Before the Dawn
Colin James Lyrics


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Come here darlin' and lay down by my side
The big star's fallin' and the moon will turn the tide
The whistle of the wind will lead us on
Here we are, not too far
Before the dawn

Pictures keep on fallin' from the walls
The ghosts are still careenin' through the halls
The drunken neighbor sings his favorite song
In the stardust of the night
Before the dawn

You never really know just who your friends are
Till you find out at last who they are not
You never recognize the things you really want
Till you remember all the dreams that you forgot

We've been runnin' for so long against the grain
Tryin' to find a way to turn around again
Trouble in your heart will soon be gone
It's lonely blue, it's only true
Before the dawn

Come here darlin' lay down by my side
Well the big star's falling and the moon will turn the tide
The whistle of the wind will lead us on
Here we are, not too far
Before the dawn




Well here we are, not too far
Before the dawn

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of Before the Dawn reflect the sense of urgency of two people who want to spend one last moment together before the night is over. There is a feeling of immediacy in the way the lyrics convey the image of stars falling from the sky and the moon setting as the couple lies down beside each other. The "whistle of the wind" is a metaphor for the uncertain path that lies ahead, but the certainty that they won't be alone. The chorus repeats the same sense of urgency, but with the added sense of longing, as if the couple knows that they will not meet again.


The second verse of Before the Dawn presents an image of nostalgia and loss. The pictures falling from the walls and the ghosts careening through the halls are symbolic of the memories that cannot be captured or held onto. The drunken neighbor's singing is another reminder of the passing of time, and the inevitability of change. The lyrics suggest that the couple is aware of how fleeting their time together is, and that they are resigned to the idea that everything has an ending. The final verse is the most philosophical section of the song, emphasizing the notion that we often don't know what we want until we experience its absence. The repeated line "before the dawn" is a reminder that there is always hope, even when all seems lost.


Line by Line Meaning

Come here darlin' and lay down by my side
Colin is beckoning his lover to snuggle beside him


The big star's fallin' and the moon will turn the tide
The celestial movements indicate a significant moment will occur


The whistle of the wind will lead us on
The natural elements will guide them forward


Here we are, not too far
They are close to their destination


Before the dawn
The event will happen soon


Pictures keep on fallin' from the walls
Images continue to drop down from their frames


The ghosts are still careenin' through the halls
The spirits still haunt the corridors


The drunken neighbor sings his favorite song
The inebriated neighbor is humming his beloved tune


In the stardust of the night
Amidst the glittering darkness


You never really know just who your friends are
It is difficult to identify true companionship


Till you find out at last who they are not
Only then can one recognize who is not a genuine friend


You never recognize the things you really want
Desires can be elusive and go unnoticed


Till you remember all the dreams that you forgot
Only when recalling forgotten ambitions can you realize those true desires


We've been runnin' for so long against the grain
They've been struggling for a while against the natural flow of life


Tryin' to find a way to turn around again
Attempting to redirect their path


Trouble in your heart will soon be gone
Inner turmoil will dissipate soon


It's lonely blue, it's only true
The present state is melancholy but authentic


Come here darlin' lay down by my side
Colin reiterates his invitation to snuggle


Well the big star's falling and the moon will turn the tide
They are reminded of the significant event approaching


The whistle of the wind will lead us on
A reassurance that nature will guide them


Here we are, not too far
They are close to the break of dawn.


Before the dawn
The dawn is about to appear.


Well here we are, not too far
They are repeating to themselves how near they are to the new day.


Before the dawn
They are hoping that before the dawn the light will come.




Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: COLIN KENDALL LINDEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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