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".
The Dakota
Christine Lavin Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I flagged a cab near the East Side Terminal,
I said, "Please take me home."
We drove up along Third Avenue, crossed through Central Park.
When we came out at Seventy second Street,
I felt a cold chill in my heart.
Every time I see the Dakota, I think about that night.
A man losing his life.
Well, it's something we shouldn't dwell upon,
But it's something we shouldn't ignore.
Too many good men have been cut down,
Let's pray there won't be any more.
Rush hour traffic was bottled up,
We slowly inched by.
I didn't want to look, but I couldn't help staring
At the scene of the crime.
There was an old man sweeping last night's dirt
Out of the darkened vestibule,
And a uniformed guard in a gold-trimmed cap
Watching the world pass in review.
But every time I see the Dakota, I think about that night.
Shots ringing out, the angry shouts,
A man losing his life.
Well, it's something we shouldn't dwell upon,
But it's something we shouldn't ignore.
Too many good men have been cut down,
Let's pray there won't be any more.
I don't believe in coincidence,
So why then on the radio
Did an old familiar voice
Echo back from not so long ago?
"Imagine all the people
Living life in peace."
Well, it's hard to do
When you are on this blood-stained street.
I wish I had the answer
To the simple question, "Why?"
I wish this taxi would go faster
Oh, I wish the driver would try
To leave this street
And leave this old building far behind.
I wish I could take these bitter thoughts
And just shake them from my mind.
But Every time I see the Dakota, I still think of that night.
Shots ringing out, the angry shouts,
A man losing his life.
Well, it's something we shouldn't dwell upon,
But it's something we shouldn't ignore.
Too many good men have been cut down,
Let's pray there won't be any more.
In Christine Lavin's song "The Dakota," the singer is reflecting upon a traumatic event that occurred outside of the famed Dakota apartment building in Manhattan. The singer recalls hailing a cab after a long trip, and driving through Central Park to Seventy Second Street. As they approach the Dakota, the singer relives the memory of a violent crime that occurred outside of the building--specifically, the shooting death of John Lennon on December 8th, 1980. The singer expresses a sense of sadness, reflection, and a willingness to honor the victims of such tragedy.
As the cab inches through rush hour traffic, the singer looks out at the scene of the crime, observing an old man sweeping the vestibule and a uniformed guard watching the world pass by. The singer hears a song on the radio--John Lennon's "Imagine," which includes the lyrics, "Imagine all the people living life in peace." The words of the song weigh heavy on the singer's mind as they reflect upon the tragedy that occurred only a stone's throw away. The lyrics of "The Dakota" capture the singer's sense of loss, helplessness, and longing for a world without senseless violence.
Line by Line Meaning
It was a Monday morning, I was coming in from a long trip on the road.
The singer was returning home on a Monday morning after a long journey.
I flagged a cab near the East Side Terminal,
The singer hailed a taxi near the East Side Terminal.
I said, "Please take me home."
The singer requested the taxi driver to take her home.
We drove up along Third Avenue, crossed through Central Park.
The taxi driver drove through Third Avenue and Central Park with the artist.
When we came out at Seventy second Street,
The taxi driver and the artist arrived at Seventy second Street.
I felt a cold chill in my heart.
The singer felt scared and nervous as she arrived at her destination.
Every time I see the Dakota, I think about that night.
The Dakota building reminds the singer of a previous traumatic experience.
Shots ringing out, the angry shouts, A man losing his life.
The traumatic experience involved hearing gunshots and witnessing a man's death.
Well, it's something we shouldn't dwell upon, But it's something we shouldn't ignore.
Although the experience is traumatic, it is important to acknowledge and remember it.
Too many good men have been cut down, Let's pray there won't be any more.
The artist hopes that no more lives will be lost in senseless acts of violence.
Rush hour traffic was bottled up, We slowly inched by.
The taxi was caught in rush hour traffic and moved slowly.
I didn't want to look, but I couldn't help staring At the scene of the crime.
The artist was reluctant to look at the place where the traumatic experience occurred but couldn't help staring.
There was an old man sweeping last night's dirt Out of the darkened vestibule, And a uniformed guard in a gold-trimmed cap Watching the world pass in review.
The singer observed an old man sweeping and a guard keeping watch outside the building where the traumatic experience occurred.
I don't believe in coincidence, So why then on the radio Did an old familiar voice Echo back from not so long ago?
The singer questions the coincidence of hearing an old familiar voice on the radio while passing by the site of the traumatic experience.
"Imagine all the people Living life in peace." Well, it's hard to do When you are on this blood-stained street.
The singer reflects on the lyrics of John Lennon's 'Imagine' and finds it difficult to imagine peace and love while in the vicinity of the crime scene.
I wish I had the answer To the simple question, "Why?"
The artist wishes she knew why the traumatic experience occurred.
I wish this taxi would go faster Oh, I wish the driver would try To leave this street And leave this old building far behind.
The artist wishes the taxi would move quickly and leave the area to put the traumatic experience behind her.
I wish I could take these bitter thoughts And just shake them from my mind.
The singer wants to rid her mind of the bitter memories of the traumatic experience.
But Every time I see the Dakota, I still think of that night. Shots ringing out, the angry shouts, A man losing his life.
The singer continues to be reminded of the traumatic experience every time she sees the Dakota building.
Well, it's something we shouldn't dwell upon, But it's something we shouldn't ignore. Too many good men have been cut down, Let's pray there won't be any more.
Despite the traumatic memory, it is important to remember and honor the lives lost to senseless violence, and hope for a better future without such incidents.
Contributed by Jordan S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@michaelmartin4552
Thank you John, for the music you gave us.
Thank you, Christine. For giving us such a lovely song.
And to give an idea how this song can touch people itself, decades ago my late fiancee had this song on a cassette somebody gave her (1993). She loved it, but did not know what it was about. It was one of the first times I realized our 8 year age difference, as I immediately realized it was about John Lennon and she barely knew who he was (she was 8 when he died).
She actually thought it was a song about some cowboy being shot in the Dakotas. And I had to explain most of the references that point to what really happened.
@uncleycheskel7874
Heard Christine at a house concert years ago. She was completely amazing. I asked her to sing Dakota-----------I think it is the best song she ever wrote. She apologized and said she didn't remember it all. I thought about that. What it would be like to have written so many incredible songs that she couldn't remember this masterpiece. Christine is the best.
@topcomments2231
I saw her perform it in the early 90's .... as gripping live as it is on disc.
@jaymadison
Wow I remembering hearing this live