Kathleen
David Gray Lyrics


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Lay down my head by the wayside
My worn out shoes
Quite why she went I can't decide
Yeah but I sure could use
One plate of food steaming and hot
Clean linen ironed
On a fresh made bed but I ain't got
One salty dime, one salty dime

Just close your eyes, it won't take long
It won't hurt a bit
Telling myself I could be strong
Or some such brave bullshit
Trucks are roaring by, I'm a red ghost
In their tail light gleam
I'm a tumbleweed, I'm a spit roast
Turning in your flame
Oh my darlin' Kathleen

Cars they sound like waves that are breaking
On some distant shore
I gazed so long into the great aching sky
It seemed like I wasn't here no more

My rushing blood was a river
My eyes two stars
My blowing hair all a quiver
A whispering field of grass
That murmurs as you pass
Oh my darlin' Kathleen
That whispers out your name




Oh my darlin' Kathleen
Oh my darlin' Kathleen

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of David Gray's "Kathleen" spin a tale of longing, loss, and the struggle to move on. The song opens with a weary protagonist who lays down his head by the wayside after walking in worn-out shoes for too long. He ruminates on the reasons why the relationship ended, his urgent need for basics such as food and shelter and the inability to afford them. The singer draws strength from a stoic facade that he tries to maintain, telling himself that he could be strong; insinuating that it is the fear of vulnerability that keeps him from recovering from the hurt.


In the second verse, he talks about how noisy cars on the street sound like the waves breaking on some distant shore. He had been staring at the sky for so long that he felt like he wasn't there anymore. He likened himself to a river with rushing blood and his eyes to stars. Despite the calmness, his hair was all a quiver, much like a field of grass that whispers with the passing wind. Kathleen's name comes up twice at the end, implying that he's still haunted by thoughts of her and struggling to let her go.


Line by Line Meaning

Lay down my head by the wayside
I am tired and I need a place to rest.


My worn out shoes
My shoes are old and have been used for a long time.


Quite why she went I can't decide
I don't know the reason why she left and it's hard to understand.


Yeah but I sure could use
Despite not knowing why she left, I could really use some comfort right now.


One plate of food steaming and hot
I would like to have some hot food to eat right now.


Clean linen ironed
I would like to have fresh, clean sheets that have been pressed with an iron.


On a fresh made bed but I ain't got
Unfortunately, I do not have access to these things I desire.


One salty dime, one salty dime
I am poor and don't even have one dime to my name.


Just close your eyes, it won't take long
If you just ignore what I'm going through right now, it won't last very long.


It won't hurt a bit
It won't cause any pain, despite how it may seem.


Telling myself I could be strong
I'm trying to convince myself that I can handle this situation on my own.


Or some such brave bullshit
Or at least that's what I'm telling myself, even if it's not entirely true.


Trucks are roaring by, I'm a red ghost
Large vehicles are driving by, and I feel invisible and insignificant.


In their taillight gleam
I see the reflection of the lights in their taillights.


I'm a tumbleweed, I'm a spit roast
Just like a tumbleweed or a piece of meat being roasted on a spit, I am at the mercy of the world.


Turning in your flame
I am still in love with you and can't get you out of my head.


Cars they sound like waves that are breaking
The sound of cars passing by is reminiscent of ocean waves crashing against the shore.


On some distant shore
Just like that shore is far away, so is the place I wish I could be right now.


I gazed so long into the great aching sky
I've been staring at the sky for so long that it's become painful to even look at it.


It seemed like I wasn't here no more
I felt as though I didn't exist or belong in this world.


My rushing blood was a river
I felt a strong and intense emotion, almost like a river flowing through me.


My eyes two stars
My eyes were bright and shining, like stars in the night sky.


My blowing hair all a quiver
My hair was moving and shaking with the wind, showing how strongly I felt.


A whispering field of grass
The sound of the wind blowing through the grass was like a whisper.


That murmurs as you pass
It's a sound that's barely heard, only when you come close to it.


Oh my darlin' Kathleen
I miss you and I'm yearning for you.


That whispers out your name
The sound of the wind in the grass is like it's calling out your name.


Oh my darlin' Kathleen
I want you back in my life and can't stop thinking about you.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DAVID GRAY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@kathleenmiranda3440

Lay down my head by the wayside
My worn out shoes
Quite why she went I can't decide
Yeah but I sure could use
One plate of food steaming and hot
Clean linen ironed
On a fresh made bed but I ain't got
One salty dime, one salty dime

Just close your eyes, it won't take long
It won't hurt a bit
Telling myself I could be strong
Or some such brave bullshit
Trucks are roaring by, I'm a red ghost
In their tail light gleam
I'm a tumbleweed, I'm a spit roast
Turning in your flame
Oh my darlin' Kathleen

Cars they sound like waves that are breaking
On some distant shore
I gazed so long into the great aching sky
It seemed like I wasn't here no more

My rushing blood was a river
My eyes two stars
My blowing hair all a quiver
A whispering field of grass
That murmurs as you pass
Oh my darlin' Kathleen
That whispers out your name
Oh my darlin' Kathleen
Oh my darlin' Kathleen



@bdomazim

Lay down my head by the wayside
My worn out shoes
Quite why she went I can't decide
Yeah but I sure could use
One plate of food steaming and hot
Clean linen ironed
On a fresh made bed but I ain't got
One salty dime, one salty dime
Just close your eyes, it won't take long
It won't hurt a bit
Telling myself I could be strong
Or some such brave bullshit
Trucks are roaring by, I'm a red ghost
In their tail light gleam
I'm a tumbleweed, I'm a spit roast
Turning in your flame
Oh my darlin' Kathleen
Cars they sound like waves that are breaking
On some desolate shore
I gazed so long into the great aching sky
It seemed like I wasn't here no more
My rushing blood was a river
My eyes two stars
My blowing hair all a quiver
A whispering field of grass
That murmurs as you pass
Oh my darlin' Kathleen
That whispers out your name
Oh my darlin' Kathleen
Oh my darlin' Kathleen



All comments from YouTube:

@jeffkinkead4558

Yikes. I've heard this song a hundred of times. To this day it's so raw and gritty. Human life.. written...

@jeffkinkead4558

Brittany farris

@Amyrobin74

One of the most beautiful songs ever written, in my opinion. Should definitely be included in the live shows. 💜

@katscotty

My name is Kathleen, my husband of 30 years was the first and only person to call me darling. He died last Christmas and this song just makes me sob every time I hear it, but it's so beautiful in it's sadness.

@kathleenbyrne9021

My name is Kathleen my husband of 23 years took his life Dec 23.2010..

@katscotty

@@kathleenbyrne9021 I am so sorry Kathleen I wish strength & peace for you xxx

@jeffkinkead4558

Both of you ladies are beautiful people. To be sad is to be human. I hope you can find some peace in your lifes and realized they both loved you .

@floppyjan5116

I am so sorry Kathleen, I lost my hubby to cancer in 2017, these things you never get over. God bless you

@floppyjan5116

@@kathleenbyrne9021 So sorry prayers and hugs

3 More Replies...

@angelawlmot4442

Love this song my mum was called Kathleen she died 4 years ago. Love David Gray music went to my 1st David Gray concert with my son called David he died 11 years ago. Xx

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