Well I woke up in mid-afternoon cause that's when it all hurts the most
I dream I never know anyone at the party and I'm always the host
If dreams are like movies, then memories are films about ghosts
You can never escape, you can only move south down the coast

Well, I am an idiot walking a tightrope of fortune and fame
I am an acrobat swinging trapezes through circles of flame
If you've never stared off in the distance, then your life is a shame
And though I'll never forget your face,
sometimes I can't remember my name

Hey Mrs. Potter don't cry
Hey Mrs. Potter I know why but
Hey Mrs. Potter won't you talk to me

Well, there's a piece of Maria in every song that I sing
And the price of a memory is the memory of the sorrow it brings
And there is always one last light to turn out and one last bell to ring
And the last one out of the circus has to lock up everything

Or the elephants will get out and forget to remember what you said
And the ghosts of the tilt-a-whirl will linger inside of your head
And the ferris wheel junkies will spin them forever instead
When I see you a blanket of stars covers me in bed

Hey Mrs. Potter don't go
Hey Mrs. Potter I don't know but
Hey Mrs. Potter won't you talk to me

All the blue light reflections that color my mind when I sleep
And the lovesick rejections that accompany the company I keep
All the razor perceptions that cut just a little too deep
Hey I can bleed as well as anyone, but I need someone to help me sleep

So I throw my hand into the air and it swims in the beams
It's just a brief interruption of the swirling dust sparkle jet stream
Well, I know I don't know you and you're probably not what you seem
But I'd sure like to find out
So why don't you climb down off that movie screen

Hey Mrs. Potter don't turn
Hey Mrs. Potter I burn for you
Hey Mrs. Potter won't you talk to me

When the last king of Hollywood shatters his glass on the floor
and orders another
Well, I wonder what he did that for
That's when I know that I have to get out cause I have been there before
So I gave up my seat at the bar and I head for the door

We drove out to the desert just to lie down beneath this bowl of stars
We stand up at the Palace like it's the last of the great Pioneertown bars
We shout out these songs against the clang of electric guitars
You can see a million miles tonight
But you can't get very far

Hey Mrs. Potter I won't touch and
Hey Mrs. Potter it's not much but
Hey Mrs. Potter won't you talk to me



Lyrics submitted by thenewt

Track duration: 07:45

"Mrs. Potter's Lullaby" as written by Adam/bryson Duritz

Lyrics © EMI Music Publishing

Lyrics powered by LyricFind


Mrs. Potter's Lullaby song meanings
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52 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment:This song was actually written about the actress Monica Potter. imdb.com/name/nm0005321/…

    Adam Duritz saw her in Patch Adams at the theater and developed an instant crush on her. Then musing about how ridiculous it was to fall in love with someone on the screen that he wrote a song about it.

    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/…

    anna-begins.com/info/
    Flag Spartan26on December 05, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This song is AMAZING. I can listen to it again and again without getting tired of it.
    Yeah, I also heard he fell in love with "Maria Potter" (Hints: There's a piece of Maria in every song that i sing)
    This song makes me think about dying- in a positive way. I listen to this song and ColorBlind and Another Horse Dreamer's Blues and Amy Hit The Atmosphere and I'm Not Sleeping and A Murder of One, ect. by them <3
    Flag AlexaWhoaYourAmazingon October 16, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:One of my favorite lines in this song is, "If dreams are like movies, then memories are films about ghosts."
    Today, Adam tweeted about how the song "Car" by Built To Spill was referenced in this song. I immediately knew it was the line, "I wanna see movies of my dreams." These are two of my favorite songs, my favorite lines from each of the songs, & two of my favorite bands. I'm just so pleased that the songs are related more closely than I thought. I think they just mean so much more now.
    Flag seaanimalon December 13, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Love it. Full of great lines.
    Flag xmakesherflyxon December 06, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation:I've always seen parallels between dreaming and being awake and being above water and underwater. It seems to me that when he goes to the desert, he is in a state of insomnia. he sees the stars because it's in the middle of the night but he can't fall asleep, hence no water. It also plays nice with the idea of walking along the edge of where the ocean meets the land like a wire in a circus.

    "and though i'll never forget your face, sometimes i can't remember my name" is one of my favorite lines. They say you never forget your own name.

    Thanks for reading.
    Flag ratavaon October 11, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:One of my all time favorite lines from any song: "the price of a memory is the memory of the sorrow it brings". So sad, so accurate.
    Flag anna1003on November 29, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:If what pennpixel says is true..then this song has GOT to be about her right
    Flag focus007on October 16, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I agree with a lot of you on this, and am continually realizing how many layers this song has. It is awesome. One of the best songs I have ever heard. I wrote a whole blog post about its meaning to me. I think you all would like it and I would love for you to check it out and send me your thoughts on it. devongrimme.com

    Thanks!

    Devon
    Flag devongon July 16, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I'm not terribly familiar with Gatsby, so all the references may very well tie in with that more, but if I remember Patch Adams dealt with him being a clown, and ... didn't it have a circus in it at one point? I can't remember.

    Anyway, if that indeed was the movie that AD saw Potter in, maybe that would make sense.
    Flag famous beagleon June 19, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Magic - This guy sees a girl in a movie, writes an electric song with heart and emotion about her, and his curiosity leads him to actually date her, hes just one with himself, you can witness it in all of his actions, its a joy and a privledge to watch him work... someday i wanna dream like him lol
    Flag 89carolinaon June 16, 2008   Link

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