Valerie
Linda Ronstadt; Emmylou Harris Lyrics
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Like fire breathing dragons against the sky
And from their throats a scarlet river
Burns itself into smoky lullabies
Over neon and fluorescent skies
Valerie can you hear those engines drone
I wanted to go to Mexico
And once I knew a true love
It's been three years since he's gone
And if I could get that feeling back
I'd give up everything I own
Sixteen days since I left Corona
And I traveled to this carnival town near Alberndeel
And I rode the coaster there on the fairground
Twisted backbone of a beast that never heals
And I left some skin on fortune's wheel
Valerie can you hear those engines drone
I wanted to go to Mexico
But I'm stranded here alone
And once I knew a true love
It's been three years since he's gone
And if I could get that feeling back
I'd give up everything I own
Everything's in slow motion now
In this little border town
I've come so close from so far
Just to hide behind these windows here
From the world outside
I watch those cars and trucks raise trails of dust
Down the road as they pass by
Valerie can you hear those engines drone
I wanted to go to Mexico
But I'm stranded here alone
And once I knew a true love
It's been three years since he's gone
And if I could get that feeling back
I'd give up everything I own
Everything I own
The lyrics to "Valerie" by Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris tell a story of a woman named Valerie who is in a border town, feeling trapped and disconnected from the world outside. She's surrounded by factories that look like mythical beasts breathing fire, and from them come scarlet rivers that weave themselves into smoky lullabies over pulsating neon and fluorescent lights. The singer, who is stranded in this town and yearning for escape, asks Valerie if she can hear the engines' drone, a reminder of the freedom and possibility she craves.
The song reflects a sense of restlessness and longing for something more, which is a common theme in American mythology. The singer reminisces about a true love that she had three years ago, and how she would give up everything she owns to get that feeling back. She left her hometown of Corona 16 days ago, hoping to find herself in a carnival town near Alberndeel. She rides the coaster there on the fairground, but it's like a twisted backbone of a beast that never heals. She leaves skin on fortune's wheel, as if taking risks and gambling with life, only to lose something vital in the process.
Everything's in slow motion now in this little border town. The singer hides behind windows and watches cars and trucks trail dust down the road as they pass by. She's come so close from so far, but she's still far away from where she wants to be. "Valerie" is a song about longing, love, and the desire for a better life. The lyrics suggest that the only way to find happiness may be to leave behind everything that's holding us back.
Line by Line Meaning
To the east the factories stand
In the east, there are factories that are standing tall
Like fire-breathing dragons against the sky
The factories look like breathing dragons that have come to life
And from their throats a scarlet river
The chimneys of the factories emit red smoke resembling a river
Burns itself into smoky lullabies
The smoke from the factories creates songs of smoke that put people to sleep
Over neon and fluorescent skies
The skies above the factories are illuminated with bright neon and fluorescent lights
Valerie can you hear those engines drone
Valerie, do you hear the sounds of the factory engines?
I wanted to go to Mexico
I wanted to travel to Mexico
But I'm stranded here alone
However, I am stuck here all by myself
And once I knew a true love
I used to have a real and honest love
It's been three years since he's gone
It has been three years since he left me
And if I could get that feeling back
If only I could feel that same love again
I'd give up everything I own
I would trade away everything that I possess
Sixteen days since I left Corona
It has been sixteen days since I departed from Corona
And I traveled to this carnival town near Alberndeel
I moved to a town near Alberndeel, which has a carnival atmosphere
And I rode the coaster there on the fairground
I went on a roller coaster ride at the local fairgrounds
Twisted backbone of a beast that never heals
The roller coaster, which is like a wounded animal, has an everlasting wounded spine
And I left some skin on fortune's wheel
I took a gamble in life and, as a result, ended up hurt
Everything's in slow motion now
Everything seems to be happening at a sluggish pace at the moment
In this little border town
This small town by the border
I've come so close from so far
I have come very close after traveling a great distance
Just to hide behind these windows here
But all I can do now is to hide behind these windows
From the world outside
Away from the outer world
I watch those cars and trucks raise trails of dust
I observe the cars and trucks raising clouds of dust as they pass by
Down the road as they pass by
Passing by on the road
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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