The Dark End Of The Street
"The Dark End of the Street" is a 1967 soul song written by American songwr… Read Full Bio ↴"The Dark End of the Street" is a 1967 soul song written by American songwriters Dan Penn and Chips Moman and first recorded by American singer James Carr. Shortly afterwards, fellow American soul singer Percy Sledge included his version of the song on his 1967 album The Percy Sledge Way but, as a single, it did not chart as high as the version by Carr. In the years since Carr's original version, many other artists have recorded versions of the song.

The Dark End Of The Street
Percy Sledge Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

At the dark end of the street
That's where we always meet
Hiding in shadows where we don't belong
Living in darkness to hide our wrong
You and me at the dark end of the street
You and me

I know time is gonna take its toll
We have to pay for what we stole
It's a sin, and we know it's wrong
But our love keeps coming on strong
Steal away to the dark end of the street

And when the daylight hour rolls around
If by chance we should walk downtown
If we should meet, just walk on by
Oh darling, please don't cry
Tonight we'll meet at the dark end of the street
You and me

They're gonna find us
They're gonna find us
They're gonna find us
Oh, some day




You and me at the dark end of the street
You and me

Overall Meaning

The song "Dark End of the Street" by Percy Sledge tells the story of two lovers who meet in secret at the "dark end of the street" in order to hide their affair from the world. They live in darkness and shadows, knowing that what they are doing is wrong, but their love keeps bringing them back to each other. The lyrics suggest that they will inevitably be found out and punished for their actions, but the intensity of their love drives them to continue meeting in secret.


Throughout the song, there is a sense of sadness and desperation. The lovers cannot openly express their love for each other for fear of societal judgment and consequences. The metaphor of the "dark end of the street" symbolizes their isolation and separation from the rest of the world. Despite the challenges they face, they continue to meet in secrecy, unable to stay away from each other.


Overall, "Dark End of the Street" is a powerful ballad about the struggle to find love in a judgmental world. The emotional intensity of the lyrics and Sledge's soulful vocals make it a classic song that still resonates with audiences today.


Line by Line Meaning

At the dark end of the street
We always meet in the shadows away from the public eye.


That's where we always meet
Our secret encounters take place in the darkness where we don't belong.


Hiding in shadows where we don't belong
We are living a forbidden love and must keep it hidden from others.


Living in darkness to hide our wrong
We are dwelling in a world of unfaithfulness, basking in dishonesty to shield our transgressions.


You and me at the dark end of the street
It is just the two of us who share this dreadful secret.


I know time is gonna take its toll
We are well aware that sooner or later our deceitful ways might be exposed.


We have to pay for what we stole
If we keep on this path we will both be held accountable for our indiscretions.


It's a sin, and we know it's wrong
We both acknowledge that our relationship is morally wrong.


But our love keeps coming on strong
Despite what our better judgment tells us, we cannot help but continue to hold on to the passion between us.


Steal away to the dark end of the street
We will continue to sneak around to our secret meeting place in the shadows.


And when the daylight hour rolls around
During the day when we are out in public.


If by chance we should walk downtown
If we happen to cross paths in the busy streets of town.


If we should meet, just walk on by
We both agree to ignore each other and act like we are strangers.


Oh darling, please don't cry
We both know this is the only way to keep our secret love hidden from the rest of the world.


Tonight we'll meet at the dark end of the street
As darkness falls, we will reunite at our usual meeting place.


They're gonna find us
We fear that eventually someone will reveal our secret affair.


They're gonna find us
We are constantly on edge, living in fear of discovery.


They're gonna find us
We know that our luck will eventually run out, and the truth will come out.


Oh, some day
We wait anxiously for the day when our secret will be revealed.


You and me at the dark end of the street
Until that day comes, we will continue to rendezvous in secret, away from the prying eyes of the world.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Chips Moman, Dan Penn

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@VictorCharlesEvans

At the dark end of the street
That's where we always meet
Hiding in shadows where we don't belong
Living in darkness to hide our wrong

You and me
At the dark end
Of the street
You and me

I know time is gonna take it's toll
We have to pat for the love that we stole
It's a sin and we know it's wrong
Oh, but our love keeps coming on strong

Steal away
To the dark end
Of the street

They're gonna to find us
They're gonna to find us
They're gonna to find us lord, someday

You and me
At the dark end
Of the street
You and me

And when the daylight hours roll round
And by chance we're both downtown
If we should meet just walk on by
Oh, darling, please don't cry

Tonight, we'll meet
At the dark end
Of the street



@nomerusta

At the dark end of the street
That is where we always meet
Hiding in shadows where we don't belong
Living in darkness, to hide alone
You and me, at the dark end of the street
You and me
I know a time has gonna take it's toll
We have to pay for the love we stole
It's a sin and we know it's wrong
Oh, our love keeps going on strong
Steal away to the dark end of the street
You and me
They gonna find us, they gonna find us
They gonna find us love someday
You and me, at the dark end of the street
You and me
When the daylight all goes around
And by chance we're both down the town
Please meet, just walk, walk on by
Oh, darling, please don't you cry
You and me, at the dark end of the street
You and me



All comments from YouTube:

@Doc_Holiday.

Wolverine brought me here. I’m glad it did. This song hits hard

@sixteenstone007

Banger for sure it hits you in the feels

@ferntracey9078

This is the kind of music I grew up listening to also Elvis Presley, Solomon Burke just to a few I am now 50 years and I appreciate my my dad for exposing me to these kind of music especially being from the Caribbean

@Bluemonday6121

Don't know how I've gone 33 years without hearing this wonderful song. Simply brilliant.

@grantsmythe8625

Jimmy Carr did the original. It was Duane Allman's favorite song. Years after Duane died his brother, Gregg Allman did a cover of it. Jack Pearson played slide guitar. Good song.

@aryastark772

I first heard it on the film This is England in 2007 and loved it ever since

@azumi-osaki

kind of music i listen when i come back home on a rainy morning after my work... trying to forget everything

@jerryjoannhess

OH Lord, can't listen to this without it bringing a tear to my eyes, my wife,and I used to listen to this everynight in her car after work in 1968, two months later we were married--still listened to Percy, and Otis, a lot after we were married, she passed away two years ago three weeks after our 45th anniversary, just tonight got the nerve up to listen to this;  love it; the best, can't type for crying;;;

@majastanic5999

jerryj
oannhess

@user-rm5rz2zh8k

she'd be singing this for you in the parallel universe . take care mate

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