The Ballad of the Sad Young Men
Echoes of Youth: Rickie Lee Jones' Melancholic Reflections
Lyrics
Sing a song of sad young man
Singing about the melancholy of young men.
Glasses full of rye
Drinking heavily, possibly to cope with difficulties.
All the news is bad again so
Receiving negative news, contributing to a sense of despair.
Kiss your dreams goodbye
Abandoning aspirations due to harsh realities.
All the sad young men
Depicting the collective sorrow of young men.
Sitting in the bars
Frequenting bars as a means of escape.
Knowing neon nights
Experiencing nightlife illuminated by neon lights.
Missing all the stars
Feeling a sense of loss, missing out on opportunities.
All the sad young men
Describing young men drifting aimlessly in the town.
Drifting through the town
Indulging in alcohol, trying to avoid emotional drowning.
Drinking up the night
Consuming the night, possibly to escape reality.
Trying not to drown
Struggling not to succumb to despair.
All the sad young men
Highlighting the pervasive sadness among young men.
Singing in the cold
Singing in a cold, desolate atmosphere.
Trying to forget
Attempting to forget the harsh reality of aging.
That they're growing old
Acknowledging the inevitability of growing old.
All the sad young men
Expressing internal struggles and a sense of worthlessness.
Choking on their worth
Trying to be courageous in the face of difficulties.
Trying to be brave
Running away from the uncomfortable truth.
Running from the truth
Symbolizing the changing season and the passage of time.
Autumn turns the leaves to gold
Reflecting on the harsh reality of growing old.
Slowly dies the heart
Expressing the cruelty of aging and its impact on the heart.
Sad young men are growing old
Portraying the tragic aspect of young men growing old.
That's the cruelest part
Emphasizing the pain of witnessing youth fade away.
All the sad young men
Depicting a search for solace and happiness through a smile.
Seek a certain smile
Desiring companionship for a brief period.
Someone they can hold for a little while
Seeking comfort from someone in moments of despair.
Tired little girl does the best she can
Illustrating a tired woman making an effort to bring joy to her partner.
Trying to be gay for her sad young man
Trying to uplift the spirits of the sad young man.
While the grimy moon
Depicting the moon as a distant observer of the sadness below.
Watches from above
Imagining the moon watching over the activities of the young men.
All the sad young men
Engaging in the play of physical intimacy as a temporary escape.
Play of making love
Emphasizing the moon's role in overseeing these activities.
Misbegotten moon
Describing the moon as misunderstood or poorly conceived.
Shine for sad young men
Requesting the moon to guide the sad young men home.
Let your gentle light
Asking for the moon's gentle light to provide comfort.
Guide them home tonight
Expressing a hope for guidance and solace for the young men.
All the sad young men
Reiterating the collective sadness of the young men.
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