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.
Honey
Doveman Lyrics
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If i call you honey darling would you smile or would you even care
If I fall from grace again and tears are in your eyes will you leave me down below or will you lift me up into the skies
You turn your back on me again each time it's the same
You turn and walk away and then you wait for me to fall wait for me to call your name
I could die here in your arms but I'm not sure you're worth the sacrifice
And if there's honey down below dig on past the gold
The word of god is fine I guess but I don't like to do as i am told
And if you walk away again it won't be the same I will fight at first but then
This time I won't fall this time I won't call your name
You never saw me coming now I'm all you see
But if you felt like running now you'll find that you dont run as fast as me
There's honey all around us there's honey on your breath
But if I stop to kiss you now the judge will give me life for love and theft
I turn my back on you again each time it's the same
Turn and walk away and then I wait for you to fall wait for you to call my name
Doveman's song "Honey" is a contemplative and introspective piece that explores themes of love, trust, and vulnerability. The opening lines, "There's honey all around us, there's honey in the air," create a sense of warmth and affection, but the following line - "if I call you honey, darling, would you smile or would you even care?" - hints at a potential disconnect between the singer and their loved one. This is further emphasized in subsequent lines, where the fear of being abandoned is expressed: "If I fall from grace again and tears are in your eyes, will you leave me down below or will you lift me up into the skies?"
The chorus repeats the phrase "you turn your back on me again, each time it's the same," highlighting the singer's frustration with their partner's perceived lack of commitment. The lines "we walk through life together, we walk through fields of ice" capture the ups and downs of a relationship - with the potential of both warmth and danger - and the uncertainty of whether the partner is "worth the sacrifice."
Towards the end of the song, the roles are reversed as the singer reflects on their own behavior: "I turn my back on you again, each time it's the same, turn and walk away and then I wait for you to fall, wait for you to call my name." The repetition of these lines, with the change of the pronouns, suggests a cyclical pattern in their relationship.
Overall, "Honey" is a reflective and melancholy piece that captures the complexities and challenges of a romantic relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
There's honey all around us there's honey in the air
There are good things around us, good vibes in the air.
If i call you honey darling would you smile or would you even care
If I express my fondness for you, will you reciprocate it or not?
If I fall from grace again and tears are in your eyes will you leave me down below or will you lift me up into the skies
If I make a mistake and disappoint you again, will you abandon me or forgive me and help me recover?
You turn your back on me again each time it's the same
You ignore me or leave me when I need you or when things get tough, creating a pattern of rejection.
You turn and walk away and then you wait for me to fall wait for me to call your name
You are distant and uncaring but secretly relish in the opportunity to rescue me when I fail and beg for your attention.
We walk through life together we walk through fields of ice
We face life's difficulties together, even when the environment is hostile and unwelcoming.
I could die here in your arms but I'm not sure you're worth the sacrifice
I have strong feelings for you and would be willing to give everything, but I doubt if you feel the same or if you are trustworthy.
And if there's honey down below dig on past the gold
If you find something good, don't stop there, keep searching for what's even better.
The word of god is fine I guess but I don't like to do as i am told
I acknowledge religious beliefs, but I am independent-minded and prefer to make my own choices and follow my own rules.
And if you walk away again it won't be the same I will fight at first but then
If you leave me again, I won't take it like before, I will resist and retaliate.
This time I won't fall this time I won't call your name
I won't be the one who gives in and caves in to seek your affection, I will stand up for myself and move on.
You never saw me coming now I'm all you see
You underestimated me and didn't pay attention to me before, but now I am the center of your focus and interest.
But if you felt like running now you'll find that you dont run as fast as me
If you try to escape from me now, you will realize that I am ahead of you in terms of emotional maturity and resolve.
There's honey all around us there's honey on your breath
There are opportunities for sweetness and pleasure, maybe even romance, in the air.
But if I stop to kiss you now the judge will give me life for love and theft
If I act on my attraction to you now, I will face serious consequences and punishment, maybe even imprisonment for love.
I turn my back on you again each time it's the same
I avoid getting too close or intimate with you, anticipating that you will hurt me or disappoint me like before.
Turn and walk away and then I wait for you to fall wait for you to call my name
I play hard to get and aloof, hoping that you will chase after me and beg for my love and attention, reversing the previous power dynamic.
Contributed by Caleb R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
siamesewarcat
i really enjoyed this. always been a huge fan of the song.
Daisuke Nakagawa
smells like a warmth....
Panagiota Altanopoulou
beauty..