Sundown
Elwood Lyrics


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Yo I could see her lying back in a satin dress
In a room where you do what you don't confess
She was a high pocket rumblin', movin' in the oven'in
Turntable in turnta B what's the deal

Somtimes I rhyme slow
Sometimes I rhyme quick
When it's time to get busy
Out the hat comes a trick

So when the sun goes down you better take care
If I find you've been creepin' 'round my back stair

Sundown you better take care
If I find you've been creepin' 'round my back stair

She's a queen, lookin' mean, and a sailor's dream
She gotta come clean, say what she mean
She's gotta fess up, yo is her dress up?
Oh indeed, and tell 'em how it is B
Bring em up to speed

Sometimes I rhyme slow
Sometimes I rhyme quick
When it's time to get busy
Out the hat comes a trick

It's a shame when the game leaves you out the frame
It's the love for the sinister losing it again

Sometimes I think it's a shame
When I get feeling better
When I'm feeling no pain

See I could picture every move a man could make
You took steps, you fell in love and that's your first mistake
You in a hole, gotta poll, but you shimmy up the wrong way

Hey yo the sun's going down
And I feel like it's my last day

Sundown you better take care
If I find you've been creepin' round my back stair

Sometimes I think it's a sin
When I feel like I'm winning
When I'm losing again

Yo sometimes the silence
Is just so valuable sometimes

She lay her head down
Pink frown, sad 'cause she's lost out
A big city hat who goes for minds one trip
Day by day with sunshine soak in a room back sunlight

Yo I could see her lying back in a satin dress
In a room where you do what you don't confess
Sundown
Sundown
Sundown

I could picture every move a man could make
Getting lost in a lot, that's your first mistake
Sundown
Sundown
Sundown

She was looking fast in the faded jeans
Now she's a hard lovin' woman
Gotta know what I mean
She stepped up in the spot
She made the spot hot
Give it away, give it away yeah

Sometimes I think its a shame
When I get feeling better
When I'm feeling no pain
And sundown you better take care
If I find you've been creepin' round my back stair

Sundown you better take care
If I find you've been creepin' round
Find you've been creepin' round my back stair
And sometimes I think it's a sin
When I think like I'm winning when I'm losing again
I'm losing again
I'm losing again
I'm losing again
I'm losing again
I'm losing again
I'm losing again




I'm losing again
I'm losing again

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Elwood's song Sundown are filled with imagery and metaphorical expressions. The singer sets the scene of a woman lying in a satin dress in a room where secrets are kept. He then refers to her as a "high pocket rumblin', movin' in the oven'in," which could mean that she's someone who's up to something and always on the move. The singer warns that she better be honest and upfront with him, telling him what's going on, or else there will be consequences.


The chorus of the song repeats a warning to someone creeping around the singer's back stair, and the pre-chorus indicates that the singer's feeling suspicious and may be losing something he cherishes. He continues to paint vivid pictures of the situation, where a goddess-like figure steps into a spot, and the atmosphere gets heated up. He then goes on to talk about the pain of losing and the feeling of being fooled.


Overall, Sundown appears to be about a lover who becomes suspicious of their partner's actions and becomes paranoid. The lyrics show how ultimately, this paranoia leads to a loss of trust and faith in the relationship. The song uses rich imagery and poetic phrasing to express the emotions that the singer is going through in this situation.


Line by Line Meaning

Yo I could see her lying back in a satin dress
Elwood describes a woman he can picture lying down in a satin dress


In a room where you do what you don't confess
He imagines her in a place where people do things they don't speak about


She was a high pocket rumblin', movin' in the oven'in
Elwood describes the woman as a lively and energetic person


Turntable in turnta B what's the deal
He makes a reference to a DJ's turntable and asks what is happening


Sometimes I rhyme slow
Elwood explains that sometimes his rhymes are slow-paced


Sometimes I rhyme quick
Other times, he rhymes more quickly


When it's time to get busy
He emphasizes the importance of getting down to business when necessary


Out the hat comes a trick
Elwood suggests that he has tricks up his sleeve when needed


So when the sun goes down you better take care
Elwood warns others to be cautious when night falls


If I find you've been creepin' 'round my back stair
He implies that he will not tolerate people sneaking around


