Southside has long been considered the Grandfather of "the New Jersey Sound." Jon bon Jovi has acknowledged Southside as "his reason for singing." In 1982 the Rolling Stone Magazine voted the album Hearts of Stone among the top 100 albums of the 70's and 80's. In 1987, Southside and the Jukes were featured in the film Adventures in Babysitting performing at a college frat party.
Since 2001 Southside Johnny and the Jukes have toured the UK and Europe as an annual event, their first since the 1992 Better Days tour. His most recent album is Grapefruit Moon: The Songs Of Tom Waits (2008).
Talk To Me
Southside Johnny Lyrics
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But every night you won't answer your door
But although you won't ever let me in
From the street I can see your silhouette sittin' close to him
What must I do?
What does it take?
To get you to
Until the night is over
Come on, baby
Talk to me
Well until the night is over
I got a full week's pay
And, baby, I've been working hard each day
I'm not asking for the world you see
I'm just asking, girl
Talk to me
Well late at night I hear the music that you're playing soft and low
Yes and late at night I see the two of you swayin' so close
I don't understand, darling, what was my sin?
Why am I down here below while you're up there with him?
What did I do?
What did I say?
What must I pay?
To get you to
Talk to me
Until the night is over
Little darling, won't you
Talk to me
Well until the night is over
Yea yea yea
I got a full week's pay
And baby I've been working hard each day
I'm not asking for the world you see
I'm just asking girl
Talk to me
I don't understand, darling, what was my sin?
Why am I down here below while you're up there with him?
What did I do?
What did I say?
What must I pay?
To get you to
Talk to me
Until the night is over
Come on, baby
Talk to me
Well until the night is over
Yea yea yea
I got a full week's pay
And baby
I've been working hard each day
I'm not asking for the world you see
I'm down on my bended knees
I'm just asking darling please won't you
Talk to me
Until the night is over
Come on talk to me
Until the night is over
Talk to me
Till the sun comes up
The lyrics to Southside Johnny's "Talk to Me" are about a man's desperation to connect with a woman who he sees every night from the street. He notices a light in her window, yet she never answers her door. He can see her silhouette close to another man while he stands outside, wondering what he must do to get her to talk to him. Even though he has been working hard to earn his full week's pay, he doesn't want the world; he just wants her to talk to him. He hears the music she's playing late at night, and sees her dancing with someone else, and is confused as to why he's down below while she's up there with him. He asks what he must pay or what he must say to get her to come down and talk to him until the night is over.
The song's lyrics portray the universal human experience of unrequited love, where one person yearns for another, who may not necessarily reciprocate those feelings. It can be a frustrating, heart-wrenching experience, as the singer in the song demonstrates. He is willing to humble himself and beg for her attention, but she remains indifferent to his advances. The song's lyrics play on this theme by juxtaposing his longing to talk with her with his disappointment that her attention is on someone else.
Line by Line Meaning
Well every night I see a light up in your window
I notice you every night by the light in your window
But every night you won't answer your door
But every night you ignore me by not answering the door
But although you won't ever let me in
Even though you won't let me into your life
From the street I can see your silhouette sittin' close to him
I can see you sitting close with someone else from my view on the street
What must I do?
What must I do to get your attention
What does it take?
What do I need to do to win you over
To get you to
To get your attention
Talk to me
To speak with me
Until the night is over
Until the night is through
Come on, baby
Please, my darling
I got a full week's pay
I have worked hard for a whole week and have money to spend
And, baby, I've been working hard each day
I work hard every day for this money
I'm not asking for the world you see
I'm not asking for everything
I'm just asking, girl
I'm just asking for a chance
Well late at night I hear the music that you're playing soft and low
Late at night, I hear the music you're playing softly
Yes and late at night I see the two of you swayin' so close
And I see you and another person swaying so closely
I don't understand, darling, what was my sin?
I don't know what I did wrong, my love
Why am I down here below while you're up there with him?
Why am I down here, while you and he are up there?
What did I do?
What did I do wrong?
What did I say?
What did I say to upset you?
What must I pay?
What do I need to do to make it up to you?
Little darling, won't you
My little sweetheart, I beg you
Yea yea yea
Yes, yes, yes
I'm down on my bended knees
I am on my knees, begging
I'm just asking darling please won't you
I'm only asking, my dear, please speak to me
Talk to me
Communicate with me
Till the sun comes up
Until the dawn of a new day
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind