Ross' music borrows from rock, jazz, folk and classical music creating a style that he describes as "heavy wood". Ross is the first and only person to twice win the U.S. National Fingerstyle Guitar Championship (1988 and 1996). His album Huron Street reached the top ten on the Billboard new age chart. In the liner notes to Ross' 2003 album Robot Monster, Bruce Cockburn writes, "Nobody does what Don Ross does with an acoustic guitar. He takes the corners so fast you think he's going to roll, but he never loses control."
Don't Feel Your Touch
Don Ross Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dome
I kiss these departing companions, take the next step
Alone
I've just said goodnight to the closest thing I have to
Home
Oh and the night grows sharp and hollow as a junkie's
Craving vain
To be held in the heart of a friend is to be a king
But the magic of a lovers touch is what makes my spirit
Sing
When you're caught up in this longing all the beauties of
The earth don't mean a thing
Oh and the night grows clear and empty as a lake of acid
Rain
And I don't feel your touch again.
The last light of day crept away like a drunkard after
Gin
A hint of chanted prayer now whispers from the fresh
Night wind
To this shattered heart and soul, held together by habit
And skin
And to this half-gnawed bone of apprehension buried in my
Brain
As I don't feel your touch again
In Don Ross's song "Don't Feel Your Touch," the lyrics communicate a sense of loneliness and loss as the singer navigates a world without the touch of a loved one. In the opening lines, the singer is saying goodbye to his companions and stepping out into a harsh world on his own. The metaphor of the newborn moon is particularly poignant, suggesting a sense of new beginnings but also vulnerability. As the night grows sharp and hollow, the singer longs for the touch of his loved one, but it is not there.
The chorus of the song emphasizes the power of physical touch in our lives. To be held by a friend is important, but it is the touch of a lover that truly moves the spirit. The singer is so consumed with longing for this touch that he feels that all the beauties of the earth are meaningless without it. The night grows clear and empty as the singer is faced with the absence of this touch.
In the final verse, the singer is confronted with the reality of his situation. The last light of day has disappeared, and he is left with a shattered heart and soul. He is held together by habit and skin, but there is an underlying sense of apprehension and fear that he cannot shake. Once again, he is without the touch of his loved one, and he is forced to confront the emptiness of his existence.
Overall, "Don't Feel Your Touch" is a powerful meditation on the importance of connection, particularly physical connection, in our lives. Through its haunting lyrics, the song conveys a sense of loss and longing that is relatable to anyone who has experienced the absence of a loved one's touch.
Line by Line Meaning
In front of a newborn moon pushing out it's glistening dome
Standing under the light of the new moon, I am filled with a sense of awe and wonder.
I kiss these departing companions, take the next step alone
Bidding farewell to my friends, I must carry on my journey alone.
I've just said goodnight to the closest thing I have to home
Leaving behind the place where I feel most comfortable, I must face the unknown.
Oh and the night grows sharp and hallow as a junkie's craving vain
As the darkness sets in, it becomes oppressive and overwhelming, like an addict's desperate desire for their drug of choice.
And I don't feel your touch again
Without you here with me, I feel lost and alone.
To be held in the heart of a friend is to be a king
The love and support of a true friend is priceless and can make one feel invincible.
But the magic of a lover's touch is what makes my spirit sing
Though friendship is valuable, nothing can quite compare to the electric connection between two lovers.
When you're caught up in this longing all the beauties of the earth don't mean a thing
When consumed by a yearning for someone, nothing else in the world can bring contentment or joy.
Oh and the night grows clear and empty as a lake of acid rain
As my longing deepens, the darkness around me becomes even more suffocating, like an acidic rain that corrodes everything.
And I don't feel your touch again.
Without the warmth of your embrace, I feel as if a vital part of myself is missing.
The last light of day crept away like a drunkard after gin
As the sun sets, it leaves behind a lonesome feeling, like a drunkard staggering away from their drink.
A hint of chanted prayer now whispers from the fresh night wind
In the cool breeze of the night, I can hear a faint whisper of a prayer, perhaps giving me hope and comfort.
To this shattered heart and soul, held together by habit and skin
Although my heart and soul feel broken, I must still move forward, relying on mere habit and physical strength.
And to this half-gnawed bone of apprehension buried in my brain
I am plagued by a constant, gnawing worry that taints my thoughts and troubles my mind.
As I don't feel your touch again
The absence of your touch leaves a gaping hole in my heart that no amount of distractions or other pleasures can fill.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bruce Cockburn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind