The New Basement Tapes is a collaboration between Elvis Costello, Rhiannon … Read Full Bio ↴The New Basement Tapes is a collaboration between Elvis Costello, Rhiannon Giddens of Carolina Chocolate Drops, Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes, Jim James of My Morning Jacket, and Marcus Mumford of Mumford & Sons. Their album Lost on the River (2014) was produced by T-Bone Burnett and consists of songs based on recently discovered lyrics that Bob Dylan handwrote in 1967.

Stranger
The New Basement Tapes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Never fall in love with a stranger
And that, son, they all said to me
And never fall in love with a stranger
But I can't help it if she falls in love with me

And never fall in love with a stranger
Now, they've gone against my command
And never fall in love with a stranger

The pain is written in my hands

But if I can't resist
Find my way outta this

She knows that our love more than any river flows
And I'm done now, all of my intentions are exposed
Not hidden in my clothes
Or in between my toes

I wanna tombstone pearl handle revolver
Don't wanna meet a pale man with a halo in his hair
Never fall in love with a stranger
But sometimes I simply do not care

And if I can't resist
Get my way outta this

She knows that our love more than any river flows
And I'm done now, all of my intentions are exposed
Not hidden in my clothes
Or in between my toes

I done things right, pretty much all of my life
I'm not looking for any sympathy

I can run all I like away from that stranger
But somehow she'll always follow me

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to The New Basement Tapes' song "Stranger" depict a struggle between the singer's desire to follow conventional wisdom and not fall in love with a stranger, and their unwillingness to resist their attraction to this mysterious figure. Despite being warned by others, the singer finds themselves falling deeper into their love with the stranger, even as they continue to fight against it. The pain of this internal battle is "written in [their] hands," and the singer is torn between their longing for this person and their fear of the consequences.

The song's chorus suggests that the singer is aware of the potential dangers of their situation, but is unable to resist their love for the stranger. They believe that their love "flows more than any river," and that their intentions are "exposed," meaning that they are willing to be vulnerable and open with this person in a way that they may not have been before. Despite feeling exposed, the singer also acknowledges that they are not looking for pity, and have lived a largely virtuous life up until this point.

The final verse of the song suggests that the singer has attempted to escape from their love for the stranger, but has ultimately been unsuccessful. The imagery of a "tombstone pearl handle revolver" and a "pale man with a halo in his hair" suggests that the singer may be considering violent or self-destructive actions as a means of coping with their emotions. Despite these tendencies, the singer seems resigned to the fact that the stranger will always be a part of their life, even as they continue to struggle with their feelings.

Overall, "Stranger" explores the complexities of love and attraction, and the difficulty of resisting these impulses even in the face of consequences. It paints a portrait of a person grappling with their emotions and attempting to reconcile conflicting desires, all while knowing that they may never be truly free of the person who has captured their heart.

Line by Line Meaning

Never fall in love with a stranger
People warned me not to love someone unknown

And that, son, they all said to me
It's what everyone advised me, as if it were a rule

And never fall in love with a stranger
They repeated it multiple times and emphasized it

But I can't help it if she falls in love with me
If she reciprocates, I cannot control my feelings

Now, they've gone against my command
Others have disregarded my warning or advice

The pain is written in my hands
I feel the hurt in my actions and, as a result, my hands ache

But if I can't resist
However, if I cannot ignore my emotions

Find my way outta this
I must figure out a solution

She knows that our love more than any river flows
She understands that our connection is as strong and persistent as a flowing river

And I'm done now, all of my intentions are exposed
I'm transparent now, having revealed my true intentions

Not hidden in my clothes
I'm not trying to conceal anything

Or in between my toes
I have no sneaky or ulterior motives

I wanna tombstone pearl handle revolver
I want a gun to deal with difficult situations

Don't wanna meet a pale man with a halo in his hair
I don't want to meet my fate or a religious figure

Never fall in love with a stranger
Despite everything, I still hear the warning

But sometimes I simply do not care
Sometimes I choose to ignore it

And if I can't resist
If my emotions are too strong

Get my way outta this
I will find a solution or escape

She knows that our love more than any river flows
She comprehends the intensity of our love

And I'm done now, all of my intentions are exposed
I'm being truly honest and open with her

Not hidden in my clothes
I have no hidden agendas

Or in between my toes
There are no secret motives

I done things right, pretty much all of my life
I have been a commendable person throughout my life

I'm not looking for any sympathy
I'm not asking for pity or compassion

I can run all I like away from that stranger
I may try to escape or ignore the attraction

But somehow she'll always follow me
But she'll always find a way to be with me

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BOB DYLAN, MARCUS MUMFORD, MARCUS OLIVER JOHNSTONE MUMFORD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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