The four-time Grammy winner has acted in a number of films and been a guest-star on television. Lovett was married to actress Julia Roberts for a short time in the mid-1990s. In 2002, he was gored by a bull while working on his uncle's farm in Texas, but soon recovered and resumed touring.
Sonja
Lyle Lovett Lyrics
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At picking up women
But this life that I live
Is not one that I choose
She was a waitress
With hair blond and curly
With a pretty black dress
And those Japanese shoes
Cause I'd like to undress her
I need a song about Sonja
When I'm singing tonight
She looked so pretty
As she poured my coffee
But she had her eye
On my friend at the bar
And I watched her watch him
And I watched her thinking
I wish her eye was on me
Man I need to impress her
Cause I'd like to undress her
I need a song about Sonja
When I'm singing tonight
And if I could sing her
A tender love ballad
I'd hope that the audience might sing along
But I can't find the right way
To tell her my feelings
And still make the words rhyme with Sonja
No I've never been lucky
At picking up women
But this life that I live
Is not one that I choose
She was a waitress
Now she's gone forever
And I'm stuck with this song
That I never will use
Man you need to impress her
If you want to undress her
Sing a song about Sonja
When you're singing tonight
Sing a song about Sonja
When you're singing tonight
Lyle Lovett's song Sonja tells the story of a man who feels unlucky in love. He describes himself as someone who is not good at picking up women, but he is captivated by the beauty of Sonja, a blonde and curly haired waitress with a pretty black dress and Japanese shoes. He desires her and wants to impress her because he wants to undress her but he is not quite sure how to do it.
Throughout the song, he watches her as she serves him coffee while she has her eye on his friend at the bar. He wishes her eye was on him instead. He imagines himself singing her a love ballad and hopes the audience would sing along with him. But he struggles to express his feelings in a way that would rhyme with Sonja. He then laments that Sonja is gone forever, leaving him with a song that he will never use.
The song is a poetic portrayal of unrequited love and the frustration of not being able to convey one's feelings. It highlights the struggles of many people who find themselves in love with someone but are unsure of how to express themselves.
Line by Line Meaning
I've never been lucky
I have always struggled with romantic conquests.
At picking up women
I have not been successful in attracting women that I am interested in.
But this life that I live
Despite my romantic struggles, my current lifestyle is one that I did not choose.
Is not one that I choose
I find myself living a life that I did not intentionally seek out.
She was a waitress
The woman in question was a server at the establishment I frequented.
With hair blond and curly
The woman had curly blonde hair which I found attractive.
With a pretty black dress
She was dressed in a fashionable black dress which added to her beauty.
And those Japanese shoes
She wore distinctive footwear which I identified as Japanese in style.
Man I need to impress her
I felt the need to impress this woman I found attractive.
Cause I'd like to undress her
I felt a sexual attraction towards her.
I need a song about Sonja
I wanted to write and perform a song which mentioned the woman by name.
When I'm singing tonight
I planned on performing this song at my next musical gig.
She looked so pretty
I found the woman to be very attractive.
As she poured my coffee
The woman served me coffee, and I found her actions to be alluring.
But she had her eye
She showed a romantic interest in another man at the bar.
On my friend at the bar
The woman was attracted to a man who was a friend of mine, sharing the same physical space as us.
And I watched her watch him
I observed the woman's behavior, noting where her attention was focused.
And I watched her thinking
I considered what this woman was thinking about in terms of romantic interests.
I wish her eye was on me
I desired for the woman to show romantic interest in me instead of my friend.
And if I could sing her
I planned to write and perform a love song specifically for this woman.
A tender love ballad
I wanted to express my romantic and emotional feelings towards her through my songwriting and performance.
I'd hope that the audience might sing along
I wished for my fans and audience members to participate in this romantic expression, making it all the more impactful.
But I can't find the right way
Despite my desires, I am struggling to find the right words and approach to convey my romantic feelings towards her.
To tell her my feelings
I want to confess my love and attraction to this woman.
And still make the words rhyme with Sonja
I have the added challenge of ensuring my song references her by name, while simultaneously finding a word that rhymes with it.
Now she's gone forever
I missed my chance to pursue a romantic relationship with this woman as she is no longer present in my life.
And I'm stuck with this song
Despite my failed attempt at pursuing this woman, I am still left with the romantic song I wrote about her.
That I never will use
Unfortunately, I am unable to perform this song as the opportunity has passed and the woman is no longer in my life.
Man you need to impress her
As a general piece of advice, I suggest to other men the importance of impressing and pursuing the women they find attractive.
If you want to undress her
In order to become intimate with a woman, it is necessary to impress her both emotionally and physically.
Sing a song about Sonja
I suggest to other male musicians to write and perform a romantic song about the women they desire.
When you're singing tonight
This song should be performed during their next musical gig.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LYLE PEARCE LOVETT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind