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.
Standing on the Outside
Leo Kottke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Seen from far away
Every day that I live for you
All I do or say
Like the song of the whippoorwill
Beneath a cloudy sky
Your love stands in front of me
People talk about how they feel
But I never hear
You know they only want to get along
I only want you near
So standing on the outside loving you
Can't be so terribly bad
It's awful easy to get along
With what you've never had
In "Standing on the Outside", Leo Kottke sings about being in love with someone from a distance. He has been on the outside looking in at this person he loves, observing them from afar. He lives his life every day for this person, and everything he does or says is for them. He compares his love to the whippoorwill's song, a beautiful sound that can be heard from a distance, but remains out of reach. And even though he sees this person's love standing in front of him, he feels like he's floating by, unable to reach them.
Kottke contrasts his own feelings towards this person with those of other people. People talk about how they feel, but he never hears anything genuine from them. He believes that others only want to get along with each other, while he truly wants this person he loves to be near. For him, standing on the outside and loving this person can't be so bad, and it's easier to get along with the idea of what he's never had.
Overall, "Standing on the Outside" is a poignant love song that captures the feeling of being in love with someone from a distance. It highlights the intensity of those feelings and the way they can overshadow everything else in one's life.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been on the outside loving you
I have been in love with you while being away from your presence
Seen from far away
Observing your from a long distance
Every day that I live for you
My life revolves around you each day
All I do or say
Whatever I do or say is always for you
Like the song of the whippoorwill
Similar to the melody of a whippoorwill bird's song
Beneath a cloudy sky
Against a backdrop of cloudy sky
Your love stands in front of me
Your affection always remains ahead of me
While I go floating by
While I stay detached and float away
People talk about how they feel
People often express their emotions
But I never hear
But I rarely pay attention
You know they only want to get along
They only seek approval and conformity
I only want you near
I only desire your closeness
So standing on the outside loving you
Being away from you, yet in love with you
Can't be so terribly bad
It cannot be intolerably painful
It's awful easy to get along
Living without you is surprisingly effortless
With what you've never had
Adjusting to life without what you have never had in the first place
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: LEO KOTTKE, M. KOTTKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Karen
This is the song of my life.
krejdloc
Among my favorite Kottke songs.......... Sad I will never see him play it.
ChasBeauregarde
And suddenly it's 1975 again... Chasing girls in peasant blouses and going to Central Park rock concerts.
~nexus~
L0v4
Love this song!
John LaStrada
Leo was once quoted saying he's not much of a singer. But, on Chewing Pine he sang a few songs -- like "Standing on the Outside" -- that weren't as exciting as say a Bruce Springsteen vocal....but, I thought Leo sang very well. This is one of the Chewing Pine vocals and I have played this one since it was released. I would like more Leo Kottke albums filled with his vocals. "Power Failure" (a cover of a Procol Harum song) and "Don't You Think" are especially good & worth checking out.
nyg1954
his quote was he sounds like geese farts on a muggy day.lol.
papajohnloki
me too.
Emmett Grace
papajohnloki go