Stuart and Caan's The Mayfly Dance came to Knw-Yr-Own from England thanks t… Read Full Bio ↴Stuart and Caan's The Mayfly Dance came to Knw-Yr-Own from England thanks to friends Little Wings and Devendra Banhart. After opening for the two bands on the Hair Fairies Tour, Banhart invited the gents to come over and play the United States. Needless to say, Stuart and Caan fell smartly into the middle of the new weird America musical movement, taking it all in (until they were deported). With pastoral guitars, heartbreaking melodies, and a rare sense of wide-eyed wonder, The Mayfly Dance spins a timeless Anglo-folk sound.

Take Your time
Stuart and Caan Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well I wanted to ramble ever since I was a kid
I'm gonna do just what my Daddy did
The world started closin' in on me
And I had to have a change of scenery

So I started out bumin' in Ohio,
Had my sights set on Mexico
It just ain't as easy to catch a ride

As it was before the L&N died

Gotta take a little time, think about where I'm goin'
Take a little time, to think about where I've been
Take a little time, to hear that whistle blowin'
Take a little time, be back home again

Well I spent a year in Memphis, just the other day
Haven't been the same since I let her slip away
When will I learn to let the women be
Let Ol'Memphis Red make a fool a-me

Well I went to the river to throw myself in
Decided to call it off 'cause I can't swim
Started to throw myself before a locomotive train
Had to call it off on account a-rain

Gotta take a little time, think about where I'm goin'
Take a little time, to think about where I've been
Take a little time, to hear that whistle blowin'
Take a little time, be back home again

Well now what's the use in killin' me
It didn't hurt so bad now don't you see
The world ain't so bad after all
That Ol'Memphis Red ain't gonna be my downfall

I gotta take a little time, think about where I'm goin'
Take a little time, to think about where I've been
Take a little time, to hear that whistle blowin'
Take a little time, be back home again

Take a little time, be back home again

Overall Meaning

In "Take Your Time" by Stuart and Caan, the singer of the song reflects on his desire to roam and experience new places, but also recognizes the importance of taking time to think about where he's been and where he's going. The song begins with the singer expressing his desire to travel, something he's wanted to do since he was young and following in the footsteps of his father. The world, however, has started to close in on him and he needs a change of scenery. He starts out bumin' in Ohio with his sights set on Mexico, but finds that catching a ride isn't as easy as it used to be.

As the song continues, the singer reflects on his time in Memphis and a woman he let slip away. He contemplates throwing himself in the river, and even in front of a train, but decides against it. The song ends on a hopeful note, with the singer realizing that the world isn't so bad after all and that he needs to take a little time to think about where he's been and where he's going.

Overall, the song encourages the listener to take time to reflect on their life's journey, to appreciate the world around them, and to understand that sometimes the best way forward is to slow down and take your time.

Line by Line Meaning

Well I wanted to ramble ever since I was a kid
I have always longed to travel and embark on new adventures from a young age.

I'm gonna do just what my Daddy did
I intend to follow in my father's footsteps and become a traveler or wanderer.

The world started closin' in on me
I felt stifled and overwhelmed by the demands and constraints of the world around me.

And I had to have a change of scenery
I needed to venture out and explore new surroundings to break out of my mundane routine.

So I started out bumin' in Ohio,
I began my journey without a set plan in mind, just going wherever my whim would take me while hitchhiking in Ohio.

Had my sights set on Mexico
My dream destination was Mexico, and I was determined to get there eventually.

It just ain't as easy to catch a ride
I found it harder to hail a ride from strangers than it was before the L&N (Lousville & Nashville) train service closed down.

As it was before the L&N died
The L&N railway's suspension made it harder for people like me to travel by train easily, instead of hitchhiking.

Gotta take a little time, think about where I'm goin'
I realized that rushing blindly into new adventures without calculating any risks could lead to disaster, so now I take time to evaluate my options.

Take a little time, to think about where I've been
It is essential to review my life experiences occasionally to know what to avoid and what to keep doing to progress well personally.

Take a little time, to hear that whistle blowin'
When I hear the sound of a train whistle, it revitalizes the love and longing to explore new paths.

Take a little time, be back home again
After traveling far and wide, coming back home, the familiarity and comfort of it, revitalizes and prepares me well for the next adventure.

Well I spent a year in Memphis, just the other day
Recently, I spent a considerable amount of time in Memphis, but the experience was undoubtedly unpleasant.

Haven't been the same since I let her slip away
Since letting go of a former lover in Memphis, I have been unable to shake off the sadness and pain from the experience.

When will I learn to let the women be
I am beginning to realize that relationships may come and go, and instead of clinging to them, I should learn to let them be.

Let Ol'Memphis Red make a fool a-me
I allowed Ol' Memphis Red, a woman who misled me, to make a fool of me, and I want to avoid such mistakes in my future relationships.

Well I went to the river to throw myself in
Feeling overwhelmed by life, I planned to commit suicide by drowning in a nearby river.

Decided to call it off 'cause I can't swim
However, I abandoned the idea since I cannot swim and realized the plan was doomed to fail.

Started to throw myself before a locomotive train
Desperate for a way out, I contemplated ending it all by jumping in front of a moving train.

Had to call it off on account a-rain
Thankfully, the planned suicide was called off due to fortuitous rainfall.

Well now what's the use in killin' me
Having gone through tough experiences, I realized it's not worth taking my life instead of learning from them and moving on.

It didn't hurt so bad now don't you see
The experience, although difficult, did not hurt as badly as I initially thought, and I gained valuable life lessons from it.

The world ain't so bad after all
On the positive side, the world is not as terrible as I previously imagined, and we can find hope and love amidst the many challenges facing humanity.

That Ol' Memphis Red ain't gonna be my downfall
I am determined that past failed relationships would not be the cause of my downfall but, rather, motivate me to seek better relationships and bonds.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: MARTY STUART, T. MICHAEL COLEMAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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