The Sound
William McDowell Lyrics


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I will make myself, a mile from the racetrack, drag my losses home.
It kills me not come back.
And we float with parasites all our lives.
There's me with the geriatrics at the slot machines.
There's me, the embodiment of how slow life can be.
There's me.
Their dead eyes are glowing. Mine are always shut.
I passed out on the road, just hours from the racetrack.
I saw Lamotta raise a toast.

He said "you got me with the right jab."

And we float with parasites all our lives with this advice
We learn until we're dead.
Be losers til your sanguine thoughts subside.
We learn until we're dead.
A falling dream's not just a morbid sign.
It's opportunity.

If you could make this old heart young again I'd find another topic to drone on,
A more fashionable vice to lean on.
Some better words to speak on that escaped my younger form.
But there's me with the geriatrics at the slot machines.

There's me.
The embodiment of how slow life can be.
There's me.
Short of imposing, please be involved.




Can I stop imploding at every obstacle thrown on me?
Imply this is only a prettier glimpse of a life so ugly that's mine.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to William McDowell's "The Sound" delve into the themes of regret, addiction, and the idea that life is a constant struggle with oneself. The singer of the song speaks of himself in terms of negative behaviors and actions such as going to the racetrack, gambling, and being surrounded by "parasites" throughout his life. He seems to be stuck in a place of feeling deeply disappointed in himself and wishing for a way out.


The line "there's me with the geriatrics at the slot machines" reflects a sense of hopelessness and desperation. The singer seems to be acutely aware of his own mortality and the fact that he is wasting time with his life. The reference to Jake LaMotta, the famous boxer, adds further weight to the idea of struggling against oneself, as LaMotta was known for his anger issues and self-destructive behavior.


The chorus of the song contains the advice to "be losers til your sanguine thoughts subside," implying that life is a process of learning and that we must experience failures and setbacks in order to grow. The idea that a "falling dream's not just a morbid sign" is a call to keep pushing through difficult times and to see them as opportunities rather than obstacles. Ultimately, the song speaks to the idea that even in the darkest of times, there is hope for growth and change.


Line by Line Meaning

I will make myself, a mile from the racetrack, drag my losses home.
I will walk a mile from the race track with my losses, and feel the pain of not being able to win.


It kills me not come back.
It's painful not being able to return because I lost.


And we float with parasites all our lives.
We live our lives with people who drain us and hinder us from growing.


There's me with the geriatrics at the slot machines.
I am with old people gambling in the hope of getting lucky.


There's me, the embodiment of how slow life can be.
I am the embodiment of how life can be stagnant.


Their dead eyes are glowing. Mine are always shut.
They are lifeless, while I am always failing to see the opportunities around me.


I passed out on the road, just hours from the racetrack.
I'm exhausted, while the race track is just a few hours away.


I saw Lamotta raise a toast. He said "you got me with the right jab."
I saw Lamotta raise a glass and acknowledge that I landed the right punch during the fight.


And we float with parasites all our lives with this advice We learn until we're dead.
We live with people who hinder us from growing while we learn until our last breath.


Be losers 'til your sanguine thoughts subside. We learn until we're dead. A falling dream's not just a morbid sign. It's opportunity.
Keep losing until you overcome your optimistic thoughts. We learn until the end. A falling dream is not only a bad sign; it's an opportunity to learn.


If you could make this old heart young again, I'd find another topic to drone on, A more fashionable vice to lean on. Some better words to speak on that escaped my younger form.
If I were young again, I would find other things to obsess over, an easier way to get through life. I would use better language that I couldn't use before.


But there's me with the geriatrics at the slot machines. There's me. The embodiment of how slow life can be. There's me.
I am still with the old people gambling, while the rest of the world is moving. Life is still stagnant for me.


Short of imposing, please be involved. Can I stop imploding at every obstacle thrown on me? Imply this is only a prettier glimpse of a life so ugly that's mine.
I can't force you, but please be involved in my life. I often break down when I face adversity. This beautiful glimpse is just a small view of my entire ugly life.




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN, RICHARD RODGERS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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