Don't Look Down
Robyn Hitchcock Lyrics


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Mum is the word
Dumb is a better word
Or haven't you heard
Luke the Drifter and me
Wrote us a song
Too lonesome to sing
Not on this side of the dial
Not on this short wave
Buster Keaton and I
Danced out on the windowsill
Ten stores high
If one night you get to walking
Way up off the ground
Do yourself a favor
Don't look down
I keep falling back to earth
Just as I am floating high
Luke the Drifter and me
Thumbed us a ride
On the highway of dreams
When you're out beyond the city
This old road gets dark
You lose your bearings
And forget where you are
I keep falling back to earth
Just as I am floating high




Very high
High, high

Overall Meaning

The song Don't Look Down by Robyn Hitchcock is a very enigmatic and thought-provoking piece that perhaps talks about the fear of heights, uncertainty, and anxiety that comes with living life. The opening lines, "Mum is the word, dumb is a better word, or haven't you heard," might be interpreted to suggest that silence is often preferable to saying something stupid or doing something irrational, as both can have unforeseen consequences. The mention of Luke the Drifter, who was the alter ego of country music legend Hank Williams, seeks to make a connection with a seemingly bygone era of music, and he and the singer of the song have written a song that is "too lonesome to sing" and cannot be played on the radio.


The verse that follows in the song speaks of Buster Keaton and the singer dancing out on the windowsill ten stores high. This imagery may suggest the thrill of living on the edge, testing one's courage, and daring to make a leap of faith. However, the refrain of the song warns against looking down, as it can induce vertigo, self-doubt, and a loss of bearings. The song then delves into the experience of driving on the highway of dreams, losing one's way in the darkness, and finding oneself without a sense of direction.


The phrase "floating high" recurs throughout the song and seems to suggest a state of being in which one is disconnected from the ground, from reality, or from normalcy. The refrain is repeated several times, emphasizing the importance of not losing one's cool when one is in a precarious situation. The song ends with a final plea to stay grounded and stay focused, even when life is at its most bewildering.


Line by Line Meaning

Mum is the word
Let's keep quiet about it


Dumb is a better word
It's probably better not to say anything


Or haven't you heard
Do you not know about this?


Luke the Drifter and me
Me and my friend Luke


Wrote us a song
We created a piece of music


Too lonesome to sing
It's too sad to perform


Not on this side of the dial
It can't be played on the radio


Not on this short wave
Can't be broadcasted on this frequency


Buster Keaton and I
Me and my friend Buster Keaton


Danced out on the windowsill
We were having fun on the windowsill


Ten stores high
We were really high up


If one night you get to walking
If you're out walking one night


Way up off the ground
Really high up


Do yourself a favor
Help yourself out


Don't look down
Don't look down and get scared


I keep falling back to earth
I keep coming back to reality


Just as I am floating high
Just when I feel like everything is going great


Thumbed us a ride
Hitched a ride


On the highway of dreams
On a journey towards our hopes and aspirations


When you're out beyond the city
When you're away from civilization


This old road gets dark
The path ahead becomes uncertain


You lose your bearings
You don't know which way to go


And forget where you are
You're not sure of your destination


Very high
Really really high


High, high
Super high




Writer(s): Grant Lee Phillips

Contributed by John H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Joe Chris Morris

I wonder if they ever did this together live, in addition to the Bee Gees (Stayin alive) and I Love the nightlife (!) covers in the encores they did together !

shitbrain3

Yes, many times -- but always with Grant Lee on vox.

Matthew Cleveland

Combine Robyn Hitchcock and a Grant Lee Phillips song?  Can't miss.

Demetrios Kanavaros

Seems like a cool song, but this is just awful.

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