Opening
Corey A. Jackson Lyrics
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Staring so far away
She can almost feel the southern wind blow
Almost touching her restless day
She turns from her window to me
Sad smile her apology
Sad eyes reaching to the door
Daylight loses to another evening
And still she spares me the word goodbye
And sits alone beside me fighting her feelings
Struggles to speak but in the end can only cry
Suddenly it's so hard to find
The sound of the words to speak her troubled mind
So I'm offering these to her as if to be kind
There's a train everyday leaving either way
There's a world, you know
There's a way to go
And you'll soon be gone, that's just as well
This is my opening farewell
A child's drawings left there on the table
And a woman's silk lying on the floor
And I would keep them here if I were able
Lock her safe behind this open door
But suddenly it's so clear to me
That I'd asked her to see what she may never see
And now my kind words find their way back to me
There's a train everyday leaving either way
There's a world, you know
You got a way's to go
And I'll soon believe, it's just as well
This is my opening farewell
The lyrics of Corey A. Jackson's song "Opening" depict a poignant scene where a lady stands before an open window, seemingly lost in her own thoughts. The imagery evokes a sense of longing and restlessness as she yearns for something beyond her current circumstances. The mention of the "southern wind" suggests a desire for freedom and escape. It is as if she can almost feel the possibilities that lie beyond her reach.
As the lady turns from the window to face the singer, there is a sense of sadness in her smile and eyes. She apologizes, perhaps for not being able to fully express her emotions or articulate her inner turmoil. The daylight fades into evening, yet she resists saying goodbye, sitting beside the singer and battling with her emotions. Ultimately, she can only cry, indicating the depths of her struggle and the difficulty of conveying her feelings.
The singer recognizes the struggle within the lady and acknowledges the challenge of finding the right words to speak her troubled mind. In a gesture of kindness and understanding, the singer offers his support and empathy. The lines "There's a train everyday leaving either way, there's a world, you know, there's a way to go" suggest that he recognizes that there are different paths to take, different opportunities waiting. However, he also accepts that she will soon be gone, and though it may be bittersweet, he understands that it is for the best. The closing line, "This is my opening farewell," implies his acceptance of her departure and his recognition that this is the beginning of the end for their relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
A lady stands before an open window
A woman is standing in front of a window that is open, symbolizing her sense of longing and escapism.
Staring so far away
Her gaze is focused on something distant, reflecting her desire to be somewhere else.
She can almost feel the southern wind blow
She imagines the sensation of the wind from the south, hinting at her yearning for freedom and change.
Almost touching her restless day
The wind represents a potential to disrupt her monotonous and unsatisfying daily life.
She turns from her window to me
She shifts her attention from the window to the artist, seeking some form of connection and understanding.
Sad smile her apology
Her smile carries a tinge of sadness, expressing her regret or apology for her emotions and desires.
Sad eyes reaching to the door
Her eyes reflect her longing for an escape, reaching towards the possibility of leaving through the door.
Daylight loses to another evening
As the day transitions into evening, the artist feels a sense of time slipping away, emphasizing the fleeting nature of life.
And still she spares me the word goodbye
Despite her internal turmoil, she refrains from saying goodbye to the artist, possibly out of fear or attachment.
And sits alone beside me fighting her feelings
She remains by the artist's side, struggling to suppress or control her emotions.
Struggles to speak but in the end can only cry
She attempts to express herself verbally but ultimately succumbs to tears, unable to articulate her true emotions.
Suddenly it's so hard to find
In the midst of her emotional turmoil, she experiences difficulty in expressing herself and finding the right words.
The sound of the words to speak her troubled mind
She struggles to find the right words to convey the complexity of her troubled thoughts and emotions.
So I'm offering these to her as if to be kind
The singer is attempting to offer his own words as a gesture of kindness and understanding towards her.
There's a train everyday leaving either way
There are always opportunities for departure and new beginnings, represented by the constant presence of trains going in different directions.
There's a world, you know
There is a vast world out there beyond their current circumstances, waiting to be explored and experienced.
There's a way to go
There are paths to be taken and choices to be made, indicating the importance of personal growth and journeying.
And you'll soon be gone, that's just as well
The singer acknowledges that she will eventually leave, suggesting that it may be for the best considering her restless nature.
This is my opening farewell
The singer expresses that this moment serves as his way of bidding farewell or letting go, marking a new beginning for both of them.
A child's drawings left there on the table
The presence of a child's drawings on the table signifies a sense of innocence and purity, contrasting with the complexities of adult emotions.
And a woman's silk lying on the floor
The sight of a woman's discarded silk fabric on the floor symbolizes a loss of elegance or sensuality, perhaps reflecting a broken relationship.
And I would keep them here if I were able
If it were within the artist's power, he would preserve these remnants of innocence and sensuality, representing his desire to hold onto what has been lost.
Lock her safe behind this open door
The singer wishes to protect her by locking her behind the open door, providing both freedom and security simultaneously.
But suddenly it's so clear to me
The artist experiences a moment of clarity, realizing the futility of his attempts to protect her and control her choices.
That I'd asked her to see what she may never see
He acknowledges that he had requested her to see things that she may never truly understand or comprehend.
And now my kind words find their way back to me
The singer's previous words of kindness and understanding now echo back to him, revealing his own need for reassurance and empathy.
You got a way's to go
There is still a long journey ahead for her, filled with opportunities and experiences waiting to be encountered.
And I'll soon believe, it's just as well
The artist will soon come to accept that her departure is for the best, allowing both of them to pursue their individual paths.
This is my opening farewell
Reiterating the sentiment from earlier, the artist emphasizes that this moment serves as his way of bidding farewell and embracing new beginnings.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jackson Browne
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind