Slip Away
Mink DeVille Lyrics


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DeVille

In the cold dark of the morning
The shadows come and go,
I pass them on every corner
In the New York winter snow.
In the dreary Sunday daylight
Reality takes shape.
Whose reality,yours or mine ?
No,I'm never ever sure.
No,there's nothing that you can do,
No,there's nothing that you can say.
Can't you hold on little tighter,
While I slowly slip away.
In the dark sky of the evening
Every star looks down on me.
Withess to my passion as I go out on the street.
The moral of my story,the city's hard as bricks.
The wind whips round the corner
While it beats you with its fists.
No,there's nothing that you can do,
No,there's nothing that you can say.
Can't you hold on little tighter,
While I slowly slip away.
No,there's nothing that you can do,
No,there's nothing that you can say.
Can't you hold on little tighter,
While I slowly slip away.
No,there's nothing that you can do,
No,there's nothing that you can say.
Can't you hold on little tighter,
While I slowly slip away.




While I slowly slip away.
While I slowly slip away.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Slip Away" by Mink DeVille paint a vivid picture of the loneliness and isolation that can be experienced in a big city, particularly in the midst of winter. The singer describes passing shadows on every corner as they navigate the cold and dreary cityscape. They question whose reality they are experiencing, indicating a sense of disconnection from the world around them.


As the day turns into night, the singer mentions the stars looking down on them, as if bearing witness to their passion and struggles. The final lines of the song reveal a deep sense of hopelessness, with the singer acknowledging that there is nothing anyone can do or say to stop them from slipping away. The repetition of the line "Can't you hold on little tighter" adds to the sense of desperation and the need for connection, but ultimately it seems as though the singer is too far gone to be saved.


Overall, "Slip Away" is a poignant exploration of the emotional toll that can be exacted by living in a harsh, unforgiving environment. The lyrics capture a sense of alienation that will be familiar to anyone who has experienced the anonymity of city life, particularly in the context of winter weather.


Fact 1: "Slip Away" was released on Mink DeVille's third studio album, "Le Chat Bleu," in 1980.
Fact 2: The album was produced by Jack Nitzsche, who had previously worked with artists like Neil Young and the Rolling Stones.
Fact 3: "Le Chat Bleu" received mixed reviews upon its release, but has since been regarded as one of DeVille's best works.
Fact 4: DeVille was known for blending elements of punk rock, soul, and R&B in his music - an approach that set him apart from many of his contemporaries.
Fact 5: DeVille, whose real name was William Borroughs, died in 2009 at the age of 58.
Fact 6: He was known for collaboratings with artists like Mark Knopfler and Brenda Lee.
Fact 7: While Mink DeVille never achieved massive commercial success, they had a devoted following and influenced a range of artists in the punk and new wave scenes.
Fact 8: "Slip Away" was covered by Bonnie Raitt on her album "Sweet Forgiveness" in 1977.
Fact 9: The song has also been covered by artists like Kate Taylor and Ian Hunter.
Fact 10: "Slip Away" was featured in an episode of the TV show "Californication" in 2009.


Chords: Unfortunately, the chords for "Slip Away" by Mink DeVille are not available as the artist has never released them.


Line by Line Meaning

In the cold dark of the morning
The start of a dark and difficult day


The shadows come and go,
Uncertainty and instability


I pass them on every corner
The constant presence of fear and doubt


In the New York winter snow.
Struggling through a cold and harsh environment


In the dreary Sunday daylight
The bleakness of a day that should be peaceful


Reality takes shape.
Confronting the harshness of the world


Whose reality,yours or mine ?
The subjective nature of reality


No,I'm never ever sure.
The constant uncertainty and doubt


No,there's nothing that you can do,
Feeling helpless in the face of adversity


No,there's nothing that you can say.
Feeling powerless to change the situation


Can't you hold on little tighter,
Asking for support and love during hard times


While I slowly slip away.
Slowly losing one's grip on reality or sanity


In the dark sky of the evening
The darkness and hopelessness of nightfall


Every star looks down on me.
Feeling small and insignificant in the universe


Withess to my passion as I go out on the street.
Feeling intense emotions in the midst of chaos


The moral of my story,the city's hard as bricks.
The harshness and cruelty of urban life


The wind whips round the corner
The hostile environment outside


While it beats you with its fists.
Symbolic portrayal of the trials and hardships of life


Can't you hold on little tighter,
Reaching out for support and comfort


While I slowly slip away.
Losing control and slipping further into despair


While I slowly slip away.
Repeating the plea for help and understanding


While I slowly slip away.
A haunting reminder of the inevitability of despair




Contributed by Mila M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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