If Trouble Comes a Lookin'
Whispers of Temptation: A Tale in Little Rock
Lyrics
What is there in Little Rock at the Hilton Double Tree
A rhetorical question about what could be found in Little Rock at the Hilton Double Tree.
Just a woman far from home a thousand miles out to sea
Describing a woman far from home, possibly feeling isolated like being a thousand miles out to sea.
She walks over to the window, pulls the curtain shut
The woman's action of closing the curtain, indicating a desire for privacy or hiding.
Pours three fingers of whiskey in a flimsy plastic cup
Describes the woman pouring whiskey, suggesting a coping mechanism or escape from reality.
Sits down on the bedspread, takes off her wedding ring
The woman removing her wedding ring, possibly contemplating actions that might lead to freedom.
If she does something dark enough he might just set her free
Suggests a dark act as a means of seeking liberation from an undesirable situation.
It's her mother's mother's diamond in a shining golden band
Reference to a valuable diamond in a golden band, possibly symbolizing family history or legacy.
Another woman who spent most her life loving the wrong man
Describes another woman who spent her life loving the wrong man, reflecting on past mistakes or regrets.
If trouble comes a' lookin' she won't be hard to find
Expresses that if trouble comes, the woman won't be hard to find, hinting at her presence in a vulnerable state.
She's sitting in the hotel bar on her second glass of wine
Details the woman's location in a hotel bar, drinking wine as a way of coping.
She put a pretty dress on, wiped the tears out of her eyes
Describes the woman putting on a pretty dress and wiping away tears, possibly trying to appear strong despite emotional pain.
And if trouble comes a'lookin she won't be hard to find
Reiterates that if trouble comes, the woman is easily accessible, emphasizing her vulnerability.
Just two floors down is Brother John from Our Lady of Grace
Introduces Brother John, an older figure with a lonely face, choosing a hotel to escape from the world.
He is older now but handsome still with such a lonely face
Highlights Brother John's enduring handsomeness but underlying loneliness.
He picked a hotel off the Interstate where even God won't find him
Brother John's deliberate choice of a secluded hotel reflects his desire for isolation.
Runs his fingers through the rosary and locks the door behind him
Describes Brother John engaging in prayer with a rosary, emphasizing his spiritual struggle.
How was Christ so perfect, how on earth did he resist
Ponders on Christ's perfection and resistance, questioning the challenges of human desires.
The perfume on a woman's neck, the softness of her lips
References the sensual aspects of a woman, contrasting with Brother John's struggles.
He burned and burned for years with the fire of devotion
Describes Brother John's enduring devotion and internal conflict.
But some things are impossible to stop once they're in motion
Suggests the inevitability of certain actions once set in motion.
If trouble comes a'lookin' he won't be hard to find
Similar to the woman, Brother John is easily accessible if trouble comes.
He's sitting in the hotel bar on his second glass of wine
Brother John, like the woman, is in a hotel bar, reflecting vulnerability and a coping mechanism.
Across the empty room he glances up to meet her eyes
Describes a moment where Brother John and the woman make eye contact.
And if trouble comes a lookin' he won't be hard to find
Reiterates the accessibility of Brother John if trouble arises.
At quarter til the bartender will make the final call
Sets the scene for a later event at the quarter hour, possibly significant for the characters.
She'll slip down off her stool and sway slowly down the hall
Describes the woman leaving the bar, indicating a potential turning point.
And he'll kiss her like she always wanted, back against the wall
Implies an intimate encounter between the woman and Brother John.
And she'll step out of her dress looking like Eve before the fall
Describes the aftermath of the encounter, with a visual reference to Eve before the fall.
If trouble comes a lookin they won't be hard to find
States that if trouble comes, both characters won't be hard to find together.
They're tangled in each other's arms in room 229
Describes the characters entwined in each other's arms in a specific room.
They've never strayed this far into the shadows of the night
Highlights the characters venturing into uncharted territory, possibly morally or emotionally.
And if trouble comes a' lookin' they won't be hard to find
Reiterates the accessibility of both characters if trouble arises.
Not every infidelity is bound to end in shame
Suggests that not all infidelity leads to shame, providing a nuanced perspective on relationships.
She'll smile one month later when a letter bears his name
Foresees a future where the woman smiles upon receiving a letter from Brother John.
Brother John has gone to France and Italy to travel
Reveals Brother John's departure to France and Italy, hinting at a journey of self-discovery.
Where all of his ideas of God will happily unravel
Concludes with the idea that Brother John's preconceived notions of God will unravel during his travels.
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