i know a man
A Tale of Regret and Shadows: Little Green's Melodic Narrative
Lyrics
i know a man
The speaker introduces a man they know.
he wears a coat
Describing the man's attire—wearing a blue coat.
as blue as the sea
Further details about the coat, likening its color to the sea.
with speckles of green
Mention of green speckles on the blue coat.
and a top hat
The man is wearing a top hat.
he lights up the room
Highlighting the man's positive impact on the surroundings.
and he never frowns
Emphasizing the man's optimistic demeanor—never frowning.
plays cards upside down
Unique traits: playing cards upside down.
he drinks every round
Drinks consistently throughout the night.
with a gold toothed smile
Describing the man's cheerful smile with a gold tooth.
but when the night is over he goes quiet
The mood shifts; the man becomes quiet after the night ends.
nothing left to say
Expresses a sense of emptiness or lack of things to say.
and when the bar tender dims the lights he darkens
As the lights dim, the man's mood darkens.
re-writing that day
Suggests the man reflects and re-writes events in his mind.
all of the things he could have said
Regret about missed opportunities and unspoken words.
he could have been brave
The man could have shown bravery in certain situations.
he could have been there
Reflects on the man's absence in certain situations.
if only he had left the house on time
If he had left the house on time, things might have been different.
now he tries to forget the sound of the screams
Attempts to forget disturbing sounds and memories.
the sirens in the street
References sirens in the street as a distressing memory.
he drowns the memory with drinks
The man copes by drowning memories with drinks at a marble bar.
at the marble bar
Specifically mentions the location of his drinking—marble bar.
but when the night is over he goes quiet
Reiteration of the man's silence and lack of words at night's end.
nothing left to say
Continued theme of emptiness and quietude.
and when the bar tender dims the lights he darkens
Connects the dimming lights to the man's darkening mood.
re-writing that day
Revisiting and re-imagining events from that day.
i know a man
Repetition of the introduction of the man.
he wears a coat
Restating the details of the man's blue coat.
as blue as the sea
Reiteration of the sea-like color of the coat.
with speckles of green
Repeating the presence of green speckles on the coat.
and a top hat
Repeating the mention of the top hat.
he lights up the room
Highlighting the positive impact the man has on the environment.
when he walks in
New detail: the man's positive influence when he enters a room.
he plays the mandolin
The man's musical talent—he plays the mandolin.
he jokes and smokes his pipe
Additional details about the man's demeanor—joking and smoking a pipe.
and keeps his secrets in
Suggests the man keeps certain aspects of himself private.
but when the night is over he goes quiet
Repetition of the man's silence at the end of the night.
nothing left to say
Reiteration of the emptiness or lack of words.
and when the bar tender dims the lights he darkens
Repetition of the connection between dimming lights and the man's darkening mood.
re-writing that day
Re-emphasis on the man revisiting and re-writing the events of that day.
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