She's a queen, lookin' mean, and a sailor's dream
Elwood describes the woman as a beautiful and desirable but intimidating figure


She gotta come clean, say what she mean
He suggests that the woman needs to be honest and open


She's gotta fess up, yo is her dress up?
Elwood asks if the woman is telling the truth and expresses doubt


Oh indeed, and tell 'em how it is B
He agrees that the woman should speak honestly and specifically asks her to explain the situation


Bring em up to speed
Elwood suggests that someone needs to provide more information


It's a shame when the game leaves you out the frame
Elwood laments when people get left behind or feel forgotten


It's the love for the sinister losing it again
He suggests that people's love for wrongdoing causes them to fail once more


Sometimes I think it's a shame
He expresses regret over something on occasion


When I get feeling better
Elwood indicates that he feels good at times


When I'm feeling no pain
He refers to a state of being without pain, either physically or emotionally


See I could picture every move a man could make
Elwood claims to fully understand how men behave in certain situations


You took steps, you fell in love and that's your first mistake
He suggests that falling in love can be a misstep


You in a hole, gotta poll, but you shimmy up the wrong way
Elwood describes how someone who is digging themselves in deeper tries to climb out the wrong way


Hey yo the sun's going down
Elwood notes that the sunset is approaching


And I feel like it's my last day
He expresses a sense of finality or desperation


She lay her head down
Elwood describes the woman's actions


Pink frown, sad 'cause she's lost out
She appears unhappy and disappointed


A big city hat who goes for minds one trip
Elwood describes someone who only cares about success and is willing to deceive others to get ahead


Day by day with sunshine soak in a room back sunlight
He describes spending time in a room filled with sunlight and enjoying the warmth


Getting lost in a lot, that's your first mistake
Elwood reiterates that losing oneself can be a sign of trouble


She was looking fast in the faded jeans
He describes the woman's attire


Now she's a hard lovin' woman
He suggests that she is now more experienced and assertive in romantic relationships


Gotta know what I mean
Elwood checks to see if his audience understands what he is saying


She stepped up in the spot
He describes her behavior in a specific situation


She made the spot hot
Elwood indicates that the woman made the environment more exciting or intense


Give it away, give it away yeah
He encourages others to be generous and give things away


And sometimes I think it's a sin
Elwood suggests that certain actions are wrong or against his values


When I think like I'm winning when I'm losing again
He expresses frustration when he feels like he is successful but ends up losing again


Sundown you better take care
Elwood repeats his warning to be cautious at sunset


Find you've been creepin' round my back stair
He threatens to take action against anyone sneaking around


And I'm losing again
Elwood expresses his disappointment at losing again


I'm losing again
He repeats his frustration


I'm losing again
Elwood says it once more to emphasize his point


I'm losing again
He continues to express his disappointment


I'm losing again
Elwood repeats himself for the fifth time for emphasis


I'm losing again
He summarizes the feeling he wants to convey with the song




Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: William O Ellwood

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Gordon Shumway

The rare perfect cover. It’s quite faithful, but not so much so that it’s totally unnecessary. Love it.

Randy Wissler

Absolutely love this version!! Especially the intro with the needle on the vinyl!!!

mervyn weaver

old enough to remember the original but can appreciate this take on it... respect is due!

Frank Rizzo

Feelin' ya ^,^

Brian Glass

I love Gordon Lightfoot and this is an AMAZING cover!!! You did DAMN GOOD ELWOOD!! ✊✊

Violet LeFey

Totally. Not big on remakes myself, but he did a damn fine job, without taking away from the original. :)

Loren Whiting

I think this new take on it revives the older version and shows originality from Elwood. I'm not as old as to appreciate the original version as much as the newer one! Elwood's version is incredible! Love it! It brings back some of my favorite memories! My brother who passed was a HUGE fan of the arts, and he introduced me to this song! It FOREVER is remembered with reverence for his memory!!!

Silverhornet81

Im a fan of the original, this version is bad ass. Ive had it in my playlist since napster.Well done

Dana Wallace

WOWwwwwwwwww! only issue I have with hearing it right now is that I'm at my desk at work & can't get up and dance!!! :D

77deltadawn

So glad I work from home! 💃🏻

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