Gentleman Alone
Cox and the Riot Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

The young boy tests the water
He can feel their burning eyes
The young girl takes her order
She steals the fading light

Now he takes her to a misery show
The last in line
They're stepping out the first to go
Into the night

Gentleman Alone, when you feel that you wronged her
Gentleman Alone, I can see there's a song there
Gentleman Alone, when you feel that it's your fear
Gentleman Alone, I can see that it's all clear (now)

The lies you think I taught her
I can see behind your eyes
Your memories have caught her
Still she fades beneath the light

Now he takes her to a misery show
The last in line
She's stepping out the first to go
Into the night

It's getting harder to control it all
It's getting harder to come down




It's getting harder to come home at all
It's getting closer to the ground

Overall Meaning

In "Gentleman Alone" by Cox and the Riot, the lyrics explore the idea of feeling alone in a relationship and how it affects our behavior. The young boy and girl mentioned in the beginning of the song are testing the boundaries of their relationship in front of others, feeling like they are being watched and judged. The girl takes her order and "steals the fading light," possibly a reference to her fading innocence or perhaps she's taking control of the situation. The young boy takes her to a "misery show," which can be interpreted as the trials and hardships they face as a couple.


As the song goes on, we hear the chorus of "Gentleman Alone." This can be seen as someone who feels as though they have done wrong or are struggling with their own fears and anxieties. They feel isolated and alone even in the company of others. The lines about "the lies you think I taught her" and "your memories have caught her" reveal the underlying tension and mistrust in the relationship. The girl is fading in the light, possibly alluding to her struggling to maintain a sense of self and individuality while being in a relationship.


The final verse speaks to the difficulty of navigating the complexities of a relationship. The singer is finding it harder to control their emotions, to come down from the intensity of the situation, and to feel at home in their own skin. The closing line "It's getting closer to the ground" can be interpreted as a sense of impending trouble or even a sense of crash or burn.


Overall, "Gentleman Alone" is a poignant and introspective exploration of the intricacies of relationships and the effects it has on one's sense of self.


Line by Line Meaning

The young boy tests the water
The young boy is testing the situation


He can feel their burning eyes
He feels the intense gaze of the people looking at him


The young girl takes her order
The young girl is getting ready for her turn


She steals the fading light
She takes away the last bit of hope


Now he takes her to a misery show
He's leading her to a place of sorrow and despair


The last in line
They're the last ones to go


They're stepping out the first to go
They're taking the first step into the unknown


Into the night
They're disappearing into the darkness


Gentleman Alone, when you feel that you wronged her
Addressing the gentleman alone, when he feels like he's done something wrong


Gentleman Alone, I can see there's a song there
Addressing the gentleman alone, implying there's a story to tell


Gentleman Alone, when you feel that it's your fear
Addressing the gentleman alone, when he's scared


Gentleman Alone, I can see that it's all clear (now)
Addressing the gentleman alone, implying there's clarity in the situation


The lies you think I taught her
The lies you believe I've told her


I can see behind your eyes
I can see through your facade


Your memories have caught her
She's trapped by your past


Still she fades beneath the light
She's still losing her spark


It's getting harder to control it all
Everything is becoming more difficult to manage


It's getting harder to come down
It's becoming harder to relax and rest


It's getting harder to come home at all
It's becoming more challenging to return to where you should be


It's getting closer to the ground
Things are becoming more real and grounded




Contributed by Tyler K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

moriceee

Hätte nich gedacht dass meine Musiklehrerin so gute Musik macht haha

Canterraofficial

Hallo Ihr Lieben, absolute SPITZE!

Canterraofficial

... tom is always looking great!

More Versions