Highway Kind
Journey of Longing: Lyle Lovett's Highway Kind Revels in Life's Transient Beauty
Lyrics
My days they are the highway kind
Expressing that the speaker's experiences are transient and constantly on the move, like a highway.
They only come to leave
Indicating that these experiences only briefly visit and then depart.
But the leaving I don't mind
The speaker doesn't mind the act of leaving; it's the arrival that is desired.
It's the coming that I crave
Expressing a longing or desire for new experiences and challenges.
Pour the sun upon the ground
Describing the act of exposing oneself to life and its challenges, akin to pouring sunlight on the ground.
Stand to throw a shadow
Standing to cast a shadow implies being present and making an impact.
Watch it grow into the night
Observing the impact of one's actions as they unfold and extend into the night.
And fill the spinning sky
Highlighting the vastness of the world and the potential for influence.
Time among the pine trees
Reflecting on time spent in nature among pine trees.
It felt like breath of air
Describing the experience as refreshing, like a breath of air.
Usually I just walk these streets
Typically, the speaker walks the streets and tries to convince oneself to care.
And tell myself to care
Expressing doubt about the sincerity of one's own convictions.
Sometimes I believe me
Occasionally, the speaker believes in oneself, but this belief is inconsistent.
Sometimes I don't hear
Acknowledging the variability in self-perception and understanding.
Sometimes the shape I'm in
Feeling trapped or constrained by the current circumstances.
Won't let me go
Expressing a struggle to break free from the current situation.
I don't know too much for truth
Admitting a lack of certainty or knowledge about many things.
But my heart knows how to pound
Despite uncertainties, the heart remains passionate and alive.
My legs know how to love someone
Legs symbolize movement and action, emphasizing the ability to love actively.
My voice knows how to sound
Voice represents expression and communication, knowing how to make itself heard.
It's a shame that it's not enough
Expressing disappointment that passion and capability are not always sufficient.
It's a shame that it is a shame
Highlighting the unfortunate aspect of feeling shame for having passion and capability.
Follow the circle down
Suggesting a cyclical nature, perhaps referencing life's repetitive patterns.
Where would you be
Prompting a question about the potential destination or outcome of life's journey.
You're the only one I want
Expressing a desire for a specific person.
I've never heard your name
Despite the desire, the speaker hasn't yet learned the person's name.
Let's hope we meet someday
Optimistically hoping for a future meeting with the desired person.
If we don't it's all the same
Indicating that whether they meet or not, it won't fundamentally change things.
And I'll meet the ones between us
Anticipating encounters with other people in the meantime.
And be thinking about you
Continuing to think about the desired person despite other experiences.
And all the places I have seen
Reflecting on the places visited and the absence of the desired person.
And why you were not there
Pondering the significance of the person's absence in the speaker's journey.
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