Nothing Else Will Do
Sandy Denny; The Strawbs Lyrics
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My fence is broken down
My window's staring blindly
Greets the callers with a frown
And I need a place to hide away
When I am feeling blue.
Nothing else will do, babe
I've got no friends to turn to
When I am feeling low
I'm lonely sad and empty
Most everywhere I go
I'd like to leave the world behind
And try and start anew.
Nothing else will do, babe
Nothing else will do.
All I ever wanted
Was a place to call my own
A place that's quiet and peaceful
Where I can feel so all alone
I've been told this place is heaven
I wonder if it's true.
Nothing else will do, babe
Nothing else will do.
But it seems the path to heaven
Is always round the bend
And always in the distance
There's a road that has no end
But I will hope to find it
Before my life is through.
Nothing else will do, babe
Nothing else will do.
The lyrics to Sandy Denny / Strawbs's song "Nothing Else Will do Babe" express a desire for escape from the troubles and loneliness of the world. The singer paints a picture of a broken fence, a frowning window, and a need for a place to hide when feeling down. The sentiment being conveyed is that the singer needs a place that is quiet, peaceful, and his own where he can feel alone-something that seems to elude him.
The second verse further expands on the theme of loneliness and despair. The singer expresses that he has no friends to turn to when feeling low, and is unable to find respite most places he goes. He longs for a place that he can call his own, a place that is quiet and peaceful where he can escape the world. The hope of finding this ideal place is the only thing that keeps the singer going, and he ends the song hoping to find it before his life is over.
Overall, "Nothing Else Will do Babe" is a contemplative and introspective song that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt lost, lonely, or in need of refuge.
Line by Line Meaning
My gate is swinging open
The singer's gate is open, showing their vulnerability and openness.
My fence is broken down
Metaphorically, the singer's walls are down and they have no emotional protection.
My window's staring blindly
The singer feels lost and stuck, unable to see a clear path forward.
Greets the callers with a frown
The artist is inwardly unhappy and closed off from others.
And I need a place to hide away
The artist wants to escape from the world and find solace.
When I am feeling blue.
The singer is struggling with sadness and depression.
Nothing else will do, babe
The singer is emphasizing the importance of finding the right place to heal and find peace.
I've got no friends to turn to
The artist feels alone and unsupported.
When I am feeling low
The artist is struggling with their emotions and feeling down.
I'm lonely sad and empty
The artist is expressing their feelings of isolation and emptiness.
Most everywhere I go
The singer feels lost and unsure of their place in the world.
I'd like to leave the world behind
The artist wants to escape from their problems and find a new beginning.
And try and start anew.
The singer wants to begin again and start fresh.
All I ever wanted
The singer is expressing a deeply-held desire.
Was a place to call my own
The singer wants a home and a sense of belonging.
A place that's quiet and peaceful
The artist is seeking serenity and tranquility.
Where I can feel so all alone
The artist wants to be alone with their thoughts and feelings.
I've been told this place is heaven
The singer has been given hope that their ideal place exists.
I wonder if it's true.
The singer is uncertain and questioning whether they will ever find it.
But it seems the path to heaven
The artist feels that the road to their ideal place is difficult to navigate.
Is always round the bend
The artist feels that their goal is always just out of reach and around the corner.
And always in the distance
The artist feels that their goal is far away and unattainable.
There's a road that has no end
The singer feels that the path to their ideal place is long and unending.
But I will hope to find it
The artist remains hopeful despite the challenges they face.
Before my life is through.
The singer is determined to find their ideal place before they die.
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Rocktramp
Thanks for posting this version!
I drink to Sandy Denny yesterday and today, and listen to her music.
Eileen Hack
Raising a glass with you 🥃