1
I don't mind losing a girl to herself
A quiet love is better than none
And I don't mind losing a friend to a friend
If only to be a reasonable man
And I don't mind waiting if it's for the best
A careful heart is better than none
I don't mind painting my back with the past
Pictures in resolute pain
Smoothing the laugh o'er the lane
But if it happens to you
The same kind of deal
I recommend fire
Instead of the fool
I don't mind shaking your hand at the door
If only to be a resolute man (Pictures in resolute pain)
If only to be a resolute man
If only to be a resolute man
But if it happens to you
The same kind of deal
I recommend fire
Instead of the fool
I don't mind shaking your hand at the door
If only to be a resolute man (Pictures in resolute pain)
If only to be a resolute man
If only to be a resolute man
If only to be a reasonable man
If only to be a reasonable man
A quiet love is better than none
And I don't mind losing a friend to a friend
If only to be a reasonable man
And I don't mind waiting if it's for the best
A careful heart is better than none
I don't mind painting my back with the past
Pictures in resolute pain
Smoothing the laugh o'er the lane
But if it happens to you
The same kind of deal
I recommend fire
Instead of the fool
I don't mind shaking your hand at the door
If only to be a resolute man (Pictures in resolute pain)
If only to be a resolute man
If only to be a resolute man
But if it happens to you
The same kind of deal
I recommend fire
Instead of the fool
I don't mind shaking your hand at the door
If only to be a resolute man (Pictures in resolute pain)
If only to be a resolute man
If only to be a resolute man
If only to be a reasonable man
If only to be a reasonable man
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Interesting song, full of regret.
My take - it's about being too cautious and accommodating in life. You can lose your girl & your friends for want of speaking up and intervening, you can wait instead of taking action, you can shake someone's hand when you want to hit them.
The singer has done all of these things, because he reasons/rationalises that "a careful heart is better than none". But because of this he has suffered great pain, which he now carries around with him.
The twist is that he suggests that others NOT follow his example - "if it happens to you/the same kind of deal/I recommend fire/instead of the fool". In other words, don't be a cautious, hesitant fool who sees everything he values slip away - instead fight (apply 'fire'). The sadness in the song is thus that he is aware of his own characteristics of hesitation and inaction, but is unable to escape them despite the pain they cause.
THIS is well said ;) Good interpretation, I had kinda the same in mind.
Well done! Someone did better in English class than I.