Believe You Me
Unveiling Life's Dichotomy: Allison Moorer's 'Believe You Me' Revels in Ironies
Lyrics
The cuckoo clock quit chirping
The cuckoo clock has stopped making noise.
The bird fell out and died
A bird that lived in the clock has died.
Spent its whole life working
The bird spent its life working but couldn't fly.
And never learned to fly
A metaphor for a life lacking fulfillment or purpose.
It ran out of time
The bird's life ran out of time, emphasizing its mortality.
A man jumped in the river
A man enters a river to cleanse himself of sin.
To wash away his sin
He forgets he can't swim, risking his life in his religious fervor.
In his religious fervor
Reference to a misguided spiritual commitment.
Forgot he couldn't swim
No one comes to his rescue, and he faces consequences.
No one saved his skin
Believe you me
An expression indicating sincerity or emphasis before a statement.
I want to believe in you
Expresses a desire to believe in something or someone.
Believe you me
Repetition of the desire to believe, highlighting internal conflict.
I want to believe I do
Expresses uncertainty or difficulty in believing.
A woman works the corner
A woman is working as a sex worker at Hollywood and Vine.
Of Hollywood and Vine
Indication of a challenging life and difficult choices.
No one can afford her
People can't afford her services, but they still seek them.
But we stand in line
People wait in line, suggesting a desire for forbidden or unattainable love.
Cause her love is blind
Her love is described as blind, possibly alluding to its destructive nature.
Believe you me
Repetition of the expression of desire to believe.
I want to believe in you
Reiterates the wish to believe in something or someone.
Believe you me
Expresses uncertainty or struggle in maintaining belief.
I want to believe I do
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