Dirty Neon Times
The Badlees Lyrics
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And I kept a fire burning through the morning light
You, early morning diner on the neon range
You, you drove away as it began to rain
Twenty months of feedin' off original sin
Ain't shut the door blown open by what should have been
And time's been like a dog that begs
And I find it's needin' to be fed
Guardian angel rise, pull me out of my disguise
And shut the door behind on the dirty neon times
I became an island on a social sea
And I let someone take my shores occasionally
Wine, good weed and cigarettes assured they'd leave
Fine, fine women all but I could not receive
Twenty months of feedin' off original sin
Ain't shut the door blown open by what should've been
[Chorus]
'Cause to condemn her now don't make no sense at all
Like taxis in the backwoods, like striptease at the mall
You hit a wall
[Chorus]
The Badlees's song "Dirty Neon Times" is a beautiful reflection on the themes of longing, loss, isolation, and growth. Released in 1995, the song opens with the lines “I thought I felt her ghost again last night, And I kept a fire burning through the morning light”. These lyrics vividly paint a picture of the singer’s feelings of loneliness, as he seeks solace in the memory of a past lover who is now gone.
As the song progresses, the lyrics capture the sense of being trapped in a cycle of self-destructive behavior - “Twenty months of feedin' off original sin, Ain't shut the door blown open by what should have been”. The singer is grappling with the consequences of his actions and choices, trying to find a way out of the darkness and into the light.
The song’s title, “Dirty Neon Times”, resonates with the sense of disorientation and confusion that the singer is struggling with. The dirty neon lights represent the seedy underbelly of the city’s nightlife, a world of vice and excess that he is trying to escape. Overall, the song is a moving and powerful exploration of the human condition, full of honesty and insight.
Line by Line Meaning
I thought I felt her ghost again last night
The singer felt like he was visited by his ex-girlfriend's ghost.
And I kept a fire burning through the morning light
He stayed up all night thinking about this.
You, early morning diner on the neon range
Talking to someone who was a stranger he met at a diner.
You, you drove away as it began to rain
The stranger left while it was raining.
Twenty months of feedin' off original sin
He has been living with the regret of his past choices for 20 months.
Ain't shut the door blown open by what should have been
He hasn't been able to move on from what could have been.
[Chorus] And time's been like a dog that begs
Time has been dragging on and feels like it needs attention, like a needy dog.
And I find it's needin' to be fed
The singer feels like time is taking a toll on him and needs something to help ease the pain.
Guardian angel rise, pull me out of my disguise
He wants someone to help him escape his current situation.
And shut the door behind on the dirty neon times
He wants to leave his dark past behind him and move on to a better future.
I became an island on a social sea
He isolated himself from others and became like an island surrounded by water.
And I let someone take my shores occasionally
He allowed certain people into his life but it never worked out.
Wine, good weed and cigarettes assured they'd leave
The alcohol, drugs, and smoking made sure people would leave him alone.
Fine, fine women all but I could not receive
He was unable to connect with the women he was with.
Twenty months of feedin' off original sin
He is still living with the guilt of his past actions.
Ain't shut the door blown open by what should've been
He hasn't been able to let go of what he could have had.
[Chorus] 'Cause to condemn her now don't make no sense at all
He doesn't want to settle the past; it won't do any good.
Like taxis in the backwoods, like striptease at the mall
He's noticing how out of place the situation feels.
You hit a wall
He realizes he hit a wall and can no longer escape the situation he's in.
[Chorus]
Repeating the chorus to emphasize his desire to move on from his dark past.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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