Rock Poetry Line by Line

"Sundown"

“Sundown,” Gordon Lightfoot, Sundown, 1974.

Lovers of poetry in music,

Our friend, Kelly made a request,

A hearty second by our Seas,

That I write about an old country song;

I hope my humble thoughts do please.

I ride now into the “Sundown”

On acoustic waves of sound.

I can see her lyin' back in her satin dress
In a room where ya do what ya don't confess
Sundown ya better take care
If I find you bin creepin' 'round my back stairs
Sundown ya better take care
If I find you bin creepin' 'round my back stairs

She's bin lookin' like a queen in a sailor's dream
And she don't always say what she really means
Sometimes I think it's a shame
When I get feelin' better when I'm feelin' no pain
Sometimes I think it's a shame
When I get feelin' better when I'm feelin' no pain

I can picture every move that a man could make
Getting lost in her lovin' is your first mistake
Sundown ya better take care
If I find you bin creepin' 'round my back stairs
Sometimes I think it's a sin
When I feel like I'm winnin' when I'm losin' again

I can see her lookin' fast in her faded jeans
She's a hard lovin' woman, got me feelin' mean
Sometimes I think it's a shame
When I get feelin' better when I'm feelin' no pain
Sundown ya better take care
If I find you bin creepin' 'round my back stairs
Sundown ya better take care
If I find you bin creepin' 'round my back stairs
Sometimes I think it's a sin
When I feel like I'm winnin' when I'm losin' again

.

Canadian folk artist, Gordon Lightfoot, released the smooth,

laid-back “Sundown” in March of 1974.  The song boasts

gentle acoustic guitar instrumentation and subdued vocals

that belie the enigmatic lyrics that seep into our consciousness.

The poetic lyrics of “Sundown” certainly meet the guidelines of

 the anatomy of a poem, possessing the literary devices of rhyme,

 meter, metaphor, symbolism, and personification.

In my study of the lyrics, I reviewed documented interpretations

as well as those offered by listeners like you and me.  I have come

to the conclusion that anyone’s view of the meaning of this song

could be perfectly accurate, as the documented interpretation is

prefaced by the phrase “seems to be,” and is apparently based on

known details of Lightfoot’s personal life and statements he has

made independent of the song, to support the conclusion.

So, we will now take a look at these lyrical lines as they stand,

clearing our minds of anything we may know about this

outstanding composer.

.

I can see her lyin' back in her satin dress
In a room where ya do what ya don't confess
Sundown ya better take care
If I find you bin creepin' 'round my back stairs
Sundown ya better take care
If I find you bin creepin' 'round my back stairs.