Flowers on the Wall
Lew DeWitt Lyrics
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But all that thought you've given me is, conscience I guess
If I were walkin' in your shoes, I wouldn't worry none
While you and your friends are worryin'bout me, I'm havin'lots of fun
Countin' flowers on the wall, that don't bother me at all
Playin' solitaire 'til dawn, with a deck of fifty-one
Smokin' cigarettes and watchin' Captain Kangaroo
Now don't tell me
Last night I dressed in tails, pretended I was on the town
As long as I can dream it's hard to slow this swinger down
So please don't give a thought to me, I'm really doin' fine
You can always find me here and havin' quite a time
Countin' flowers on the wall, that don't bother me at all
Playin' solitaire 'til dawn, with a deck of fifty-one
Smokin' cigarettes and watchin' Captain Kangaroo
Now don't tell me
I've nothin' to do
It's good to see you, I must go, I know I look a fright
Anyway, my eyes are not accustomed to this light
And my shoes are not accustomed to this hard concrete
So I must go back to my room and make my day complete
Countin' flowers on the wall, that don't bother me at all
Playin' solitaire 'til dawn, with a deck of fifty-one
Smokin' cigarettes and watchin' Captain Kangaroo
Now don't tell me
I've nothin' to do
Now don't tell me
I've nothin' to do
Lew DeWitt's song "Flowers on the Wall" is a poignant song that speaks to the issue of depression and loneliness. The lyrics of this song convey the singer's sense of detachment from the world around him and his inability to connect with others. The singer suggests that he has been given much thought and advice from others about his happiness, but he seems to be rebuffing their concerns. He suggests that if others were in his shoes, they wouldn't worry about him, as he is keeping himself busy with simple activities. He counts flowers on the wall, plays solitaire all night, smokes cigarettes, and watches Captain Kangaroo all day instead of giving in to his concerns. The singer pretends to be on his way out, but he still feels lost, disconnected, and detached.
The chorus of this song is repeated several times throughout the song, indicating a sense of repetition that is often associated with depression. Ironically, the joy in the tune masks the true sadness behind the lyrics. The contrast is created by the upbeat tempo and the singer's seeming admission that he is content with his isolation. This serves to reinforce the depth of loneliness that depression can create.
Overall, "Flowers on the Wall" speaks to the complexity of depression and its ability to make us feel disconnected from the world around us. It reveals the importance of compassion and understanding when dealing with people who may be struggling with these issues.
Line by Line Meaning
I keep hearin' your concern about my happiness
I know you worry about me being happy
But all that thought you've given me is, conscience I guess
Your concern doesn't affect me as much as you think
If I were walkin' in your shoes, I wouldn't worry none
If I were in your situation, I wouldn't worry about me
While you and your friends are worryin'bout me, I'm havin'lots of fun
While you're worried about me, I'm having fun
Countin' flowers on the wall, that don't bother me at all
I'm doing something mundane like counting flowers, but it doesn't bother me
Playin' solitaire 'til dawn, with a deck of fifty-one
I'm playing solitaire for a long time with a deck that's missing one card
Smokin' cigarettes and watchin' Captain Kangaroo
I'm smoking and watching a children's TV show
Now don't tell me
I've nothin' to do
I'm telling you that I'm not bored or lacking things to do
Last night I dressed in tails, pretended I was on the town
I dressed up and pretended to be out and about
As long as I can dream it's hard to slow this swinger down
As long as I can dream, I'm not going to stop enjoying life
So please don't give a thought to me, I'm really doin' fine
Don't worry about me, I'm doing well
You can always find me here and havin' quite a time
I'm always here and having a good time
It's good to see you, I must go, I know I look a fright
It's nice to see you, but I have to go even though I don't look great
Anyway, my eyes are not accustomed to this light
I'm not used to the lighting here
And my shoes are not accustomed to this hard concrete
The concrete here is hard on my feet
So I must go back to my room and make my day complete
I have to go back to my room to finish off my day
Now don't tell me
I've nothin' to do
Again, I'm telling you that I'm not bored or lacking things to do
Writer(s): Lewis Dewitt
Contributed by Brooklyn D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.