Shame
Neil Diamond Lyrics


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(Check it out
I'm a little man
But you're my woman
And together we'll be strong)

The end of the road, is lonesome and cold
Ain't no place for making a stand
I got too much of you on my mind
Too much time on my hands

Some people say there just ain't no way
We can hold on and see this thing through
I don't care what they say
They never loved one like you

Shame, it comes in every size
Touches many lives
Knocks on many doors
Shame, I've seen it in your eyes
Hurt you with their lies
But words don't count at all
Because I don't care what they say
There ain't no shame in loving you

I remember the day that I drove you away
Lord that whistle gave a lonesome moan
The train that took you away
Is gonna bring you back home

And I'll be standing right there in the cold mornng air
When that train comes a rolling in
Knowing, once you're back in my arms
You won't be leaving again

Shame, it comes in every size
Touches many lives
Knocks on many doors
Shame, I've seen it in your eyes
They'll hurt you with their lies
But their words don't count at all
Because I don't care what they say
There ain't no shame in loving you

No, I don't care what they say
There ain't no shame in loving you





Me, I don't care what they say
There ain't no shame in loving you

Overall Meaning

Neil Diamond's song "Shame" is a love song that is about a man's strong love and devotion for his woman. The song tells the story of a man who is facing some challenges and obstacles in his relationship, but he is determined to overcome them because he loves his woman deeply. The first verse of the song speaks to the fact that the man is feeling overwhelmed by his love for his woman and the amount of time he spends thinking about her. He acknowledges that there are people who doubt the strength of their relationship and whether they can make it work. However, the man does not care about what others say because he knows that they have not experienced the love that he shares with his woman.


The chorus of the song speaks to the concept of shame and how it can come in different forms and sizes. Shame is seen as something that can hurt and affect many people's lives. However, the man in the song does not care about the shame that others may try to instill in him. He believes that there is no shame in loving the person he loves and he will not let anyone else's opinions affect his love for her.


The second verse of the song tells the story of how the woman in the relationship has left him before, but he is confident that she will return. He waits for her at the train station and knows that once she is back in his arms, she will never leave again. The concept of waiting for a loved one at the train station is a romantic trope that reinforces the idea that the man's love is patient and steadfast. Overall, Diamond's song conveys a message of deep and unwavering love despite the challenges and obstacles that may arise.


Line by Line Meaning

The end of the road, is lonesome and cold
There is no hope for a relationship if it reaches the end and breaks apart. The aftermath is loneliness and despair.


Ain't no place for making a stand
It's difficult to come out strong and assertive at the end of a relationship. There's no way to save it.


I got too much of you on my mind
The emotional and mental toll of the breakup makes it difficult to think of anything else.


Too much time on my hands
With the relationship ended, there's nothing but idle time to fill the void.


Some people say there just ain't no way
Society has given up on the idea of salvaging relationships that are near collapse.


We can hold on and see this thing through
But despite the pessimism, some still believe it's possible to weather the storm.


I don't care what they say
The naysayers' opinions mean nothing compared to the depth of love that's felt.


They never loved one like you
The personal attachment the writer has to their partner trumps any doubts and criticism by outsiders.


Shame, it comes in every size
Shame can affect anyone, no matter how big or small the situation is.


Touches many lives
Shame has the ability to cause harm to people, no matter how many people are aware of it.


Knocks on many doors
Shame isn't selective; it could happen to anyone, regardless of age, gender, or social standing.


Shame, I've seen it in your eyes
The writer sees the effect of shame on their partner and empathizes with that feeling.


Hurt you with their lies
People's malicious denunciations and falsehoods harm the spirit and well-being of those they accuse.


But words don't count at all
Though words can have a severe impact, it depends on the weight of sentiment, personal conviction, and honesty that makes them matter.


The train that took you away
The notion of transport in the song is used as a metaphor to describe the emotional distance and separation between the writer and the partner.


Is gonna bring you back home
The writer envisions the reunion of the couple to a place of mutual understanding and emotional accord.


Knowing, once you're back in my arms
The writer is aware that the only resolution to the conflict is a renewed commitment to each other.


You won't be leaving again
The writer acknowledges that repairing a destroyed relationship requires both parties to commit to working through their issues and find a way to stay together.


No, I don't care what they say
The writer climatically reiterates that the relationship's critics matter less than their commitment and love to their partner.


There ain't no shame in loving you
The writer has learned that loving and staying committed to their partner is not a thing of shame or regret.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DIAMOND, KETCHUM

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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