Don't Be Long
Navigating Life's Crooked Miles: Ron Hawkins' Poetic Reflections
Lyrics
Don't be long on that crooked mile
Advising against spending too much time on a troubled path or lifestyle.
With your junkie pose and your pawn-shop smile
Warning about adopting a disreputable appearance and insincere smile.
And don't be long in that tattered line
Discouraging involvement in a worn-out or degraded situation.
Or you won't be long in this heart of mine
Suggesting that staying in such a situation won't be good for the speaker's heart.
Because you don't believe in coming home
Not believing in the concept of returning home or responding to calls.
In the courtesy call or the fuckin' telephone
Rejecting the idea of courtesy calls or answering the telephone.
No, you don't believe, you don't believe
Reiterating disbelief in certain social norms or connections.
Don't be long out in the rain
Advising against staying too long in a challenging or uncomfortable situation.
Because you fell flat fast asleep in your clothes again
Warning about the consequences of falling asleep in a state of disarray.
You don't belong out on Easy street
Suggesting that the person doesn't belong in an easy or comfortable environment.
Because you're always tempted far too easily
Implying a tendency to succumb easily to temptation.
And you don't believe in tender words
Expressing doubt in the belief of kind and affectionate words.
Or that there's 4.6 billion other lonely people in the world
Highlighting the vast number of lonely people in the world.
No, you don't believe, you don't believe
Reiterating disbelief in certain beliefs or values.
Don't be long my condescending one
Addressing someone in a condescending manner and criticizing their actions.
Waging wars and then defending them
Criticizing the act of starting wars and then justifying them.
You won't be less strong if you surrender one
Suggesting that surrendering in certain situations doesn't indicate weakness.
Because you sure as hell don't belong to anyone
Asserting that the person is not bound to anyone.
And I don't believe your apologies
Expressing disbelief in apologies made by the person.
And I don't believe when you get down on your knees
Questioning the sincerity of the person when they kneel down.
No, I don't believe the tears you weep
Rejecting the authenticity of the tears shed by the person.
Because I don't believe you're losing any sleep over me
Expressing skepticism that the person is genuinely affected by the speaker's situation.
I don't believe, no I don't believe
Reiterating disbelief in the person's feelings or concerns.
So don't be long nursing your grief
Advising against dwelling too long on one's sorrows or troubles.
Because it's getting hard to suspend my disbelief
Indicating that it's becoming difficult for the speaker to believe in the person's actions.
And don't be too long crying in your sleeve
Advising against excessive self-pity or sorrow.
'Cause this offer's over come this new-year's eve
Stating that an opportunity will be over by the new year's eve.
Then I don't believe I'll be coming home
Expressing doubt about returning home to a situation involving a TV and missing car keys.
To the TV on and the car keys gone
Repeating the skepticism about returning home.
No I don't believe, I don't believe
Reiterating disbelief in certain beliefs or values.
No, I don't believe I'll be coming home
Expressing uncertainty about the speaker's prediction of not coming home.
I guess I could be wrong
Leaving room for the possibility that the speaker could be wrong about not coming home.
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