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.
Drinking
Doveman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That are your breathless doing
Don't dare speak your name aloud
Or it will all come tumbling down
Empty streets
Perfumed forest wet with rain
Walk away
Let it be
And you don't know what she is thinking
You just know that it's the end
And you can tell that she's been drinking all alone again
Bathed in the light of empty dream
Her face is so depressing
But if it's as bad as it seems
Let's disappear
But she can duck
She can weave
She can hide behind her smile
Watch her dance
Watch her sway
Sadness fades after a while she says
The lyrics to Doveman's song "Drinking" are filled with imagery and emotion. The first four lines suggest a sense of unease, as though the singer is nervous about something. The "week of sun beneath the clouds" implies a brief moment of happiness or optimism, but it's quickly followed by a warning: "Don't dare speak your name aloud/Or it will all come tumbling down." This suggests that the happy moment is fragile and could be ruined by something as simple as saying the wrong thing. The rest of the verse paints a picture of a rainy city, with empty streets and a "perfumed forest" that's weighed down by the heavy rain. The singer tells the listener to walk away and let it be before urging them to "hold your fire but take good aim at me." This could be interpreted as the singer offering themselves up as a target, so the listener can let out their frustration or aggression.
The second verse takes a darker turn, as the singer paints a picture of a woman who's sad and alone, possibly intoxicated. The lyrics "And you can tell that she's been drinking all alone again" suggest that this is a recurring problem, and the singer can see the signs of alcohol abuse. The woman's face is described as "depressing" and the singer offers to disappear with her if things are as bad as they seem. However, the woman is described as being skilled at avoiding her problems ("She can duck/She can weave/She can hide behind her smile") and the singer watches her dance and sway as she tries to escape her sadness. The woman herself insists that "Sadness fades after a while," but it's unclear whether the singer believes her.
Overall, the lyrics to "Drinking" are melancholic and contemplative. They deal with themes of sadness, addiction, and the fragility of happiness. The imagery is vivid and evocative, with a focus on rain, darkness, and empty streets. The singer seems to be offering comfort and companionship to someone who's struggling, but there's a sense of unease and uncertainty that runs through the song.
Line by Line Meaning
A week of sun beneath the clouds
A period of time that was supposed to be filled with happiness, but has been overshadowed by something negative
That are your breathless doing
Caused by something that has taken the breath away, perhaps in a negative or overwhelming way
Don't dare speak your name aloud
It's better not to mention the person or situation that caused the negative emotions
Or it will all come tumbling down
Talking about the issue could make everything crumble and fall apart
Empty streets
The surroundings are quiet and lonely
Perfumed forest wet with rain
Despite the beauty of the environment, there is a feeling of sadness or melancholy
Walk away
It's better to leave the situation than try to fix it
Let it be
Leave it alone and don't make it worse
Hold your fire but take good aim at me
Don't take out frustrations on others, but recognize when someone is willing to listen and offer support
And you don't know what she is thinking
The emotional state of someone else is difficult to decipher
You just know that it's the end
A relationship or situation has reached its conclusion
And you can tell that she's been drinking all alone again
Evidence suggests that alcohol has been used as a coping mechanism
Bathed in the light of empty dream
Existing in a world that is neither fully awake nor asleep
Her face is so depressing
The sadness or frustration is visible on her face
But if it's as bad as it seems, let's disappear
If the situation is really that terrible, it may be best to remove oneself from it
But she can duck, she can weave
Despite being in a bad situation, she is able to avoid conflicts or difficult interactions
She can hide behind her smile
Others may not see the pain or sadness on the surface
Watch her dance, watch her sway
Observe how she tries to keep moving despite the pain
Sadness fades after a while she says
Despite everything, she has the hope that eventually things will get better
Contributed by Zachary J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.