As Tears Go By
Echoes of Lost Innocence: Rhoda Dakar's 'As Tears Go By' Meaning
Lyrics
It is the evening of the day
Reflecting on the end of the day
I sit and watch the children play
Observing children playing
Smiling faces I can see
Noticing happy faces around
But not for me
Feeling that the happiness is not for the speaker
I sit and watch
Continuing to watch the scene
As tears go by
Expressing sorrow, tears flowing
My riches can't buy everything
Acknowledging that wealth can't buy everything
I want to hear the children sing
Desiring to hear the joyous sound of children singing
All I hear is the sound
Hearing only the melancholic sound of rain
Of rain falling on the ground
Symbolizing a sense of sadness and gloom
I sit and watch
Continuing to observe, feeling emotional
As tears go by
Reiterating the theme of tears and sadness
It is the evening of the day
Repeating the initial reflection on the evening
I sit and watch the children play
Observing children engaging in familiar activities
Doing things I used to do
Noting that the children are doing things the speaker used to do
They think are new
Realizing that these activities are considered new by the children
I sit and watch
Continuing to watch, feeling a sense of nostalgia
As tears go by
Reiterating the theme of tears as time passes
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