His studio albums have become increasingly experimental. While they often feature full arrangements including horns, piano, bass, drums, and back-up singers, he has translated these arrangements on stage to just himself and his guitar without slowing the tempo or sacrificing components of the song. Like the folk-country and Delta blues singers that influence him, he uses his feet, the palm of his left hand, and his voice, to simulate drums and bass behind his vocals and guitar chords. Often Sexton will accentuate his songs by running his vocals through a guitar processor (similar to Peter Frampton), as well as a jazz trumpet-like singing style.
Where Did I Go Wrong
Martin Sexton Lyrics
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Just enough to let in the street light
And the shadows paint lines over everything
In the room
There's my chair by the phone
The coat on the floor
Look like dark horizons that lead to the door
I love you
And since you've been gone
There's nothin' right
Where did I go wrong with you
Where did I go wrong
No more dim Sunday night's dance to that sexy radio show
Our hips locked tight
Your neck sweating glow
All sweet night, we'd cook
Supper slow
And oh by the way
You left your candle babe
Burning down
I'm begging darlin' please
Where did I go wrong with you
Where did I go wrong
Was it something I said or did or didn't do
Was all I had not enough for you
Tell me where did I go wrong with you
All the life we were burning through
What with your memory shall I do
I opened up the deepest of my inside
It was all I had left to give
To you.
Where did I go wrong with you
The song "Where Did I Go Wrong" by Martin Sexton is a poignant and reflective ballad about a failed relationship. The opening lines paint a vivid picture of the singer's surroundings, with the venetian blinds open just enough to let in some street light, casting shadows over everything in the room. The singer is alone with his thoughts, looking at the chair by the phone and the coat on the floor, both of which seem to be pointing to the door, a door that symbolizes the woman who has left him. The mention of an old Christmas candle that she carved the words "I love you" into adds a melancholy touch to the scene.
The chorus, "Where did I go wrong with you, where did I go wrong," is a refrain that echoes throughout the song, underscoring the singer's confusion and pain. He wonders if it was something he said or did or didn't do, and asks if all he had wasn't enough for her. The bridge of the song is a tender moment of introspection, as the singer reflects on the life they shared and the memories that now haunt him. He admits that he opened up the deepest part of himself to her, giving her all that he had, and yet it still wasn't enough to save the relationship.
Overall, the song is a poignant and honest exploration of the pain of lost love and the confusion that often accompanies it. Through vivid imagery and raw emotional honesty, Martin Sexton captures the heartache of a broken relationship and the longing for answers that often follows.
Line by Line Meaning
The venetian blinds are open tonight
The window blinds are slightly open, allowing the street lights to enter.
Just enough to let in the street light
The blinds are open only enough to let the street lights shine into the room.
And the shadows paint lines over everything
The light and shadow from the street light create lines on the objects in the room.
In the room
This describes the setting of the scene - everything that's happening is taking place in the room.
There's my chair by the phone
The artist points out one of the objects in the room.
The coat on the floor
The singer points out another object in the room.
Look like dark horizons that lead to the door
The chair and coat form a shadow that looks like a horizon, leading towards the door of the room.
On that old Christmas candle you carved the words
The artist refers to a candle in the room, which has words carved into it.
I love you
The words carved into the candle are 'I love you.'
And since you've been gone
The lyrics imply that someone (addressed as 'you') has left.
There's nothin' right
The singer feels as if nothing is right anymore.
Where did I go wrong with you
The song's central question, asking where things went wrong in the relationship.
No more dim Sunday night's dance to that sexy radio show
The singer remembers dancing with their partner on dimly lit Sunday nights to a sensual radio show.
Our hips locked tight
The two of them would dance close together.
Your neck sweating glow
The singer describes their partner's appearance during these moments.
All sweet night, we'd cook
The couple would spend sweet nights cooking together.
Supper slow
They would take their time with dinner.
And oh by the way
The singer brings up another topic, almost as an aside.
You left your candle babe
The partner left behind their candle, which was previously mentioned.
Burning down
The candle is still lit and burning.
I'm begging darlin' please
The artist is begging their partner for something, which is likely related to the previous lines about the candle.
Was it something I said or did or didn't do
The artist asks if something they did or didn't do caused the end of the relationship.
Was all I had not enough for you
The singer wonders if the love they gave wasn't enough.
Tell me where did I go wrong with you
The central question is repeated, asking where things went wrong in the relationship.
All the life we were burning through
The singer reflects on the time they spent together, which they describe as 'burning through.'
What with your memory shall I do
The singer is left with memories of their partner and doesn't know what to do with them.
I opened up the deepest of my inside
The singer gave their love and everything they had to their partner.
It was all I had left to give
The artist gave everything they had and nothing is left.
To you.
The song ends with the artist addressing their lost love once more.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Jim Brown, Ali Campbell, Robin Campbell, Earl Falconer, Norman Hassan, Brian Travers, Michael Virtue, Terrence Oswald Wilson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind