I Never Talk to Strangers
Perfect Strangers' Dance of Broken Hearts
Lyrics
Bartender, I'd like a Manhattan please
Expressing a desire for a Manhattan cocktail.
Stop me if you've heard this one
Suggesting the start of a familiar story or interaction.
But I feel as though we've met before
Feeling a sense of familiarity or connection with the person addressed.
Perhaps I am mistaken
Acknowledging the possibility of a mistake in recognizing the connection.
But it's just that I remind you of
Noting a resemblance to someone from the listener's past.
Someone you used to care about
Suggesting that the speaker resembles someone the listener once cared about.
Oh, but that was long ago
Indicating that the past connection is distant.
Now tell me, do you really think I'd fall for that old line
Expressing skepticism about falling for a familiar yet old line.
I was not born just yesterday
Asserting wisdom and experience, not easily fooled.
Besides, I never talk to strangers anyway
Declaring a general policy of not talking to strangers.
Hell, I ain't a bad guy when you get to know me
Defending one's character, claiming not to be a bad person.
I just thought there ain't no harm
Justifying harmless intentions, asking for personal space.
Hey, yeah, just try minding your own business, bud
Requesting the listener to mind their own business.
Who asked you to annoy me
Questioning why the listener is bothering or annoying the speaker.
With your sad, sad repartee?
Dismissing the listener's attempts at conversation.
Besides I never talk to strangers anyway
Reiterating the policy of not talking to strangers.
Your life's a dime-store novel
Comparing life to a cheap novel, suggesting a lack of uniqueness.
This town is full of guys like you
Generalizing the town as full of similar individuals.
And you're looking for someone to take the place of her
Suspecting the listener seeks a replacement for someone they lost.
You must be reading my mail
Playfully accusing the listener of reading the speaker's mail.
And you're bitter 'cause he left you
Suggesting the listener's bitterness due to a past breakup.
That's why you're drinkin' in this bar
Linking the listener's drinking to emotional distress.
Well, only suckers fall in love with perfect strangers
Expressing a cynical view that only fools fall in love with strangers.
It always takes one to know one, stranger
Reciprocal acknowledgment of being similar to each other.
Maybe we're just wiser now
Reflecting on wisdom gained through experience.
Yeah, and been around that block so many times
Implying a shared history of repeated experiences.
That we don't notice
Suggesting a lack of awareness of repeated patterns.
That we're all just perfect strangers
Acknowledging that everyone starts as strangers, overlooking the fact.
As long as we ignore
Highlighting the tendency to ignore the initial stranger status.
That we all begin as strangers
Stating the universal truth that everyone begins as strangers.
Just before we find
Emphasizing the transition from strangers to familiarity.
We really aren't strangers anymore
Conveying that strangers become familiar as relationships develop.
Aw, you don't look like such a chump (aw, hey baby)
Playfully commenting on the listener's appearance, possibly flirting.
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