Halfway Down
Patty Loveless Lyrics


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Raindrops on the treetops
Waiting there to fall
I know how they're feeling
But I'm only, yes I'm only, halfway down

Fighting with the devil
Harder all the time
Sinkin' to his level
But I'm only, yes I'm only, halfway down

Halfway down, just a getting started
Yes I'm beginning on my journey now
But I've only gotten halfway down
Halfway down, just a little farther
Well I believe you better catch me now
'Cause I'm only going halfway down

Sippin' shallow water
Sharks out for the kill
Almost hittin' bottom
But I'm only, yes I'm only, halfway down

Halfway down, just a getting started
Yes I'm beginning on my journey now
But I've only gotten halfway down
Halfway down, just a little farther
Well I believe you better catch me now
'Cause I'm only going halfway down
Yeah I hope you better catch me now
'Cause I'm only going halfway down




Yes I'm only going halfway down
Yes I'm only going halfway down

Overall Meaning

Patty Loveless's "Halfway Down" touches on one's struggle to keep going despite the obstacles in life. In the first verse, the singer observes raindrops waiting to fall from the treetops, and relates to their feeling of uncertainty and apprehension. The second verse speaks of fighting with the devil and sinking to his level, but acknowledging that they are only halfway down. The third verse paints a picture of danger, with sharks circling in shallow water, and the singer almost hitting the bottom, but still only halfway down.


The repeated chorus emphasizes the singer's determination to keep going, despite only being halfway down on their journey. The sense of resistance and persistence that comes through the lyrics, as well as the metaphorical references to the devil and the sharks, give the song a slightly dark and ominous tone. In a way, the song captures the feeling of being in the midst of a difficult time, but still having a glimmer of hope to keep moving forward.


Line by Line Meaning

Raindrops on the treetops
There are raindrops on the tops of trees


Waiting there to fall
The raindrops are waiting to fall


I know how they're feeling
The singer empathizes with the raindrops


But I'm only, yes I'm only, halfway down
Despite feeling down like the raindrops, the artist is only halfway through their difficult time


Fighting with the devil
The artist is struggling with inner demons


Harder all the time
The struggle is becoming more difficult


Sinkin' to his level
The singer is compromising their values to win the internal battle


But I'm only, yes I'm only, halfway down
Despite the struggle, the artist is still only halfway through it


Halfway down, just a getting started
The artist has only just begun to face their challenges


Yes I'm beginning on my journey now
The artist is starting a new phase in their life


But I've only gotten halfway down
Despite starting anew, the singer is still only halfway through their difficulties


Sippin' shallow water
The artist is turning to temporary, shallow solutions


Sharks out for the kill
There are dangers lurking in the temporary solutions


Almost hittin' bottom
The singer is close to hitting rock bottom


But I'm only, yes I'm only, halfway down
Despite the dangers and the darkness, the singer is still only halfway through


Halfway down, just a getting started
The artist is repeating the idea that they are only at the beginning of their journey


Well I believe you better catch me now
The artist asks for help before they reach the end of their rope


'Cause I'm only going halfway down
Once again, the singer emphasizes that they are not at rock bottom yet, but they will be without help


Yeah I hope you better catch me now
The singer repeats their plea for help


Yes I'm only going halfway down
The artist acknowledges that they are not at the worst stage, but they are still struggling




Lyrics © Bluewater Music Corp.
Written by: Jim Lauderdale

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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