This song is about a husband who was unfaithful and now wants a second chance with his sweetheart and with his daughter.
"(Ho!) I've been trying to do it right
(Hey!) I've been living a lonely life
(Ho!) I've been sleeping here instead
(Hey!) I've been sleeping in my bed,
(Ho!) sleeping in my bed"
The first verse explains how he has been trying to shape up and be the type of man who resists temptation and remains faithful to his wife. He's been "sleeping here instead" implies that he is now sleeping in his bed instead of in the woman's bed that he had the affair with, or in hotel beds with one night stands. The repetition of "I've been sleeping in my bed" also suggests along with the later mention of Manhattan, that he is spending more time at home (instead of on tour). He is willing to remain grounded, and to remain faithful, if he can get another chance with his sweetheart.
"(Ho!) So show me family
(Hey!) All the blood that I would bleed
(Ho!) I don't know where I belong
(Hey!) I don't know where I went wrong
(Ho!) But I can write a song"
He wants to be shown the type of forgiveness a family would give, and to be given a chance to do things right. A family sees you at your worse, but they are also quicker to forgive your indiscretions and are the ones who love you unconditionally. He is asking for that kind of understanding from the woman he cheated on. "All the blood that I would bleed" along with the repetition of "Hey" "Ho!" and the powerful driving rhythm suggests that he is willing to work extremely hard to fix things, and that he would give anything for that chance. He's lost without his sweetheart, and doesn't understand why he did what he did, but he knows that through his music he can express his feelings.
"(Ho!) I don't think you're right for him
(Hey!) Look at what it might have been if you
(Ho!) Took a bus to China Town
(Hey!) I'd be standing on Canal
(Ho!) And Bowery
(Ho!) And she'd be standing next to me"
This is the verse that makes me feel like he has a daughter, the "she" in the last line. He says that he doesn't think his sweetheart is right for the man she is with now, perhaps because she could only be right for him. And then asks her to imagine how things could have been if she had taken a bus to Canal and Bowery in Manhattan to see him standing beside his daughter. The intersection is by the Manhattan bridge, suggesting transition. Maybe he meant that he would be standing waiting to transition into a new life where he would be there for his sweetheart and for his daughter.
The song ends with the chorus, and with the hope that the love they desperately need to save their relationship is found. Because he feels as though he is bleeding out living this lonely life apart from his family.
I created an account on this site just to tell you how fucking awesome you're interpretation of the song is. I had a similar thought when listening to this song but I couldn't even come close to articulating all of what you said. Very well well done.
I created an account on this site just to tell you how fucking awesome you're interpretation of the song is. I had a similar thought when listening to this song but I couldn't even come close to articulating all of what you said. Very well well done.
This song is about a husband who was unfaithful and now wants a second chance with his sweetheart and with his daughter.
"(Ho!) I've been trying to do it right (Hey!) I've been living a lonely life (Ho!) I've been sleeping here instead (Hey!) I've been sleeping in my bed, (Ho!) sleeping in my bed"
The first verse explains how he has been trying to shape up and be the type of man who resists temptation and remains faithful to his wife. He's been "sleeping here instead" implies that he is now sleeping in his bed instead of in the woman's bed that he had the affair with, or in hotel beds with one night stands. The repetition of "I've been sleeping in my bed" also suggests along with the later mention of Manhattan, that he is spending more time at home (instead of on tour). He is willing to remain grounded, and to remain faithful, if he can get another chance with his sweetheart.
"(Ho!) So show me family (Hey!) All the blood that I would bleed (Ho!) I don't know where I belong (Hey!) I don't know where I went wrong (Ho!) But I can write a song"
He wants to be shown the type of forgiveness a family would give, and to be given a chance to do things right. A family sees you at your worse, but they are also quicker to forgive your indiscretions and are the ones who love you unconditionally. He is asking for that kind of understanding from the woman he cheated on. "All the blood that I would bleed" along with the repetition of "Hey" "Ho!" and the powerful driving rhythm suggests that he is willing to work extremely hard to fix things, and that he would give anything for that chance. He's lost without his sweetheart, and doesn't understand why he did what he did, but he knows that through his music he can express his feelings.
"(Ho!) I don't think you're right for him (Hey!) Look at what it might have been if you (Ho!) Took a bus to China Town (Hey!) I'd be standing on Canal (Ho!) And Bowery (Ho!) And she'd be standing next to me"
This is the verse that makes me feel like he has a daughter, the "she" in the last line. He says that he doesn't think his sweetheart is right for the man she is with now, perhaps because she could only be right for him. And then asks her to imagine how things could have been if she had taken a bus to Canal and Bowery in Manhattan to see him standing beside his daughter. The intersection is by the Manhattan bridge, suggesting transition. Maybe he meant that he would be standing waiting to transition into a new life where he would be there for his sweetheart and for his daughter.
The song ends with the chorus, and with the hope that the love they desperately need to save their relationship is found. Because he feels as though he is bleeding out living this lonely life apart from his family.
I created an account on this site just to tell you how fucking awesome you're interpretation of the song is. I had a similar thought when listening to this song but I couldn't even come close to articulating all of what you said. Very well well done.
I created an account on this site just to tell you how fucking awesome you're interpretation of the song is. I had a similar thought when listening to this song but I couldn't even come close to articulating all of what you said. Very well well done.
Upvote because I think you've nailed it. Nicely done, IMO.
Upvote because I think you've nailed it. Nicely done, IMO.