1991
Michelle Moonshine Lyrics

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I live on the back of highway 89
Trying to find something to occupy my time
I drive around in circles til' the break of dawn
Trying to convince myself that you aren't still gone

All those nights, whiskey on ice
Records playing til' we'd see the morning light
You'd put your arms around me like a circle round the sun

And tell me what it was like in 1991

And where are you tonight
Don't tell me that it's over
Well hold me now
Cause tonight I'm much too sober

Calls they just faded out, your face I cannot see
I wonder if you ever stop and do you think of me
Time keeps on moving head but I'm always steps behind
Whiskey on my breath and you on my mind

And where are you tonight
Don't tell me that it's over
Well hold me now
Cause tonight I'm much too sober

I live on the back of highway 89
Trying to find something to occupy my time

I drive around in circles til' the break of dawn
Trying to convince myself that you aren't still gone

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Michelle Moonshine's song "1991" convey a sense of loss and longing for a past love. The opening lines set the scene with the singer situated on the back of highway 89, aimlessly driving around, searching for something to occupy their time. It becomes apparent that this driving is a coping mechanism, an attempt to avoid dealing with the pain of their former lover's absence. The singer tries to convince themselves that their former love isn't still gone, but it's clear they're struggling to move on.

The second verse takes the listener back to memories of better times, when the singer and their lover would listen to records and spend the night in each other's arms. The metaphor of the circle around the sun is particularly poignant, as it seems to symbolize the all-encompassing love they once shared. The chorus repeats the refrain of "where are you tonight/don't tell me that it's over/well hold me now/cause tonight I'm much too sober," emphasizing the singer's desperation for their former love's return.

The bridge brings the listener back to the present, with the realization that time marches on while they remain stuck in their sorrow. The whiskey on their breath is a literal and metaphorical reminder of their attempts to numb the pain of their loss. The final repetition of the chorus serves as a coda, reinforcing the singer's sense of isolation and yearning for their former love.

Overall, "1991" is a powerful meditation on the lasting impacts of lost love and a testament to Moonshine's skill as a songwriter.

Line by Line Meaning

I live on the back of highway 89
I'm stuck in this lonely place, feeling isolated from the rest of the world.

Trying to find something to occupy my time
I'm doing everything I can to distract myself from the pain of your absence.

I drive around in circles til' the break of dawn
I'm lost and don't know where to go, so I keep driving in hope of finding some clarity or answers.

Trying to convince myself that you aren't still gone
I struggle with accepting the reality that you've left me, so I try to convince myself that you might still come back to me.

All those nights, whiskey on ice
I drowned my sorrows in alcohol to cope with the pain of losing you.

Records playing til' we'd see the morning light
We stayed up all night listening to music, trying to forget the world outside and live in the moment.

You'd put your arms around me like a circle round the sun
Being with you made me feel complete and everything else revolved around us, like the world revolved around the sun.

And tell me what it was like in 1991
You reminisced about the past and the time before the pain and heartache.

And where are you tonight
I wonder where you are and what you're doing. Do you ever think about me?

Don't tell me that it's over
I'm not ready to accept that it's really over between us.

Well hold me now
I just need to feel your warmth and comfort while I'm hurting.

Cause tonight I'm much too sober
I'm feeling everything too raw and too real, and need to escape into something else to numb the pain.

Calls they just faded out, your face I cannot see
We used to talk all the time, but now our conversations have become fewer and further between, and I miss seeing your face.

I wonder if you ever stop and do you think of me
Am I the only one holding on, or do you still think of me too?

Time keeps on moving head but I'm always steps behind
Life goes on but I'm still stuck in the past, unable to move on from you.

Whiskey on my breath and you on my mind
Even when I try to forget you, you're always at the forefront of my thoughts.

Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Michelle Gomez

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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