A singer/songwriter, producer, and occasional actor, Cole's music is generally laden with warm pop hooks, acoustic guitar, and smart, insightful lyrics.
From his earlier pop outings, Cole's work matured into what could best be termed "heartland pop" -- aimed squarely at observations on love, loss, success, failure, pain, and joy, all from a decidedly blue-collar, middle-American perspective.
Stranger To Myself
Jude Cole Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My heart pounding
Up the stairwell it's
Dark and dingy
I can feel the cold sweat
On my fingertips
What is this power you have over me
And your red dress
In the afternoon
The sun shines on Temple Street
And all the Mexicans
Smile freedom
But you're not like them
You got a heart of black ink
And...
Since I met you I'm a stranger to myself
Since I met you I'm a stranger to my
A stranger to myself
There's so many women
Walkin' beautiful
With L.A. dreams
And eyes big as basketballs
But you've got a cold look
That could paint them silly
And I don't care if it's good or evil
Since I met you I'm a stranger to myself
Since I met you I'm a stranger to my
A stranger to myself
I can hear your footsteps on the floor
Devil or angel come and let me through your door
Since I met you I'm a stranger to myself
Since I met you I'm a stranger to myself
Since I met you I'm a stranger to myself
Since I met you I'm a stranger to my
A stranger to myself
In Jude Cole's "Stranger to Myself," the singer is describing a tumultuous relationship with a woman who has a powerful hold over him. It is as if she has made him a stranger to himself, as he feels like a completely different person since he has met her. The song begins with the singer describing his quivering fear as he sneaks up to her room, hinting that their relationship may be forbidden or dangerous in some way. He notes the physical symptoms of his unease, such as cold sweats on his fingertips, suggesting that the connection between them has a physical as well as emotional impact.
As the song goes on, the singer describes the woman's striking appearance - her black eyes, her red dress against the Mexican sun. He notes that she is not like the other women he sees around him with their "L.A. dreams." Despite her coldness, there is something about her that he cannot resist, and he doesn't care whether that is good or evil. By the chorus, the singer is resigned to the fact that this woman has changed him - he is a stranger to himself since he met her. The repeated phrases give the song a sense of an endless cycle, as the singer is trapped in this relationship that is simultaneously thrilling and terrifying.
Overall, "Stranger to Myself" is a song about the transformative power of relationships and the way that they can change us, for better or for worse. The singer is aware of his own lack of control in the situation, which makes it all the more compelling.
Line by Line Meaning
Through the back door
I am sneaking in quietly through the back door
My heart pounding
My heart is beating fast and loud
Up the stairwell it's
Dark and dingy
The stairs are poorly lit and don't look well-maintained
I can feel the cold sweat
On my fingertips
I am so nervous that I am sweating even though it's cold, and I can feel it on my fingertips
What is this power you have over me
I am at your mercy and I don't understand how you have such a hold over me
You with your black eyes
And your red dress
You have black eyes and you're wearing a red dress
In the afternoon
The sun shines on Temple Street
And all the Mexicans
Smile freedom
In the afternoon, the sun is shining on Temple Street and the Mexican people are smiling and enjoying their freedom
But you're not like them
You got a heart of black ink
You are different from the happy Mexicans, you have a heart that is full of darkness
And...
Continuation of the previous line
Since I met you I'm a stranger to myself
Since I met you I'm a stranger to my
A stranger to myself
Ever since I met you, I feel like I don't even know who I am anymore. I am a stranger to myself because of you.
There's so many women
Walkin' beautiful
With L.A. dreams
And eyes big as basketballs
There are so many beautiful women in L.A. with big dreams and big eyes
But you've got a cold look
That could paint them silly
You have an icy, dismissive demeanor that could knock those other women down a peg
And I don't care if it's good or evil
I am so caught up in my feelings for you that I don't care whether my actions are right or wrong
I can hear your footsteps on the floor
Devil or angel come and let me through your door
I can hear you walking and I am ready to come to you, whether you are good or bad, because of how you make me feel
Since I met you I'm a stranger to myself
Since I met you I'm a stranger to myself
Since I met you I'm a stranger to myself
Since I met you I'm a stranger to my
A stranger to myself
Reiteration of the chorus - I am completely different now that I have met you, and I am a stranger even to myself because of it.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DAVID MICHAEL TYSON, JUDE ANTHONY COLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind