Lyrics
First the streetlight says
Streetlight personified, suggesting awareness or advice.
You should eat something soon,
Encouragement to eat, possibly indicating concern for well-being.
we always flood the hallways
Shared experiences or information without clear purpose.
with our arbitrary news.
Communication filled with random or unimportant details.
I know that you're defenseless,
Acknowledgment of vulnerability or defenselessness.
The phone just rings
Ring of the phone bringing occasional bad news.
With bad news now and then.
Reference to negative news received intermittently.
Until the train leaves,
Time passing until a significant event (train departure).
The door is open
Symbolic open door against a fence, potential openness or vulnerability.
Against the fence.
Imagery suggesting a boundary or obstacle (fence).
It's a rainy night in Memphis,
Setting the scene: a rainy night in Memphis.
If you're safe
If one is safe, they are peacefully asleep.
You're fast asleep,
Highlighting a tranquil state during safety.
Those are the hours
Emphasis on specific peaceful hours in contrast to earlier chaos.
That you keep.
Reiteration of the serene hours that are maintained.
Hips together, we'll move
Invitation to dance or move carefreely with a partner.
Our feet like don't care.
Expressing a carefree attitude toward movement.
Paper brown together
Symbolic connection, possibly through shared experiences.
For a second,
Brief unity or connection described in terms of time.
The length of lover affairs.
Duration of relationships, emphasizing brevity.
I know that we're defenseless,
Similar vulnerability acknowledged in a different context.
The phone just rings
Repetition of phone ringing with occasional bad news.
With bad news now and then.
Continued reference to negative news received sporadically.
Until the train leaves,
Time passing until a significant event (train departure).
The door is open.
Symbolic open door against a fence, potential openness or vulnerability.
We're on the fence.
Reiteration of a state of indecision or being in-between.
It's a rainy night in Memphis,
Reiteration of the setting: a rainy night in Memphis.
If you're safe you're fast asleep,
Emphasis on safety leading to peaceful sleep.
Those are the hours
Reiteration of the specific serene hours being maintained.
That you keep.
Continued emphasis on the peaceful hours.
You keep on going home.
Repetition of the idea of continuous return or persistence.
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