Gilmore also played "Smokey" in The Big Lebowski
Santa Fe Thief
Jimmie Dale Gilmore Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He holds the poor in his memory he never, he never lets on
He gathers strength as he gazes at length in a joy
You cannot tell from the sound of nothings been heard from his boy
He's a thief in the night and he's stealing for light you won't know it
He's already found you, his arms all around, you won't show it
Maybe one day you'll know more of, you'll know enough to sayLook over yonder he's already coming
Look over yonder he's already coming
Look over yonder he's already coming your way
Oh the caretaker's daughter she lives near the Garden of Eden
She knows the name of each flower, she remembers which let you in
She spills the sky when she looks in your eye and her jasmine
A symphony heard from a mansion when the wind sweeps in between
She's a thief in the night and she's stealing for love you won't know it
She's already found you, her arms all around, you won't show it
Maybe one day you'll know more of, you'll know enough to say
Look over yonder she's already coming
Look over yonder she's already coming
Look over yonder she's already coming your way
Oh the old engineer stays patient high in his roundhouse
He watches his trains appearing through silent puffs of snow
And his eyes are bright as he watches them nearing the time to set the track
With a flick of his wrist he waves to let them go
He's a thief in the night and he's stealing for life you won't know it
He's already found you, his arms all around, you won't show it
Maybe one day you'll know more of, you'll know enough to say
Look over yonder he's already coming
Look over yonder he's already coming
REPEAT CHORUS
The lyrics of Jimmie Dale Gilmore's Santa Fe Thief describe three different characters and their unique perspectives on life, all intertwined with the theme of thievery. The first verse highlights the townhouse warbler, who holds memories of the poor and uses them as a source of strength. He is depicted as a silent observer, always watching and never letting on. The chorus describes him as a thief in the night, stealing for light and coming without notice.
The second verse introduces the caretaker's daughter, who is intimately familiar with the Garden of Eden and all its inhabitants. She is described as a thief in the night, stealing for love and enveloping her targets in her arms without them realizing it. The final verse centers around the old engineer, who patiently watches his trains and controls them with the flick of his wrist. He is also portrayed as a thief in the night, stealing for life and coming without warning.
Overall, the lyrics of Santa Fe Thief suggest that despite the seemingly separate paths of these characters, they are all linked by their ability to take what they want and move forward without detection. The theme of thievery is intertwined with the idea that the experiences and memories we hold can give us strength as we move through life.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh the townhouse warbler lives far apart in a song
The singer describes a person who seems distant and detached from the world, but who actually cares deeply about the poor, and draws strength from their contemplation of joy.
He holds the poor in his memory he never, he never lets on
The warbler keeps his concern for the poor a secret, but he always remembers and takes their struggles to heart.
He gathers strength as he gazes at length in a joy
Joyful experiences give the warbler strength and inspiration.
You cannot tell from the sound of nothings been heard from his boy
The warbler's son, who may be struggling or lost, cannot be heard or detected by the outside world.
Oh the caretaker's daughter she lives near the Garden of Eden
The singer describes another intriguing character, the daughter of a caretaker who lives near paradise.
She knows the name of each flower, she remembers which let you in
The caretaker's daughter is very knowledgeable about the plants and environment surrounding her, and knows how to access the garden.
She spills the sky when she looks in your eye and her jasmine
When the caretaker's daughter gazes into someone's eyes, clouds of feeling are released and her perfume, jasmine, permeates the air.
A symphony heard from a mansion when the wind sweeps in between
When the wind blows through the garden and mansion, a beautiful symphony can be heard, adding to the enchantment of the place.
Oh the old engineer stays patient high in his roundhouse
The singer now introduces a patient and experienced engineer, who works high up in his train station.
He watches his trains appearing through silent puffs of snow
The engineer keeps a close eye on his trains, even in snowy conditions when all is quiet.
And his eyes are bright as he watches them nearing the time to set the track
The engineer takes pride in his work and feels fulfilled when he successfully prepares the train for its journey.
With a flick of his wrist he waves to let them go
The engineer gives the final signal to the train with a wave of his wrist, and the train departs under his steady guidance.
He's a thief in the night and he's stealing for life you won't know it
The engineer is like a thief in the night, quietly and efficiently stealing time and life each day.
He's already found you, his arms all around, you won't show it
Despite his seemingly detached attitude, the engineer is intimately involved with his field and can sweep you up in his expertise.
Maybe one day you'll know more of, you'll know enough to say
The singer acknowledges that one day the listener may gain enough knowledge or experience to recognize the depth and complexity of these individuals.
Look over yonder he's already coming
The singer urges the listener to pay attention, as each of these figures has something to offer and is approaching.
Look over yonder she's already coming
The singer urges the listener to pay attention, as each of these figures has something to offer and is approaching.
Look over yonder he's already coming your way
The singer again urges the listener to be alert, as someone of interest is already approaching in their direction.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind