Harbor Lane
The Americans Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

We walked down by that old harbor lane
Faces red with cold
All day long I'd been feeling the same
I was trying to let you know
I was dying to be so bold

You spoke so easy, you tossed your hair
You laughed at something I said
Helpless and spellbound, I followed you there
Gave you a leg up the fence
And the barbed wire tore our flesh

Like it or not, I'm stuck on you
Things could stay the same and I'd feel brand new
Did you have it on your mind? I had it on mine
I went to speak but I lost my line

But I guess you were right
I guess you were right
You read my mind
When you said goodbye

Sitting in the sand, we nursed our wounds
Holes torn in our jeans
And every day from that night on
We'd wear scars above both our knees
Where I bled for you, and you for me

Banished now to my memory's whim
Words I couldn't confess
A softness in your eyes pulled me in
You looked at me, I held my breath
But I've worn that memory half to death

Like it or not, I'm stuck on you
Things could stay the same and I'd feel brand new
Did you have it on your mind? I had it on mine
All the words in the world and my tongue was tied

But I guess you're right
I guess you're right




Just take your time
When you say goodbye

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The Americans' song "Harbor Lane" describe a nostalgic and bittersweet encounter with someone, possibly a past love interest. The singer reminisces about a walk they took down Harbor Lane, a place that holds sentimental value for them. They describe the cold weather and their anticipation of expressing their feelings to the other person. However, it seems that the other person is more at ease and light-hearted, laughing at something the singer says. The singer feels entranced by them, following them as they climb over a fence, only to be injured by the barbed wire, symbolizing the pain and complications that may arise from pursuing love.


The chorus emphasizes the singer's inability to let go of their feelings for this person, even if they know it may not be reciprocated. They feel stuck, but also feel a sense of renewal and excitement from the possibility of things staying the same. The singer wonders if the other person also had thoughts of pursuing something more, but just like the singer, they couldn't find the right words to express their feelings. The song concludes with the acknowledgment that the other person was right in leaving, and the singer is left to nurse their wounds and cherish the memories they shared.


Overall, "Harbor Lane" explores themes of longing, missed opportunities, and the resilience of memories, capturing the complexities and vulnerabilities of human relationships.


Line by Line Meaning

We walked down by that old harbor lane
We strolled together along the path near the harbor


Faces red with cold
Our faces were flushed due to the chilly weather


All day long I'd been feeling the same
Throughout the entire day, I had been experiencing the same emotions


I was trying to let you know
I was attempting to communicate my feelings to you


I was dying to be so bold
I had a strong desire to be daring and courageous


You spoke so easy, you tossed your hair
You effortlessly spoke and casually flicked your hair


You laughed at something I said
You found amusement in one of my remarks


Helpless and spellbound, I followed you there
Feeling powerless and captivated, I obediently followed you


Gave you a leg up the fence
I boost you up to help you climb over the fence


And the barbed wire tore our flesh
Unfortunately, the sharp barbed wire caused us physical injuries


Like it or not, I'm stuck on you
Whether you like it or not, I am deeply attached to you


Things could stay the same and I'd feel brand new
Even if everything remains unchanged, being with you makes me feel refreshed


Did you have it on your mind? I had it on mine
Were you also thinking about it? It was constantly on my mind


I went to speak but I lost my line
I intended to express myself, but I couldn't find the right words


But I guess you were right
However, I suppose you were correct


You read my mind
You accurately understood my thoughts and emotions


When you said goodbye
When you bid farewell


Sitting in the sand, we nursed our wounds
Sitting in the sand, we took care of our injuries


Holes torn in our jeans
Our jeans were ripped and damaged


And every day from that night on
And from that night forward, every day


We'd wear scars above both our knees
We would bear scars above our knees as a reminder


Where I bled for you, and you for me
Symbolizing the sacrifices we made for each other


Banished now to my memory's whim
Now exiled to the mercy of my memory


Words I couldn't confess
Words I couldn't bring myself to confess


A softness in your eyes pulled me in
The warmth and tenderness in your eyes attracted me


You looked at me, I held my breath
As you looked at me, I couldn't help but hold my breath


But I've worn that memory half to death
However, I have excessively dwelled on that memory


Just take your time
Simply take as much time as you need


When you say goodbye
When you bid farewell




Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: The Americans

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions