Next Time
Unspoken Regrets: Al Stewart's Tale of Missed Chances
Lyrics
He heard the clatter of her heels in the street
He noticed the sound of her heels in the street.
The clock said half-past three
The clock indicated it was half-past three.
He lay there waiting in the dark to hear
He waited in the dark, anticipating the sound of her using the front-door key.
The scraping of the front-door key
He lay there waiting for her arrival.
He wouldn't say to her
He refrained from asking her about her whereabouts.
"Don't want to know where you were"
She wouldn't discover him in that state of mind.
She wouldn't find him there
He chose not to disclose his feelings to her.
Next time
Hinting at a future encounter or opportunity for a different response.
She missed the train, she felt the rain upon her face
She missed the train and experienced the rain on her face.
It seemed to clear her head
The rain seemed to have a clearing effect on her thoughts.
She watched him drive into the night
She observed him driving away with a broken tail-light.
A broken tail-light, a speck of red
A symbolic detail, a speck of red, possibly signifying a flaw or warning.
She still felt his touch
She still felt the impact of his touch.
It didn't seem to mean that much
However, it didn't hold significant meaning for her.
She wouldn't go back there
She had no intention of returning to that situation.
Next time
Reiterating the anticipation of a different outcome in the future.
When you were just a kid you loved
Reflecting on childhood memories of enjoying afternoon movies.
To go to movies in the afternoon
Referencing the joy of going to movies during the day.
And so you left the factory
The person left a factory job to work in a projection room.
And got a job in the projection-room
Describing a career change to a role related to movies.
Bette Davis plays
Referring to Bette Davis in a movie, suggesting escapism or influence.
Ran away with the passing days
Days passed, and time seemed to slip away.
You'll be a movie-star
An aspiration to become a movie star in the future.
Next time
Reinforcing the idea of a future opportunity or transformation.
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