Fade Away
Dave Stewart And The Spiritual Cowboys Lyrics


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Everything you are
you've been once before
Everything you hear
you've heard it once or more
Everything you see
you've seen it all before
Everything you dream
leads to that open door

Don't wait so long
Turn the key before you fade away
Don't wait so long
Turn the key before you fade away

Everyone you love
you could have loved them more
Everyone you touch
you could touch to the core
Every time you wait
it's not worth waiting for
Everyone you lost
you better find them all

Don't wait so long
Find them all before they fade away
Don't wait so long
Find them all before they fade away

I know you live in isolation
So you don't have to pretend
That you could live alone forever
And be your own best friend
Here comes the writing on the wall
And it looks so strange
Like a primitive sign
Don't you ever feel that you're so small
Like a grain of sand in a bottle or wine

Don't wait so long
You know I'll always love you




Don't wait so long
You know I'll always love you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Dave Stewart and the Spiritual Cowboys' song "Fade Away" are very contemplative and insightful, urging listeners not to waste time and to cherish the people they love while they still have the chance. The opening lines establish a sense of déjà vu, as if everything we experience and feel has been felt before by ourselves or others. The lyrics then urge the listener not to wait too long to do what they feel they need to do, as they may end up fading away before they have the chance.


The chorus then repeats the message of not waiting too long, seeing everything and everyone we love fading away before our very eyes. The singer tells us that we may be living in isolation, thinking we can live alone forever and be happy, but that we need to reach out to those we love and care for them before it's too late. The song concludes with a repeated message of love, reminding the listener that despite the impermanence of life and relationships, love endures.


Line by Line Meaning

Everything you are
All of your qualities and characteristics


you've been once before
have been present in you at some point in the past


Everything you hear
All the sounds that you perceive


you've heard it once or more
have been heard by you before or on multiple occasions


Everything you see
All the things that you observe


you've seen it all before
have been witnessed by you in the past


Everything you dream
All the thoughts and ideas that you envision


leads to that open door
ultimately result in an opportunity or chance


Don't wait so long
Don't procrastinate or delay


Turn the key before you fade away
Seize the moment before it's too late and you vanish


Everyone you love
All the people that you care about


you could have loved them more
there is potential for greater affection towards them


Everyone you touch
Any individual that you have a physical or emotional connection with


you could touch to the core
you have the ability to make a deep impact on their lives


Every time you wait
Every instance when you delay or put off something


it's not worth waiting for
it's not worth the delay or anticipation


Everyone you lost
All the individuals that you have been separated from


you better find them all
you should locate them before it's too late


Find them all before they fade away
Locate them before they disappear or perish


I know you live in isolation
I understand that you live alone and cut yourself off from others


So you don't have to pretend
You don't need to fake or put on a façade


That you could live alone forever
That you can continue to live a solitary life indefinitely


And be your own best friend
Be content and happy with yourself as your sole companion


Here comes the writing on the wall
An inevitable sign or premonition is seen


And it looks so strange
It appears unusual or unexpected


Like a primitive sign
Like a basic or crude indicator


Don't you ever feel that you're so small
Don't you ever experience feelings of insignificance or being unimportant


Like a grain of sand in a bottle or wine
Like a tiny and insignificant element in a vast and complex entity


You know I'll always love you
Assurance of enduring affection




Contributed by Grayson O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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