Shelter of Your Arms
Willie Nelson & Friends Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And if I sleep, perhaps I'll dream.
If I dream, I'll be with you,
In the shelter of your arms.
I pray that god will lengthen night,
And grant me time before the light.
For the light of day will take me
From the shelter of your arms.
And though I know it's just a dream,
A dream that soon must end,
The arms I feel, I know are real,
And I'm happy, once again.
If I die, while I am asleep,
I pray my dreams he'll let me keep,
And carry me through eternity
In the shelter of your arms.
And though I know it's just a dream,
A dream that soon must end,
The arms I feel, I know are real
And I'm happy, once again.
And if I die while I am asleep,
I pray my dreams he'll let me keep,
And carry me through eternity
In the shelter of your arms
Willie Nelson's "The Shelter of Your Arms" speaks to the idea of relying on the comfort and love of another person to ease one's fears and anxieties. The song opens with the familiar bedtime prayer, "Now I lay me down to sleep," which sets a tone of vulnerability and dependence. The singer then voices his fear that he will be separated from his loved one when the light of day arrives. He prays that God will allow him to stay in the shelter of his lover's arms a little longer, even if it is only in his dreams.
The second verse echoes the theme of impermanence, acknowledging that the dream will eventually end. However, the embrace of his lover feels real to him, and he finds solace in the momentary reprieve from fear and loneliness. The final verse adds another layer to the song's message, expressing a hope that even in death he will be carried through eternity in the "shelter of your arms."
Overall, "The Shelter of Your Arms" is a song about love, tenderness, and the fear of being alone. It suggests that finding someone to rely on can provide a sense of safety and comfort, even in the face of death.
Line by Line Meaning
Now I lay me down to sleep
As I prepare to go to bed, I am hoping for a comforting dream tonight.
And if I sleep, perhaps I'll dream.
If I fall asleep, there's a chance that I might have a good dream.
If I dream, I'll be with you,
In my dream, I will be spending time with you and feeling safe.
In the shelter of your arms.
You provide me with a sense of security and comfort that I long for.
I pray that god will lengthen night,
I'm hoping that the night will feel longer, so I can enjoy my dream for as long as possible.
And grant me time before the light.
Before dawn breaks and daylight arrives, I would like to continue dreaming and being with you.
For the light of day will take me
The morning will bring an end to my peaceful dream and I will have to face reality again.
From the shelter of your arms.
Leaving the comforting embrace of your arms will be difficult for me.
And though I know it's just a dream,
I acknowledge that what I am experiencing is not real but just a part of my imagination.
A dream that soon must end,
I know that this tranquil dream will eventually come to an end.
The arms I feel, I know are real,
Even though it is just a dream, the sensation of being embraced in someone's arms feels genuine to me.
And I'm happy, once again.
This serene moment brings me happiness and comfort in a way that real life cannot always provide.
If I die, while I am asleep,
In case I pass away during my slumber, I have a final request regarding my dream state.
I pray my dreams he'll let me keep,
I hope that my dreams will not be taken away from me, even in death.
And carry me through eternity
I want to keep the peaceful and comforting feeling of my dream forever, even beyond the physical world.
In the shelter of your arms.
Being held in your comforting embrace is what I desire even as I transition into the afterlife.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: JERRY SAMUELS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind