Stayin' Out Late
Cory Morrow Lyrics
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Stayin' out late in a honky tonk bar
Findin' new ways to be untrue
Drinkin' my way through this month's rent
Seems to be the best I can do
Drunk and enraged and I'm showin' my age
I dreamt away my money and my mind
And no desire for either at this time
I'm showin' no signs of growin' up at any time
I keep a firm grasp upon my youth
And the subtlety of love is something I know nothing of
And I have got no concept of the truth
Chorus
Stayin' out late in a honky tonk bar
Findin' new ways to be untrue
Drinkin' my way through this month's rent
Seems to be the best I can do
It's all a matter of where your going
I don't know where I'm going from here
Desperate ways seem to control my everyday
And it's hard to understand why I run
But this poet's dance is my last chance
To lay down my pen and show you how it's done
Chorus
Stayin' out late in a honky tonk bar
Findin' new ways to be untrue
Drinkin' my way through this month's rent
Seems to be the best I can do
Yeah it seems to be the best I can do
Cory Morrow's "Stayin' Out Late in a Honky Tonk Bar" is a poignant yet upbeat song about a man who has found himself in a rut, living from one paycheck to the next, and struggling to find his place in the world. He spends his nights drinking and carousing, trying to forget the fact that his life is not what he thought it would be. In the chorus, he sings, "Stayin' out late in a honky tonk bar, Findin' new ways to be untrue, Drinkin' my way through this month's rent, Seems to be the best I can do." This line sums up the desperation of his situation perfectly. He is in search of something, but he isn't quite sure what it is.
The second verse delves deeper into his struggles, admitting that he has no woman in his life, no home to call his own, and no desire for either of those things right now. He is living in the moment, but the moment isn't very pleasant. He seems to be going through life with blinders on, not really seeing the bigger picture. "And the subtlety of love is something I know nothing of, And I have got no concept of the truth," he sings. The last verse seems to indicate that he is searching for a purpose in life, but doesn't quite know how to find it. He calls his life a "poet's dance," and speaks of laying down his pen to show someone how it's done. It's unclear what he means by this, but it seems to imply that he wants to be seen as a master of his craft and to leave a lasting legacy.
Line by Line Meaning
Stayin' out late in a honky tonk bar
I spend my nights partying and drinking at the local bar.
Findin' new ways to be untrue
I'm constantly looking for ways to cheat or deceive others.
Drinkin' my way through this month's rent
I'm using alcohol to cope with the financial struggle of making ends meet.
Seems to be the best I can do
I don't see any other way to deal with my issues.
Drunk and enraged and I'm showin' my age
Being intoxicated fuels my anger and proves that I'm getting older.
I dreamt away my money and my mind
I've wasted my money and lost my sanity.
No woman to call wife, I got no home to spend my life
I have no stable partner or residence.
And no desire for either at this time
I have no interest in settling down right now.
I'm showin' no signs of growin' up at any time
I'm not maturing or developing as a person.
I keep a firm grasp upon my youth
I'm holding onto my carefree and reckless lifestyle.
And the subtlety of love is something I know nothing of
I lack understanding or experience in matters of love.
And I have got no concept of the truth
I struggle to discern fact from fiction or honesty from deceit.
It's all a matter of where your going
One's direction in life is crucial.
I don't know where I'm going from here
I'm lost and unsure of my path in life.
Desperate ways seem to control my everyday
I'm constantly resorting to extreme measures to survive.
And it's hard to understand why I run
It's difficult for me to comprehend my own behavior.
But this poet's dance is my last chance
Writing music is my final opportunity for success.
To lay down my pen and show you how it's done
To leave my mark on the world and prove my worth as an artist.
Yeah it seems to be the best I can do
Despite my struggles, this is the only way I know how to live.
Contributed by Kaylee I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.