Focusing primarily on instrumental composition and playing, Kottke also sings sporadically, in an unconventional yet expressive baritone described by himself as sounding like "geese farts on a muggy day".[1] In concert, Kottke intersperses humorous and often bizarre monologues with vocal and instrumental selections from throughout his career, played solo on 6- and 12-string guitars.
Don't You Think
Leo Kottke Lyrics
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by Marty Robbins
Copyright 1973 Mariposa Music/Bmi
recorded by Leo Kottke on:
1975 "Chewing Pine" (Capitol)
She's been gone away too long
In fact eight weeks tonight
Don't you think I've got a right to cry
She didn't say good-bye
Oh don't you think I got a right to cry
Loving her gives me the right to miss her
Like I do
And it gives me the right to be
As blue as I want to
I don't want too much of this
My heart is about to die
Oh don't you think I've go a right to cry
She walked off and left me
With a great big bunch of hurt
And don't you know she walked on me
Like I was so much dirt
What a lousy way to thank me
After how I tried
Oh don't you think I got a right to cry
The lyrics to Leo Kottke's song "Don't You Think", originally written and recorded by Marty Robbins, express a deep sense of sadness and loss. The song tells the story of a man who has been separated from his lover for eight weeks, and is experiencing a profound loneliness and pain. The repetition of the line "don't you think I've got a right to cry" highlights the singer's sense of injustice and frustration, as though he is asking for permission to express his emotions.
There is a sense that the singer has been wronged in some way, as his lover "just walked right out the door" without even saying goodbye. He feels that his love gives him the right to miss her and to feel as blue as he wants to, emphasizing the intensity of his emotions. The line "my heart is about to die" is particularly powerful, conveying the physical and emotional toll that the separation has taken on the singer.
There is a clear sense of bitterness and hurt in the lyrics, as the singer reflects on how he has been treated. He describes himself as being left with a "great big bunch of hurt", and suggests that his lover has treated him with disrespect and ingratitude. The final line, "what a lousy way to thank me", suggests that the singer feels unappreciated and undervalued, even though he has done his best to love and support his partner.
All in all, the lyrics to "Don't You Think" are a poignant exploration of the pain of separation and the complex emotions that can arise from a relationship breakdown. Through his powerful words, Leo Kottke expresses the raw emotions of heartbreak and loss in a way that is both honest and relatable.
Line by Line Meaning
She's been gone away too long
It's been quite some time since she left.
In fact eight weeks tonight
Eight weeks have passed by since she left tonight.
Don't you think I've got a right to cry
Isn't it reasonable for me to cry in this situation?
She just walked right out the door
She left without any goodbyes or explanations.
She didn't say good-bye
She left without bidding farewell.
Loving her gives me the right to miss her
My love for her entitles me to feel her absence.
And it gives me the right to be
I am allowed to feel
As blue as I want to
As sad as I feel.
I don't want too much of this
I don't want to be sadder than I already am.
My heart is about to die
I feel like my heart is breaking.
She walked off and left me
She left without any regrets.
With a great big bunch of hurt
I feel a tremendous amount of pain.
And don't you know she walked on me
She didn't care enough about me to treat me better than she did.
Like I was so much dirt
She treated me as though I was worthless.
What a lousy way to thank me
After everything I have done for her, this is how she treats me?
After how I tried
Despite my efforts.
Oh don't you think I got a right to cry
Isn't it reasonable for me to be emotional at this moment?
Contributed by Nora H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.