I'm Not There
Sonic Youth Lyrics


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Things are crashing down, she's all too tight
In my neighborhood she cry both day and night
It's a milestone but she's down on her luck
Days make her so lonely and it's so hard to buck
Now and then

I believe that she'd stop him if she'd find time to care
I believe that she may look upon deciding whose to care
And I go by the Lord, anywhere she's on my way
But I don't belong there

No, I don't belong to her, I don't belong to [Incomprehensible]
She's my Christ forsaken angel but she don't hear me cry
She's a long hearted mystic and she can't carry on
When I'm there she's alright then she's not when I'm gone

Heaven knows that the answer she don't con no one
She's the way forsaken beauty, she's mine for the one
And I lost her hesitating about temptation as it runs
She don't harm me, I'm not there I'm gone

Now I've cried tonight like I cried the night before
And I'll feast on the highway but I'll dream about the door
It's alone she's forsaken by her fate with to tell
It don't have approximation she is smiling fairly well

Her smile is contagious, I was born to love her
But she knows that the kingdom waits so high above her
And I run by the race but it's not too fast stayed
But I got the fever I'm not there, I'm gone

Well, it's all about diffusion as I cry for her veil
I don't need anybody now beside me to tell
And it's all affirmation, I'm asleep but it's not
She's a lone-hearted beauty but she don't like spot
And she calls

Yeah, she's gone like a rainbow that was shining yesterday
But she's home now beside me and I'd like her to stay
She's a lone forsaken beauty and she don't trust no one
And I wish I was beside her but I'm not there, I'm gone

It's too hard to stay here and I don't want to leave
It's so hard for so few you see but she's hard to, hard to me
It's a [Incomprehensible] it's a crime, the way she mauls me around
But she don't phone to hate me but it's down to make her crown

Yes, I believe that it's rightful, I believe it in my mind
I've been told like I said for carrying on crying




Yes, the soul gypsy told her like I said carry on
Wish I was there to help me but I'm not there, I'm gone

Overall Meaning

Sonic Youth's song "I'm Not There" is a powerfully haunting song that recounts the story of a tragic love affair. The lyrics are woven together in a poetic and abstract manner, which creates a sense of ambiguity and mystery that begs to be deciphered. The song is awash with vivid imagery and metaphors that give the listener an intimate glimpse into the characters' innermost thoughts and emotions.


The first stanza sets the tone for the rest of the song, with the singer describing a woman who is struggling to cope with the trials of life. She is "down on her luck" and "lonely," and seems destined for a life of sadness and despair. The singer is clearly deeply empathetic towards her, and wishes he could somehow alleviate her pain, but at the same time, he recognizes that he is powerless to change her circumstances.


As the song progresses, the singer describes his relationship with the woman in greater detail. He refers to her as his "Christ forsaken angel" and a "long hearted mystic," and suggests that their connection is both spiritual and romantic in nature. However, he also acknowledges that the relationship is fraught with difficulty, and that the woman's emotional state is fragile and unpredictable. He is torn between his desire to be with her and his sense that he doesn't truly belong in her world.


Overall, "I'm Not There" is a deeply moving song that speaks to the complexities of love and the messiness of human emotions. It is a testament to Sonic Youth's talent as songwriters that they are able to convey so much in such a brief and enigmatic song.


Line by Line Meaning

Things are crashing down, she's all too tight
She is struggling with big problems that are causing stress and anxiety.


In my neighborhood she cry both day and night
She is going through a rough time and is constantly crying.


It's a milestone but she's down on her luck
Although it is a significant moment for her, her situation is still quite unfortunate.


Days make her so lonely and it's so hard to buck
Her lonely days make it hard for her to cope with her problems.


Now and then
Occasionally, sometimes.


I believe that she'd stop him if she'd find time to care
If she had the time and energy to take care of someone, she would do so.


I believe that she may look upon deciding whose to care
She is trying to decide who she should take care of and tends to choose wisely.


And I go by the Lord, anywhere she's on my way
He will follow her wherever she goes.


But I don't belong there
He is not meant to be with her all the time, he is not her partner.


No, I don't belong to her, I don't belong to [Incomprehensible]
He does not belong to her or anyone else, he is his own person.


She's my Christ forsaken angel but she don't hear me cry
She is like an angel to him, but she is unaware of his pain and suffering.


She's a long hearted mystic and she can't carry on
She is a deep thinker and is struggling to cope.


When I'm there she's alright then she's not when I'm gone
She feels comforted when he is around, but once he leaves, she feels lost and alone.


Heaven knows that the answer she don't con no one
No one knows the real answer to her problems.


She's the way forsaken beauty, she's mine for the one
She is a forsaken beauty and he feels that she belongs to him.


And I lost her hesitating about temptation as it runs
He lost her because he was hesitant and tempted to do something else instead.


She don't harm me, I'm not there I'm gone
She does not hurt him, but he is not around her anymore.


Now I've cried tonight like I cried the night before
He has been crying a lot in recent nights.


And I'll feast on the highway but I'll dream about the door
He will travel and think about returning home.


It's alone she's forsaken by her fate with to tell
She is alone and has been abandoned by her destiny.


It don't have approximation she is smiling fairly well
From an approximation, she seems to be doing okay as she smiles.


Her smile is contagious, I was born to love her
He loves her because her smile is contagious and makes him feel good.


But she knows that the kingdom waits so high above her
She is aware that there is a higher realm that she is not a part of.


And I run by the race but it's not too fast stayed
He participates in the race of life, but his pace is not too fast.


But I got the fever I'm not there, I'm gone
He is full of passion, but he is not around her anymore.


Well, it's all about diffusion as I cry for her veil
He is in a state of confusion and is crying for her.


I don't need anybody now beside me to tell
He does not need anyone to tell him what to do.


And it's all affirmation, I'm asleep but it's not
He is confirming his feelings, although he is not asleep.


She's a lone-hearted beauty but she don't like spot
She is beautiful, but she prefers to be alone and unnoticed.


And she calls
She reaches out to him.


Yeah, she's gone like a rainbow that was shining yesterday
She is gone like a rainbow that was once there and has now vanished.


But she's home now beside me and I'd like her to stay
She is now with him and he wants her to stay.


She's a lone forsaken beauty and she don't trust no one
She is a forsaken beauty who no longer trusts anyone.


And I wish I was beside her but I'm not there, I'm gone
He wants to be with her, but he is not around her anymore.


It's too hard to stay here and I don't want to leave
It is difficult for him to remain in this situation.


It's so hard for so few you see but she's hard to, hard to me
He finds it difficult to cope with her situation.


It's a [Incomprehensible] it's a crime, the way she mauls me around
He feels like he is being attacked and mistreated by her.


But she don't phone to hate me but it's down to make her crown
She does not purposely hate him, but she does enjoy her newfound status and feels superior.


Yes, I believe that it's rightful, I believe it in my mind
He believes that his beliefs are just and right.


I've been told like I said for carrying on crying
Others have told him to continue crying and showing his emotions.


Yes, the soul gypsy told her like I said carry on
He has been advised to continue with his current actions and thoughts.


Wish I was there to help me but I'm not there, I'm gone
He wishes he was there to help her, but he is no longer in her life.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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