat
There's a sorrow I always find in leavin'
I always feel a sense of sadness when I must leave this space
That chills me deep into my soul
The sadness I feel as I leave runs deep within me and makes me feel cold to my core
Tumble down, Tumble down, Tumble down, Tumble down, Tumble down, Tumble down
This repeated line acts as a refrain during the song's conclusion, expressing the idea of something 'tumbling down' or falling apart, contrasting with the idea that nothing inside the singer is changing
Contributed by Nora P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.