Kitty
Joan Baez Bill Wood & Ted Alevizos Lyrics
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Out in the wide world Kitty, far across the sea.
My Kitty sailed a way from me, to strange and distant lands,
And when I asked a goodbye kiss, she said "Oh no shake hands".
Out in the wide world Kitty, pretty Kitty.
Out in the wide world Kitty, far across the sea.
When Kitty left she said she'd write, He promised her the same.
But his address somehow got lost, and she forgot his name.
Out in the wide world Kitty, pretty Kitty.
Out in the wide world Kitty, far across the sea.
The song "Kitty" by Joan Baez and Bill Wood tells the story of a woman named Kitty who sails away to distant lands, leaving her lover behind. The lyrics reflect the sense of loss and longing that the lover feels as he watches her leave. He asks for a goodbye kiss, but she refuses, a clear sign that their relationship has come to an end. The chorus repeats the phrase "out in the wide world Kitty, pretty Kitty, far across the sea" which highlights the physical distance between them and reinforces the idea that she is now out of reach.
The second verse reveals that Kitty and her lover had made promises to stay in touch but that those promises were not kept. The lover never received a letter from Kitty, and she forgot his name, highlighting the idea that the distance between them is both physical and emotional. The song speaks to the universal feeling of loss and loneliness that many people can relate to. The lack of a happy ending in the song adds to its poignancy, as the listener is left to imagine the fate of Kitty and her former lover.
Line by Line Meaning
Out in the wide world Kitty, pretty Kitty.
Kitty is out in the expansive world, and the singer acknowledges her beauty.
Out in the wide world Kitty, far across the sea.
Kitty is far away from the singer and the sea separates them.
My Kitty sailed a way from me, to strange and distant lands,
Kitty went to foreign and faraway places, leaving the singer behind.
And when I asked a goodbye kiss, she said "Oh no shake hands".
The artist wanted a farewell kiss from Kitty, but she declined and offered a handshake instead.
When Kitty left she said she'd write, He promised her the same.
Before leaving, Kitty promised to write to the artist, and in return, the artist promised the same.
But his address somehow got lost, and she forgot his name.
For some reason, Kitty lost the singer's address and even forgot their name.
Out in the wide world Kitty, pretty Kitty.
The singer muses on Kitty's beauty and distance once more.
Out in the wide world Kitty, far across the sea.
The separation between Kitty and the artist is reemphasized.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Andrew Ranken, Cait O'riordan, James Fearnley, Jeremy Finer, Peter Stacey, Shane Mac-Gowan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rebecca Lynn
This is a very important album and one that was played very often in my home. Wonderful that you have posted this so I can share it.