Darktown
Shadow Gallery Lyrics


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Sun is low now in the sky
Soon the cold will start to bite
And I'm kicking some old
Empty can
Down a barren street ya
Step into a dark saloon
Peer across the smoke filled room
I can feel her a mile away
She smiles and beckons me

Now we're dancing through the mist
Face to face I taste her breath
Our gaze locks into a hazy trance I start to quiver
Now she comes to comfort me I tell her I'm too blind to see
A warm bed and a fresh breath of air and you'll feel better

I know the feeling that you get
Too bad it's only for a moment
Lost in the shadows of the night
She turned and took my hand said
Stay by my side, slip between the light
Mirror my image we'll be alright

The key that opens up a thousand doors of mystery
Unlocks a basement full of fears
Start to unravel in it you might as well be blind
She saw my fright and closed her eyes

Don't fall in love it's a crazy nightmare
She looked at me and she winked an eye
It's too soon to say good-bye to this darktown
Could use a fortune of imagination
Refuse to look but I cannot deny
Gotta make it out tonight of this darktown

Sorry to leave you in this crazy nightmare
She looked at and she winked and eye
That's too bad so goodbye to your darktown
Could use a fortune of imagination




I turned to look but I closed my eyes
And I won't turn back tonight to this darktown

Overall Meaning

The song Darktown by Shadow Gallery is a tale of a man finding himself wandering through a barren street, kicking an old empty can. The sun is low in the sky, and he knows that the cold will soon start to bite. He steps into a dark saloon and across the smoke-filled room, he sees a woman who smiles and beckons him. They start to dance, and his gaze locks into a hazy trance, and he starts to quiver. He tells her that he's too blind to see, and she comes to comfort him. She promises him that he'll feel better with a warm bed and fresh air.


The chorus warns against falling in love as it's a crazy nightmare. He knows that staying in Darktown is not an option, but he is drawn to the woman who is his only escape from the dark and haunted town. The woman promises him that he won't fall in love and that they will make it out of Darktown tonight. However, he is afraid of the unknown, and the woman closes her eyes so that he cannot see her fears.


Overall, the song Darktown displays the fear of the unknown and the need to escape from it. The singer is frightened of what he cannot see or comprehend but is drawn towards the woman who promises him comfort and escape.


Line by Line Meaning

Sun is low now in the sky
The day is ending, and darkness is approaching


Soon the cold will start to bite
Winter is approaching, and the weather will become unbearable soon


And I'm kicking some old Empty can Down a barren street ya
The singer is walking down a deserted street, and passes the time by kicking an empty can


Step into a dark saloon
The artist enters a dimly lit bar


Peer across the smoke filled room I can feel her a mile away She smiles and beckons me
The artist sees a woman across the bar, and is immediately drawn to her


Now we're dancing through the mist Face to face I taste her breath Our gaze locks into a hazy trance I start to quiver Now she comes to comfort me I tell her I'm too blind to see A warm bed and a fresh breath of air and you'll feel better
The singer and the woman dance, and he becomes overwhelmed by his emotions. She tries to comfort him, and suggests that a good night's sleep will help him feel better


I know the feeling that you get Too bad it's only for a moment Lost in the shadows of the night She turned and took my hand said Stay by my side, slip between the light Mirror my image we'll be alright
The woman empathizes with the singer, but suggests that their connection is fleeting. She encourages him to stay with her and embrace the present moment


The key that opens up a thousand doors of mystery Unlocks a basement full of fears Start to unravel in it you might as well be blind She saw my fright and closed her eyes
The artist acknowledges that opening oneself up to new experiences can be terrifying. The woman senses his fear and tries to console him


Don't fall in love it's a crazy nightmare She looked at me and she winked an eye It's too soon to say good-bye to this darktown Could use a fortune of imagination Refuse to look but I cannot deny Gotta make it out tonight of this darktown
The woman warns the artist against giving into his emotions, but also encourages him to leave with her and explore new possibilities


Sorry to leave you in this crazy nightmare She looked at and she winked and eye That's too bad so goodbye to your darktown Could use a fortune of imagination I turned to look but I closed my eyes And I won't turn back tonight to this darktown
The woman says goodbye to the artist, and he must come to terms with his experiences and move on




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CARL CADDEN JAMES, WILLIAM ALLMAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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