Tumbling Down
Harley Steve Lyrics
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Now me I regard it's a torturous hardship that smolders
Like a peppermint eaten away
Will I fight, will I swagger or sway?
Hee hee, my lady, she cries like a baby to scolders
See her tumbling down, tumbling down
Hail to the monkey, we're having a funky reunion
He got nicotine stains in his eyes
He got nothing to protect but his pride
Oh! smother the kiss or be drownded in blissful confusion
See it tumbling down, tumbling down
Juvenile tale, see the Tintanic sail into Brighton
The Hemingway stacatto, the tragic bravado can frighten
To be here, there and everywhere's fine
But do you have to be so swift all the time
Deliver the dawn to the Moulin-Rouge on the horizon
Watch it tumbling down, tumbling down
Tumbling down, tumbling down
Oh dear, look what they've done to the blues, blues, blues
Oh dear, look what they've done to the blues, blues, blues
Oh dear, look what they've done to the blues, blues, blues
Oh dear, look what they've done to the blues, blues, blues ....
The song Tumbling Down by Harley Steve's talks about the struggles of lowering one's guard and being vulnerable to those who may exploit them. The lines "Gee, but it's hard when one lowers one's guard to the vultures / Now me I regard it's a torturous hardship that smolders / Like a peppermint eaten away / Will I fight, will I swagger or sway?" highlights the difficulty of dealing with people who may take advantage of one's openness. The singer is torn between fighting back and reacting with aggression, or simply stepping back and allowing things to unfold.
The chorus "See her tumbling down, tumbling down" seems to be a metaphor for the singer's struggles, as they feel like their world is falling apart. The song then goes on to talk about a monkey who has hit rock bottom, and a juvenile tale of a ship sailing to Brighton. These references are likely symbolic of the singer's own struggles, and the sense of being lost and directionless. The last chorus "Oh dear, look what they've done to the blues..." reinforces the idea of being let down and disappointed by others.
Line by Line Meaning
Gee, but it's hard when one lowers one's guard to the vultures
It's difficult to stay vulnerable and sincere when faced with people looking to take advantage of you.
Now me I regard it's a torturous hardship that smolders
Personally, I find it a painful experience that festers over time.
Like a peppermint eaten away
The feeling is reminiscent of a peppermint that has gradually dissolved away.
Will I fight, will I swagger or sway?
I'm not sure if I'll react with aggression, confidence, or hesitation.
Hee hee, my lady, she cries like a baby to scolders
My partner is easily upset by criticism or scolding, reacting with childlike tears.
See her tumbling down, tumbling down
It's sad to witness her falling apart and losing her composure.
Hail to the monkey, we're having a funky reunion
We're excited to see our old friend, even though he's not doing very well.
Wasted and sunk, he can only have Sunday communion
He's hit rock bottom and now only goes to church when he's at his lowest.
He got nicotine stains in his eyes
His addiction has had physical effects, leaving behind brown stains in his irises.
He got nothing to protect but his pride
In the end, all he has left is his self-respect and dignity.
Oh! smother the kiss or be drownded in blissful confusion
We're overwhelmed by strong feelings that we can either embrace or try to suppress.
See it tumbling down, tumbling down
We can see everything falling apart, collapsing in on itself.
Juvenile tale, see the Tintanic sail into Brighton
It's a foolish, improbable story, like the Titanic appearing in the English coastal town of Brighton.
The Hemingway stacatto, the tragic bravado can frighten
Despite the macho posturing and grand gestures, the desperation and sadness lurking underneath can be worrisome.
To be here, there and everywhere's fine
Living a life of constant movement and travel is all well and good.
But do you have to be so swift all the time
But must you always be in a hurry, moving quickly from place to place?
Deliver the dawn to the Moulin-Rouge on the horizon
We're yearning for a new beginning, perhaps conveyed by the image of a sunrise at a famous Parisian cabaret.
Watch it tumbling down, tumbling down
But we're aware that even the most hopeful of starts can come crashing down, too.
Oh dear, look what they've done to the blues, blues, blues
We lament how the genre of blues music has been watered down or degraded in some way.
Oh dear, look what they've done to the blues, blues, blues
Again, we express our disappointment and disillusionment with the current state of blues music.
Oh dear, look what they've done to the blues, blues, blues
Once more, we bemoan the changes and compromises that have affected the blues genre over time.
Oh dear, look what they've done to the blues, blues, blues
We finish by repeating our refrain, as if to emphasize our sadness and frustration.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: STEVE HARLEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind