Red, Red Wine
Intoxicating Memories: Unveiling the Emotion Behind Neil Diamond's 'Red, Red Wine'
Lyrics
Red, red wine
Expressing the presence of red wine
Go to my head
Having a strong impact on the speaker's thoughts and emotions
Make me forget that I
Causing the speaker to forget about someone significant
Still need her so
Despite the influence of the wine, the speaker still misses and needs the person
Red, red wine
Reiteration of the presence of red wine
It's up to you
Implying that the effect of the wine is a personal choice
All I can do, I've done
Having done everything possible, but memories persist
But memories won't go
Memories remain despite efforts to move on
No, memories won't go
Emphasizing the enduring nature of memories
I'd have sworn
The speaker believed that over time, memories would fade
That with time
Expressing the belief that time would heal emotional wounds
Thoughts of you
Expectation that thoughts of the person would diminish
Would leave my head
Admitting the error in predicting the fading of memories
I was wrong
Acknowledging a realization that contradicts earlier beliefs
And I find
Discovering that one thing still holds power over the speaker's emotions
Just one thing
Highlighting the significance of that one thing
Makes me forget
Indicating that the speaker forgets the person due to a specific influence
Red, red wine
Reiteration of the presence of red wine
Stay close to me
Asking the red wine to remain close, suggesting reliance on its effects
Don't let me be alone
Pleading for companionship to avoid loneliness
It's tearing apart
Describing the emotional impact of being alone
My blue, blue heart
Expressing the emotional pain in the speaker's heart
I'd have sworn
Similar to lines 12-14, expressing a repeated belief in the fading of memories
That with time
Reiteration of the expectation that thoughts of the person would diminish
Thoughts of you
Repeating the anticipation of fading memories
Would leave my head
Acknowledging the earlier miscalculation in predicting emotional healing
I was wrong
Admitting the error in assuming a resolution to emotional pain
And I find
Discovering the persistent influence of a specific factor on emotions
Just one thing
Reiterating the importance of that one thing that makes the speaker forget
Makes me forget
Emphasizing the power of the influencing factor over memories
Red, red wine
Reiteration of the presence of red wine
Stay close to me
Requesting the red wine to stay close, emphasizing dependence on its effects
Don't let me be alone
Pleading for companionship to avoid the pain of loneliness
It's tearing apart
Expressing the emotional impact of being alone, echoing lines 24-25
My blue, blue heart
Reiteration of the emotional pain in the speaker's heart
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