Kathleen
Tindersticks Lyrics
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But I ain't in the mood for sunshine anyway
Maybe I'll go insane, got to stop the pain
Maybe I'll go down to see Kathleen
Swallow comes, tells me her dreams
Says she'd like to know just what they mean
Feel like I could die as I watch her flying by
Riding the north wind down to see Kathleen
The moon has come to lead me to a door
It's crystal `cross the sand, the waves they take my hand
Soon I'm gonna see my sweet Kathleen
Soon I'm gonna see my sweet Kathleen
The lyrics of Tindersticks's song "Kathleen" are quite poetically complex yet at the same time, easy to grasp. The singer, who is feeling down and possibly grappling with intense emotional pain, seems to be seeking some degree of solace from the world around him. He is aware of the absence of the sun and reveals that he doesn't really care much for sunshine anyway, probably because it isn't enough to lift his spirits. He even considers the possibility of losing his mind in an effort to escape the pain.
However, there seems to be something that gives the singer hope, and that is a woman called Kathleen. He speaks of seeing a swallow, a bird known for its bravery and resilience, and imagining flying down to see Kathleen. His thoughts of her provide a sense of comfort as the mention of her sweet name punctuates the last line of the song. The lyrics not only reflect the complexity of human emotions, but they also paint a picture of a landscape and its natural beauty, with the stars hanging high and the ocean roaring.
Line by Line Meaning
Strange to see, the sun don't shine today
It's a weird feeling that there's no sunshine today.
But I ain't in the mood for sunshine anyway
I am not in the right mindset to enjoy sunshine today.
Maybe I'll go insane, got to stop the pain
I am feeling like losing my mind just to get rid of this pain.
Maybe I'll go down to see Kathleen
To distract myself, I might go down to Kathleen's place.
Swallow comes, tells me her dreams
A swallow bird comes and shares her dreams with me.
Says she'd like to know just what they mean
The bird seems to be confused about the meaning of her own dreams.
Feel like I could die as I watch her flying by
The bird flying away makes me feel like it's the end of my life.
Riding the north wind down to see Kathleen
I imagine the bird riding the wind to go to Kathleen's place.
Stars hang high with the ocean roar
The stars are shining brightly above amidst the roaring sound of the ocean.
The moon has come to lead me to a door
The moon's presence is guiding me to a specific door.
It's crystal `cross the sand, the waves they take my hand
I spot a shining crystal on the sandy ground and the waves seem to guide me towards it.
Soon I'm gonna see my sweet Kathleen
I am excited to finally see my dear Kathleen soon.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Written by: John Townes Van Zandt
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
TheEamoB
Probably the best cover ever.
Ben S Hammonds
wonderful job on this Townes Van Zandt song, Love it, big hello from Texas
Jason Umbrellabird
What an amazing cover version.
aedon finch
Stuart's voice speaks to my soul
tihi75
What a song... fascinating combination of voice and melody... <3
ruben1million
been looking for this song for a long time. Used to have the live version, but the studio version seems more compelling.
Carlos Luna
I love this song and god I love this cover.
Peter Mateer
The strings are the worst part about Townes' original recording but here Tindersticks have turned those same string parts into something more beautiful. It suits their sound.
David Richman
I actually prefer baroque Townes to more pure.
Nico Tena
I'm a huge Tindersticks fan and it does seem like you're a bit more familiar with your musical history than duncecap65 is, but there is a little bit of our "so little of it" history that I'm sure even you can appreciate. That would be when we decided to help out with what was going on in Europe about 70 years ago after the Germans decided they needed more land. I know it pales in terms of your history, but I guess it at least gave you the chance to be able to make your comment in English!