Baltimore
Lyle Lovett Lyrics

I know I've seen this place before
The singer has a feeling of déjà vu about his surroundings.

Lord can't you hear me screaming
The singer is distressed and feels that his prayers are not being heard.

As a young man long ago
The singer is reminiscing about his past.

When I was twenty-one
The artist is remembering a specific time in his life.

And I know I've seen this house before
The artist recognizes a familiar house.

With people all around it
The house is full of people.

With my baby cousin on the floor
The singer sees a specific family member in the house.

And Mama in the kitchen
The artist remembers his mother in the kitchen.

And a woman lies upon the bed
There is a woman on the bed in the house.

I think she must be dying
The artist believes the woman is close to death.

And I recall the words she said
The singer remembers what the woman said to him.

As she began to cry
The woman was emotional when she said these words.

She begged son please don't go to Baltimore
The woman pleaded with the singer not to go to Baltimore.

And leave me where I'm lying
The woman did not want to be left alone.

For you will son but I no more
The woman knew she would die soon.

Walk among the living
The woman did not want the artist to continue living while she was dying.

And if you go to Baltimore
The woman warned the artist about going to Baltimore.

Then I'll see you in heaven
The woman believed she would see the singer in heaven if he went to Baltimore.

And as you breathe I'll breathe no more
The woman knew she would die if the singer went to Baltimore.

And I will surely die
The woman was certain of her impending death.

Well you know I went to Baltimore
The artist ignored the woman's warning and went to Baltimore.

So confident and wise
The artist was sure of himself and his decision to go to Baltimore.

And as I breathed she breathed no more
The woman died while the singer was away in Baltimore.

And she did surely die
The woman passed away.

And now as I lie upon my bed
The singer is thinking about the present moment.

I pray I must be dreaming
The singer hopes that what he is experiencing is not real.

With faces all around my head
The singer feels overwhelmed by the people around him.

And strangers at my door
There are unknown people outside the artist's door.

And a woman's voice calls out to me
The artist hears a woman's voice.

Bring unto you your children
The woman is telling the singer to bring his children to see him.

And let them see these things you see
The woman wants the singer's children to understand what he is going through.

And hear the words you say
The woman wants the artist's children to hear what he has to say.

Beg them to go to Baltimore
The woman wants the artist's children to go to Baltimore.

And leave you where you're lying
The woman wants the artist's children to abandon him.

Just like you did one time before
The woman reminds the singer of his own actions in the past.

When you were twenty-one
The woman is referring to a specific time in the artist's life.

And if they go to Baltimore
The woman promises to see the singer in heaven if his children go to Baltimore.

Then I'll see you in heaven
The woman believes she will be reunited with the singer in heaven if his children go to Baltimore.

And as they breathe you'll breathe no more
The woman is implying that the singer will die if his children go to Baltimore.

And you will surely die
The artist will die if his children go to Baltimore.

And what makes the sun set in the west
The artist is questioning the nature of the world around him.

And birds fly in the sky
The singer is pondering the mysteries of nature.

And what makes a woman beat her breast
The singer questions why women grieve in this way.

When her children start to cry
The woman is crying because of her children.

And what makes those little ones grow old
The artist is wondering about the process of aging.

To find eternity
The artist is questioning the concept of eternal life.

And what takes the wise
The singer is questioning why intelligent people die.

And leaves behind
Death leaves some people behind.

A foolish one like me
The singer considers himself foolish for not heeding the woman's warning about Baltimore.