Toes
Lee Alexander/Norah Jones Lyrics
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I'll whisk you down the stream
But I never seem to have the time
So my toes just touch the water
So my toes just touch the water
Daydreamed on the bank again
I was swimming with the fish
But my toes just touched the water [Repeat: x3]
Walked a mile just to find the edge
Some place low enough
to step right in
Now I'm here and I can't begin
to move
Walked a mile just to find the edge
Some place low enough
to step right in
Now I'm here and I can't begin
to move
That spoiled sun up over there
Always has to have its way
And I know that the river's there to shelter me
But my toes just touched the water [Repeat: x3]
The song "Toes" by Lee Alexander and Norah Jones talks about wanting to dive into the river and let the current take them away, but at the same time, feeling hesitant and not having the time to do so. The current is described as strong, which gives the impression of something that could be all-consuming, and the singer seems to be aware of the danger that it poses, hence just dipping their toes into the water. Daydreaming about swimming with the fish, the singer wishes to dive in but has limitations holding them back. As the song progresses, they explore these limitations, like walking a mile to find a low edge to step into the water but finding themselves not moving.
One interesting interpretation of "Toes" is that it is a metaphor for taking risks in life. The river represents the unknown, and the current represents the risks that come with stepping into the unknown. The hesitancy of the singer to dive in and let the current take them reflects the hesitation that many people feel when it comes to taking risks in their lives, whether it be in their careers or relationships. The singer acknowledges that the river is there to shelter them, reminding us that we often have support available to us but that we sometimes need to take a leap of faith to access it.
Line by Line Meaning
The current is strong from what I've heard
I have heard that the water around here is quite fast-moving.
I'll whisk you down the stream
I can take you along with me down the river.
But I never seem to have the time
I always seem to be busy and never have enough time to do things leisurely.
So my toes just touch the water
I can only manage to put my toes into the water and not go in completely.
Daydreamed on the bank again
I found myself lost in thought while sitting by the river.
I was swimming with the fish
In my daydream, I imagined myself swimming among the fish in the river.
And I thought this time that it may be true
I had a feeling that what I was dreaming could possibly come true.
But my toes just touched the water [Repeat: x3]
Unfortunately, all I could manage was to put my toes into the water and not actually go in completely.
Walked a mile just to find the edge
I had to walk quite a distance in order to find a spot where the river was accessible.
Some place low enough to step right in
I was hoping to find a spot where the river was shallow enough for me to easily step into.
Now I'm here and I can't begin to move
Now that I have found a spot to go in, I can't seem to motivate myself to do so.
That spoiled sun up over there
The sun is quite bright and hot, making it difficult to bear.
Always has to have its way
It always shines no matter what and we have to deal with the heat it brings.
And I know that the river's there to shelter me
Even though the sun is strong, I can rely on the river to provide me with some relief and protection.
But my toes just touched the water [Repeat: x3]
Despite knowing that the river can help, all I could do was put my toes into the water and not go in fully.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LEE ALEXANDER, NORAH JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind