Upon moving to New York in 2001, Bartlett soon began performing with Chocolate Genius and Elysian Fields, and also worked as Salon.com's music critic, writing first a weekly "Wednesday Morning Download", and later the daily "Audiofile" feature.] In recent years, Bartlett has performed and toured extensively with artists like The National, Antony and the Johnsons, Martha Wainwright, Glen Hansard and Bebel Gilberto.
Dancing
Doveman Lyrics
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She smiles so discreetly
Reminding me of you
It's autumn and it's raining
An ordinary day
She wears a silver raincoat
And I'm dressed all in grey
And I could take her dancing
But I don't like to dance
My life reads like a book now
A harlequin romance
The edges hold together
The center falls flat
I can't blame it on the weather
My heart's not an acrobat
We're walking arm in arm now
Her silver on my grey
I'm noticing her charm now
But I don't know what to say
She wants to look inside me
She wants to see within
She's standing there beside me
But I won't let her in
And I could take her dancing
But I don't like to dance
My life reads like a book now
A harlequin romance
The edges hold together
The center falls flat
I can't blame it on the weather
My heart's not an acrobat
The autumn leaves are falling
The streets are paved with gold
From time to time I hear you calling
Still I do as I am told
And if she came to meet me
I can't believe it's true
She smiles so discreetly
And I try not to think of you
And I could take her dancing
But I don't like to dance
But if I don't ask her now
I might nog have another chance
The edges hold together
The center falls flat
Can't blame it ont he weather
My heart's not an acrobat
The lyrics of Doveman's song "Dancing" delve into themes of hesitation, heartbreak, and the desire for emotional connection. The singer is confronted with a new person, wearing a silver raincoat, who reminds him of someone he used to know (presumably, an ex-lover). Even though he's intrigued by this new person, he "won't let her in". Instead, he stays static, emotionally closed off and unwilling to take a risk. He compares his life to a Harlequin romance novel, a form of mass-market fiction known for its stereotypical plotlines and often criticized for its shallow portrayal of love.
Despite the singer's reluctance, there's an undercurrent of possibility in the lyrics. The repetition of the line "And I could take her dancing / But I don't like to dance" suggests that there is a choice to be made - a chance for the singer to break out of his rut and try something new. However, the repeated line "My heart's not an acrobat" underscores the difficulty of making any sort of emotional leap. The song ends on a wistful note, with the singer trying "not to think of you" and considering whether he should take his new acquaintance dancing after all.
Overall, "Dancing" is a poignant exploration of the fear of vulnerability and the struggle to move on from past love.
Line by Line Meaning
And if she came to meet me I can't believe it's true
I'm surprised that this woman I'm interested in would actually come see me
She smiles so discreetly
She has a subtle yet alluring smile
Reminding me of you
Her smile is similar to yours and it brings back memories of you
It's autumn and it's raining
The weather is cold and dreary, setting a somber mood
An ordinary day
Nothing special or exciting is happening
She wears a silver raincoat
The woman is wearing a shiny outer layer to protect herself from the elements
And I'm dressed all in grey
I'm also dressed plainly in a color that matches the melancholic atmosphere
And I could take her dancing
I have the option to take her out and have some fun
But I don't like to dance
I'm not feeling up to it and would prefer to avoid dancing
My life reads like a book now
My life is feeling scripted and predictable
A harlequin romance
It's like a cliched, formulaic love story
The edges hold together
The beginning and end of the story make sense
The center falls flat
The middle part of the story lacks interest or excitement
I can't blame it on the weather
The unexciting nature of my life can't be attributed to external factors like the weather
My heart's not an acrobat
I'm not capable of experiencing passionate emotions that can make the story more wild or exciting
We're walking arm in arm now
The woman and I are physically close to each other
Her silver on my grey
Her bright, shiny coat contrasts with my duller outfit
I'm noticing her charm now
I'm starting to see her positive qualities
But I don't know what to say
I'm still not sure how to express my feelings or make conversation
She wants to look inside me
The woman wants to understand my emotions and thoughts
She wants to see within
She wants to know more about me on a deeper level
She's standing there beside me
She's physically close to me and offering support
But I won't let her in
I'm hesitant to open up and share my inner self with her
The autumn leaves are falling
The season is changing and things are coming to an end
The streets are paved with gold
The environment around me is beautiful and rich
From time to time I hear you calling
I still think about you and hear your voice in my head occasionally
Still I do as I am told
Despite my lingering feelings for you, I try to move on like I'm supposed to
But if I don't ask her now
If I don't take this opportunity to pursue the woman, I may not get another chance
I might not have another chance
This may be the only opportunity I have to see where this relationship can go
Contributed by Isaiah A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
vlerelientje
My favorite tearjerker, sounds like it's from another planet, breathtaking beautifull. Love this song.
Cristian Gutierrez
wow!!!!!!!