The Night & The Liquor
Elvis Perkins Lyrics

And now the night and the liquor wear off
As the effects of the night and alcohol recede, the clarity of thought and vision gets sharper

I see your sister more clear
With a clearer mind, the singer recognizes the sister's true self and identity

Now that the sun has warmed the sky
With the sunrise, a new day dawns, filled with hope and potential

Won't you sleep, my lady
The artist requests his lover to rest and not worry

Go to sleep baby
The artist pleads with his lover to fall asleep and not fret

No I can't sleep now, baby
The lover admits to being unable to sleep and restless, despite her partner's request

It's true, I loved her then, yes
The singer acknowledges that he was in love with someone else in the past

And you deserve far better than this mess
The artist admits that he is in a confusing and complicated situation, and his lover deserves better

It's true, I loved her then, forever
Although the artist loved someone else in the past, he acknowledges that the love he has now is everlasting

But now it's you that I love always loved never
The artist professes his love for his current lover, and indicates that all his previous love was merely a shadow compared to what he feels now

Now the night and the liquor coming on
As night falls and drinks flow, the singer's senses and judgment become impaired again

I hardly see your sister
With his senses impaired, the artist finds it difficult to perceive and appreciate his lover's sister

Now that the stars own the sky
As the night deepens, the stars in the sky shine bright and take control of the singer's vision and attention

Won't you come back, lady
Feeling lost and disconnected, the singer summons his lover and implores her to return

No, I won't come back, baby
The lover declines the request, stating that she has moved on and found new passions

For I love rivers lately
The lover indicates that she is drawn to rivers currently, whether as a metaphor or an actual happening