Carousel
Duane Dolieslager Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As the light grows tragically dim
And my words like air wearing thin
'cause I don't have what you're needing
In circles evading my breath
I'm unwound in usual text
As the opposite of optimist
When my words all slip right through you
When I wish they'd sink into you
And never let you go
No never let you go
To ask what purpose is for
As my foot slips out of the door
Well at least it's been there before
'cause I don't know what you're needing
I'm live but barely breathing
Instead of climbed I fell
Off your carousel
So good-bye good luck oh well
I'm off your carousel
The song "Carousel" by Duane Dolieslager is a melancholy reflection on a failed relationship. The singer is struggling to come to terms with the end of the relationship, as he feels himself being pulled into the wake of his former lover. The light around him is growing dimmer, symbolizing his fading hope that things can be fixed. He is unable to articulate his feelings, as his words fail him and fail to bridge the gap between him and his former partner.
The singer describes himself as being "unwound in usual text", which suggests that he is speaking in cliches rather than expressing honest emotion. He feels defeated and pessimistic, with little hope that he can make things right. The final verse sees the singer acknowledging that he is leaving the relationship behind, but he does so with sadness and regret. He acknowledges that he doesn't know what his former lover needs, and that he himself is barely alive. He views the end of the relationship as a fall, rather than a climb up a metaphorical carousel. The song is a poignant reflection on a failed relationship, with the singer trying to come to terms with what went wrong.
Line by Line Meaning
Her wake is pulling me in
I am being influenced and pulled into her life and problems
As the light grows tragically dim
The environment is getting worse and more depressing
And my words like air wearing thin
I am running out of things to say, and my ability to communicate is dwindling
'cause I don't have what you're needing
I am unable to meet the expectations or desires of the person I am speaking to
My heart is barely beating now
I am feeling emotional distress and my heart is heavy
In circles evading my breath
I feel stuck and unable to move forward, gasping for air
I'm unwound in usual text
I am not able to express myself in a meaningful or interesting way
As the opposite of optimist
I am feeling pessimistic and negative in my outlook
When my words all slip right through you
The person I am speaking to is not listening or understanding my words
When I wish they'd sink into you
I desire for my words to have an impact and to be understood by the listener
And never let you go
I hope that my words will have a lasting impact on the listener
No never let you go
I am desperate for my words to have an effect on the listener
To ask what purpose is for
I question the meaning and significance of my actions and words
As my foot slips out of the door
I am leaving the situation or relationship, and my exit is not graceful
Well at least it's been there before
I have been in this situation before and am somewhat familiar with the feeling of leaving
'cause I don't know what you're needing
I am unsure of what the listener is looking for, and am unable to provide it
I'm live but barely breathing
I am alive, but my life feels empty and meaningless
Instead of climbed I fell
I failed to succeed or improve the situation
Off your carousel
I am leaving the cycle of a repetitive and unfulfilling relationship or situation
So good-bye good luck oh well
I am bidding farewell, wishing the other person luck, and accepting the reality of the situation
I'm off your carousel
I am leaving the cycle of a repetitive and unfulfilling relationship or situation
Contributed by Maya O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.