Not Lie Down
Resisting the Night: Willy Mason's Anthem of Solitude and Self-Discovery
Lyrics
I'm not gonna lie down in that bed tonight
I refuse to surrender and be defeated tonight by lying in that bed.
No, I'm not gonna lie down in that bed tonight
Reiteration of the determination not to lie down and give in.
No, I'm not gonna lie down in that bed
Continuing the resolve to avoid lying down in that bed.
Let them covers clutch me and pull these thoughts out of my head
Rejecting the comfort of covers that may suppress troubling thoughts.
I'm not gonna feel so all alone tonight
Emphasizing the decision not to feel lonely tonight.
No, I'm not gonna feel so all alone tonight
Repeating the commitment to avoid feeling alone.
No, I'm not gonna feel so all alone
Stating the determination not to experience loneliness.
With that empty space beside me and the city just a drone out the window
Referring to an empty space beside the speaker and the distant cityscape as background noise.
I'm not gonna roll over tonight
Affirming the decision not to give in or surrender tonight.
No, I'm not gonna roll over tonight
Repeating the refusal to roll over and succumb.
No, I'm not gonna roll over and over
Continuing the determination not to yield, especially to internal struggles.
To shake these demons from their hold
Expressing the intention to resist and overcome personal demons.
Not gonna close my eyes tonight
Asserting the decision not to close one's eyes in an attempt to avoid unpleasant thoughts.
No, I'm not gonna close my eyes tonight
Reiteration of the choice not to close the eyes.
No, I'm not gonna close my eyes
Emphasizing the commitment to keep the eyes open.
Let my thoughts form pictures that I care not to describe
Allowing thoughts to form mental images that the speaker is unwilling to describe.
And oh how they writhe
Reflecting on the unsettling nature of these thoughts.
Already learned my lesson babe
Admitting a prior acknowledgment of a lesson, likely related to a relationship.
You know that you are right
Acknowledging the correctness of the other person (the babe) in the relationship.
Already learned my lesson babe
Reiterating the speaker's learning from past experiences.
You know that you are right
Affirming the correctness of the other person in the present situation.
God damn you, you're always right
Expressing frustration with oneself for not remembering the partner's correctness during arguments.
Why the hell can't I remember that, each time we start to fight
Pondering why the speaker forgets this crucial aspect each time a conflict arises.
Calling you, it's midnight
Attempting to contact the absent partner, expressing concern at midnight.
Why aren't you home?
Questioning the partner's whereabouts and why they are not at home.
Yeah I'm calling you, it's midnight
Reiterating the attempt to call the partner at midnight.
Why aren't you home?
Repeating the concern about the partner not being home.
Why, why, why, why aren't you home?
Pondering and emphasizing the unanswered question of why the partner is not home.
Guess I'm just gonna have to spend another night here all alone
Accepting the likelihood of spending another night alone due to the partner's absence.
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