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".
Shining My Flashlight On The Moon
Christine Lavin Lyrics
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there's just a touch of grey in my hair
the stream along this road
runs a little colder
there's a hint of a chill in the air
The blue sky is fading into purple
late afternoon is gliding to a close
I wonder how it feels
to be the last bloom of the summer
or the first autumn rose
So I pull off the highway
drive these winding roads instead
while thoughts of the bad years
disappear 'cause up ahead
off in the distance
is a strange and soothing sight
the mountains look like sleeping manatees
this cool September night
I leave the car by the roadside
hike up a hill
stars circle in slow motion here
as they always will
A million miles away
from where I was this afternoon
I wrap my misgivings in a tune
while shining my flashlight on the moon
I'm shining my flashlight
it's gonna be a long night
so I'm shining my flashlight on the moon
The lyrics to Christine Lavin's song "Shining My Flashlight On The Moon" paint a vivid autumnal picture of a journey on winding roads. The singer is reflective, noticing the turning of the seasons and the changes in their own life with the "trace of gold in the leaves" and the "touch of grey in my hair." As they drive, they wonder about the plants and animals they see, wondering how it feels to be the "last bloom of the summer, or the first autumn rose."
The singer then pulls off the highway and hikes up a hill, finding solace in a "strange and soothing sight." The mountains in the distance look like "sleeping manatees" and the stars in the sky circle "in slow motion." At this point, the lyrics take a turn towards a more introspective, emotional tone. The singer feels "a million miles away" from where they were earlier in the day and wraps their "misgivings in a tune" while shining their flashlight on the moon. It's a powerful image - illuminating something far away and unreachable like the moon, while also bringing ourselves to light in the introspective process.
The lyrics highlight the passage of time and the changing of seasons, as well as the internal struggles and opportunities for reflection we face in life. The singer finds solace in nature, taking comfort in the natural beauty around them, and processing their feelings through music.
Line by Line Meaning
There's just a trace of gold in the leaves
The leaves are just starting to change color as the season transitions from summer to fall
there's just a touch of grey in my hair
The singer is starting to show her age as she notices some grey hairs
the stream along this road runs a little colder, there's a hint of a chill in the air
As fall approaches, the weather is starting to get colder
The blue sky is fading into purple, late afternoon is gliding to a close
The day is ending and nighttime is approaching
with my hands on the wheel, I wonder how it feels, to be the last bloom of the summer or the first autumn rose
The singer is driving and contemplating how it feels to be either the last remnant of summer or the first sign of fall
So I pull off the highway, drive these winding roads instead, while thoughts of the bad years disappear 'cause up ahead off in the distance
The singer decides to take a scenic route and the beauty of nature makes her forget about her negative thoughts
is a strange and soothing sight, the mountains look like sleeping manatees, this cool September night
The natural beauty of the sleeping mountains in September is comforting to the singer
I leave the car by the roadside, hike up a hill, stars circle in slow motion here, as they always will
The singer parks her car and goes on a hike up a hill where she observes the slow movement of the stars, which will always stay the same
A million miles away from where I was this afternoon, I wrap my misgivings in a tune
The singer feels far away from her worries as she focuses on her music
while shining my flashlight on the moon, I'm shining my flashlight, it's gonna be a long night, so I'm shining my flashlight on the moon
The singer starts to shine her flashlight on the moon as she knows it's going to be a long night ahead, further indicating her disconnect from the world
Contributed by Alexis H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.