At Dawn
Conor Oberst Jimes James and M. Ward Lyrics

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Blinded I am
And so are you
By shedding tears
Confusion that separates us two
We hold dear

Just look into my eyes
Kiss our fears goodbye

I'm reaching for your shadow
Drowning in the kiss of dawn
Touching the pain that you left me with
At the kiss of dawn

I'm tired of the games
I'm playing with you
When you're not here
Death frees from the fear of dying
It's true, have no fear

Let me look into your eyes
And see death pass us by

I'm reaching for your shadow
Drowning in the kiss of dawn
Touching the pain you left me with
At the kiss of dawn

I'm reaching for your shadow
Drowning in the kiss of dawn
Touching the pain you left me with
At the kiss of dawn

I'm reaching for your shadow
Drowning in the kiss of dawn

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of At Dawn, written by Conor Oberst, Jimes James, and M. Ward, explore the theme of separation and confusion between two people, while also expressing a desire to overcome it through an emotional connection. The opening lines, "Blinded I am, and so are you, by shedding tears, confusion that separates us two we hold dear," suggest that both individuals are experiencing confusion and are struggling with their emotions, which are causing a rift between them. They are holding onto this confusion and separation as something to be cherished, rather than addressing the underlying issues.

As the song goes on, the lyrics shift towards a more hopeful tone, expressing a desire to overcome these struggles through an emotional and physical connection. The lyrics, "Just look into my eyes, kiss our fears goodbye," indicate a desire for the two individuals to come together, connect and find comfort in each other. The writers are suggesting that by connecting and facing their fears, they can move past the struggles that have caused them pain.

Overall, At Dawn is a heartfelt song that expresses the difficulties of emotional separation and the healing power of intimate connection. The repetition of "I'm reaching for your shadow, drowning in the kiss of dawn, touching the pain you left me with at the kiss of dawn" throughout the song emphasizes the desire for connection and the pain of separation.

Line by Line Meaning

Blinded I am
I cannot see clearly

And so are you
Neither can you

By shedding tears
Our vision is blurred due to crying

Confusion that separates us two
We are divided by our confusion

We hold dear
But we still care about each other

Just look into my eyes
I want you to stare deeply into my eyes

Kiss our fears goodbye
Together, we can overcome our fears

I'm reaching for your shadow
I am trying to connect with you

Drowning in the kiss of dawn
I am overwhelmed by the new day

Touching the pain that you left me with
I am still feeling hurt from what you did

At the kiss of dawn
But I am trying to move past it