Damn Shame
Jolie Holland Lyrics
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I laid up in my mind
I looked for me a love
The best one I could find
He got himself a ticket
On an international flight
Oh it’s nothing
Is what it is
Oh it’s nothing
But a goddamn shame
The smell of burnt exhaust
Drifts into the *BART*
It’s midnight in California
It’s high noon where you are
Motorcycles and booze
Dirty old perfume
Oh it’s nothing
But a goddamn shame
Is what it is
Oh it’s nothing
But a goddamn shame
I tried to go to sleep
In my haunted little room
The shadows are churning
In the passage of the moon
It’d break my heart to tell you
I couldn’t come so soon
Oh it’s nothing
But a goddamn shame
Is what it is
Oh, it’s nothing
But a goddamn shame
Tell me one more time
Why you went away
It makes a little sense
In the light of day
When evening comes around
All my senses fly away
It’s nothing
But a goddamn shame
Is what it is
Oh it’s nothing
But a goddamn shame
Jolie Holland's song "Damn Shame" is a melancholic meditation on the pains of longing for love and the frustration that comes with unrequited love. The song opens with the singer confessing that she has secluded herself on the front porch, trying to find love, and looking for the "best one" she could find. However, the person she has fallen for has left on an international flight, leaving the singer alone with only her thoughts and emotions.
As the song progresses, the singer describes the feeling of being left behind, comparing the bustling activity of California at midnight with the stillness and loneliness she feels without her lover. The smell of burnt exhaust, the sound of motorcycles and booze, and even the memories of "dirty old perfume" serve as painful reminders of what she's missing.
The song's chorus repeats the phrase "it's nothing but a goddamn shame" four times, underscoring the futility of love and the disappointment of unfulfilled promises. The final verse acknowledges the difficulty of moving on, as it can feel like all the senses "fly away" when evening comes.
Overall, "Damn Shame" is a song that encapsulates the feeling of heartbreak and the struggle to come to terms with the end of a relationship. The use of vivid imagery throughout the song helps to paint a picture of loneliness and despair that is both relatable and poignant.
Line by Line Meaning
I hid out on the front porch
I secluded myself on the porch in order to escape the world
I laid up in my mind
I spent time reflecting in my thoughts
I looked for me a love
I searched for a romantic partner who would truly love me
The best one I could find
The ideal partner that I searched for
He got himself a ticket
He bought a ticket for a trip
On an international flight
He took a flight to another country
The smell of burnt exhaust
The scent of burned fuel
Drifts into the *BART*
Fades into the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) system
It’s midnight in California
At this moment, it is twelve o'clock at night in California
It’s high noon where you are
It is exactly twelve o'clock in the afternoon where you are
Motorcycles and booze
Motorbikes and alcohol
Dirty old perfume
Unpleasant, musty fragrance
I tried to go to sleep
I attempted to fall asleep
In my haunted little room
In my eerie, unsettling chamber
The shadows are churning
The dim shapes flicker and stir
In the passage of the moon
As the moon travels through the sky
It’d break my heart to tell you
It would pain me to admit to you
I couldn’t come so soon
I was unable to climax quickly during sex
Tell me one more time
Explain once again to me
Why you went away
Why did you leave?
It makes a little sense
I slightly understand now
In the light of day
In the clear, rational thinking of day
When evening comes around
At nightfall
All my senses fly away
I become overwhelmed and lose my senses
It’s nothing
It is of no importance
But a goddamn shame
It is a regrettable situation
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JOLIE R HOLLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@DylanBoyce
I hid out on the front porch
I laid up in my mind
I looked for me a love
The best one I could find
He got himself a ticket
On an international flight
Oh it’s nothing
But a goddamn shame
Is what it is
Oh it’s nothing
But a goddamn shame
The smell of burnt exhaust
Drifts into the BART
It’s midnight in California
It’s high noon where you are
Motorcycles and booze
Dirty old perfume
Oh it’s nothing
But a goddamn shame
Is what it is
Oh it’s nothing
But a goddamn shame
I tried to go to sleep
In my haunted little room
The shadows are churning
In the passage of the moon
It’d break my heart to tell you
I couldn’t come so soon
Oh it’s nothing
But a goddamn shame
Is what it is
Oh, it’s nothing
But a goddamn shame
Tell me one more time
Why you went away
It makes a little sense
In the light of day
When evening comes around
All my senses fly away
It’s nothing
But a goddamn shame
Is what it is
Oh it’s nothing
But a goddamn shame
@eddyherier
Her voice is so expressive, it is a great emotion to listen her.
@loftusjones370
The first time I heard this was one of the most powerfully impactful musical events in my life. She is an artist and an angel.
@TheSamHumenik
I saw her on "
@TheSamHumenik
I saw her on "Austin City Limits" when the album came out.
@bryanpaulparimonroy6238
Tantos recuerdos, amo esta canción!
@Des-hz1su
Oh I love this song
@m..o.mt.3235
Happy 2022.
@bryanpaulparimonroy6238
¡amo tu musica!
@DylanBoyce
I hid out on the front porch
I laid up in my mind
I looked for me a love
The best one I could find
He got himself a ticket
On an international flight
Oh it’s nothing
But a goddamn shame
Is what it is
Oh it’s nothing
But a goddamn shame
The smell of burnt exhaust
Drifts into the BART
It’s midnight in California
It’s high noon where you are
Motorcycles and booze
Dirty old perfume
Oh it’s nothing
But a goddamn shame
Is what it is
Oh it’s nothing
But a goddamn shame
I tried to go to sleep
In my haunted little room
The shadows are churning
In the passage of the moon
It’d break my heart to tell you
I couldn’t come so soon
Oh it’s nothing
But a goddamn shame
Is what it is
Oh, it’s nothing
But a goddamn shame
Tell me one more time
Why you went away
It makes a little sense
In the light of day
When evening comes around
All my senses fly away
It’s nothing
But a goddamn shame
Is what it is
Oh it’s nothing
But a goddamn shame
@rucksacks
*bar