hniw.us On life in Seattle and things best left unsaidお化粧はどしたの芸者さん

EBTG: Low Tide of the Night

There are times when you hear a song and it just seems to resonate so well with your current situation that you would swear that the lyricists peaked into your mind to find inspiration.  That is how I feel about Low Tide of the Night by Everything But the Girl.  Off of their album, Temperamental,  released in 1999, I know that is not the case but in listening to the song, I imagine myself in Tracey’s shoes with only the names of the places changing.  I can but wonder if Tracey or Ben may have experienced feelings, thoughts similar to my own; thoughts that caused them to put pen to paper and record

When you’re down and troubled
You don’t tell you friends
You don’t tell your family
I won’t let them talk about me
I’m gonna let nobody down

It is as if, at that moment, we are both living our lives not for ourselves, but because we feel obligated to do so out of loyalty to our friends and family.  We endure the pain, put on our mask and play the role that is expected of us so as to keep others from talking about us.  As if we know that the talk won’t bring help, but only more pain and ridicule for being being weak or broken or just not right in the head.  We have given over to altruism, leading a painful and thankless existence so that others may continue theirs unburdened.  ”I’m gonna let nobody down,” except for myself.

But in the end it is worth it as you don’t force others to question if they did all that they could have.  You don’t force them to doubt their actions, to wonder what more they could have done.

London in the low tide of the night
And not a taxi cab in sight.
Anesthetized I start the journey home.
I’ve been living months alone.
I’ve been avoiding things -
the phone rings,
I use the answerphone.

Inside out in the daytime,
Outside in in the night time.
Inside out in the daytime,
Outside in in the night time.

When you’re down and troubled
You don’t tell your friends,
You don’t tell your family.
I won’t let them talk about me.
I’m gonna let nobody down.

Soho in the high tide of the day
And for a while I’m swept away -
I just forget it.
I use my walkman when I walk,
And I don’t talk,
But later on the moment’s gone and I don’t get it.

Inside out in the daytime,
Outside in in the night time.
Inside out in the daytime,
Wrong at the right time.

When you’re down and troubled
You don’t tell your friends,
You don’t tell your family.
I won’t let them talk about me.
I’m gonna let nobody down.

Who shall I be tonight?
Who’s gonna see tonight?
Who shall I be tonight?

Inside out in the daytime,
Wrong at the right time.
I wanna know I’m good for you.
Outside in in the night time,
Right at the wrong time.
I wanna know I’m good to you.

When you’re down and troubled
You don’t tell your friends,
You don’t tell your family.
I won’t let them talk about me.
I’m gonna let nobody down.

No, no, no, no
I won’t let them talk about me.
I’m gonna let nobody down down down down.