Dixon is considered to be one of the key producers of what is called the jangle pop movement of the early 1980s. He spent thirteen years as a member of NC cult heroes Arrogance. Around 1983, Dixon attracted attention by co-producing with Mitch Easter, R.E.M.'s landmark debut LP Murmur. He then spent several years producing the work of varied artists including Chris Stamey (formerly of The dB's) and The Smithereens. Considered to be a highlight of this period was Tommy Keene's Run Now EP. This success led to Dixon recording his solo debut Most of the Girls Like to Dance But Only Some of the Boys Like To, a further affirmation of his love of classic pop melodies and spiky, Nick Lowe-inspired wordplay.
Dixon is married to the singer Marti Jones.
In 2006, Dixon released his first new album in six years, The Entire Combustible World in One Small Room.
Currently Dixon is producing the follow up album for Babyshaker. The Charlotte based hard rock glam band is recording their sophmore effort at the legendary Milestone Club, in Charlotte N.C.
Borrowed Time
Don Dixon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Am I fit to wear the ashes of a hundred thousand lies?
Well the smell stayed in motion and hangs upon the breath
But I have the constitution to ask if someone's left
But I felt your kiss at sunset beneath the bridges??? Sights???
And I've entertained the diamonds that have washed out of your eyes
When you left me for your children, you left my life a wreck
You leave me with this question, well what did you expect?
Yes I'm so tired of living on borrowed time
You can't seem to let me go and it moves so slow
Well it feels like turning tables to touch your frozen hand
And I'm paralysed by passion that I cannot understand
When your eyes give me the message that your lips can never face
Should I lock away my shadow, leaving me without a trace?
And it's so hard living on borrowed time
Yes I'm so tired of living on borrowed time
I can't seem to make you see that the victim's real
Oh I'm so tired of living on borrowed time
Yes it's so hard living on borrowed time
I can't seem to let you go and it moves so slow, oh it moves so slow, yes it moves so slow
I can't tell you all I'm feeling
I can't trust you 'till you make mistakes
Oh I'm so tired of living on borrowed time
Yes it's so hard living on borrowed time
I can't seem to make you see that the victim's real
Yeah, it's so hard living on borrowed time
Yes I'm so tired of living on borrowed time
I can't seem to let me go and it moves so slow, yes it moves so slow (Moves so slow)
It moves so slow (Moves so slow), yes it moves so slow
The song "Borrowed Time" by Don Dixon talks about a failed relationship where the singer is struggling to come to terms with the breakup. In the first verse, Dixon sings about holding a cup full of his partner's eyes, wondering if he's worthy enough to wear the ashes of the many lies that they had been living in. The sense of doubt and uncertainty is palpable throughout the song, with the singer oscillating between blaming himself and blaming his partner for the downfall of their relationship. He talks about feeling paralyzed by passion and not being able to understand his emotions fully. The chorus, "it's so hard living on borrowed time, yes, I'm so tired of living on borrowed time, I can't seem to let you go and it moves so slow," communicates the feeling of being stuck in limbo, unable to move on but unwilling to stay in the same place.
The second verse talks about the singer's inability to communicate his feelings to his partner, and his lack of trust towards them. He sings that he can't trust until they make mistakes and that he's tired of living on borrowed time. The overall tone of the song is melancholic, and the use of AABA rhyme scheme reinforces this sense of repetition and feeling stuck.
Line by Line Meaning
When I picked up at the table a cup full of your eyes
When I remember you, I am reminded of the way you looked at me, with so much love and kindness.
Am I fit to wear the ashes of a hundred thousand lies?
Do I deserve to be burdened with the weight of all of our past mistakes?
Well the smell stayed in motion and hangs upon the breath
The memory of our love and heartbreak still lingers and hurts.
But I have the constitution to ask if someone's left
I have the strength to move on and ask if anyone better has come into my life.
But I felt your kiss at sunset beneath the bridges??? Sights???
I remember our romantic moments together by the water, at that beautiful sunset spot.
And I've entertained the diamonds that have washed out of your eyes
I have seen you cry and have tried to comfort you through all of your sorrow and pain.
When you left me for your children, you left my life a wreck
When you left me, I was devastated and didn't know how to recover from that loss.
You leave me with this question, well what did you expect?
Now, I am left to wonder what you thought would happen if you left me alone and heartbroken.
And it's so hard living on borrowed time
Living without you is difficult, and it feels like I'm running out of time to find love and happiness again.
Yes I'm so tired of living on borrowed time
I'm exhausted from trying to hold on to what we had, when it's clear that we have both moved on.
You can't seem to let me go and it moves so slow
You keep holding on to our past, which is making it hard for us to both move on with our lives.
Well it feels like turning tables to touch your frozen hand
It's a painful reminder of how cold and distant we have become with each other.
And I'm paralysed by passion that I cannot understand
I am stuck in this cycle of heartache and love, unable to comprehend my own emotions.
When your eyes give me the message that your lips can never face
Even though our eyes hold so much pain and longing, we can never seem to express our feelings through words.
Should I lock away my shadow, leaving me without a trace?
Should I just disappear and forget about you, leaving behind all the memories we shared?
I can't tell you all I'm feeling
I can't express all of the pain and heartbreak I feel, especially since you seem to have moved on without me.
I can't trust you 'till you make mistakes
I can't trust that you truly care for me until you show that you want to fix the mistakes we made in the past.
Oh I'm so tired of living on borrowed time
I'm so exhausted from holding on to our past, even though it's clear that we have both moved on.
I can't seem to make you see that the victim's real
I can't make you understand that I'm the one truly hurt by our past, and that I need to heal in my own time.
Yeah, it's so hard living on borrowed time
It's difficult to move on from the past and find love again, even though that's what I truly want.
I can't seem to let me go and it moves so slow, yes it moves so slow (Moves so slow)
I can't seem to let go of the past and move on, even though it's happening so slowly that it feels like torture.
It moves so slow (Moves so slow), yes it moves so slow
The process of moving on and healing is slow and painful, but it's necessary to find happiness again.
Contributed by Henry L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Matthew Stetson
So many good lines in this one. Be it, 'entertained the diamonds that washed out of your eyes' or 'I'm paralyzed by passion that I cannot understand.' Very poetic and as always great and criminally underappreciated pop music. Should have been played on the radio with that luscious chorus.
matthew stetson
The bridge, I love that confounded bridge!
matthew stetson
Marti loves her man (1:14) and we all know it's mutual.