Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a formative encounter, where the narrator meets a young woman arriving "barefoot and veiled" on a "black mare." This initial meeting is described as a sudden, powerful force, like "morning sun through field trees," that "broke into my life in a flash of storm." Despite the intensity of this moment, the narrator notes, "nothing else happened," yet the impact "sank into me." This sets up a central tension: a profound, almost life-altering impression made by someone who, at least initially, remained largely out of reach.
The core of the song revolves around a persistent, unresolved longing and a sense of bewilderment. The repeated refrain, "How, it comes and goes / Moment by moment I get tangled / How I have everything except you," encapsulates this feeling. The narrator possesses material completeness but is emotionally adrift, fixated on this elusive figure. The passage of years doesn't diminish this feeling; instead, it fuels a continued search for a "good end to a love story," only to have the object of affection reappear and strike him "again."
The lyrics masterfully convey the narrator's powerlessness against this recurring emotional pull. He questions, "How I don't decide at all / And how you manage to play with fate." The woman is depicted as performing for an audience, "doing another turn at the audience's request," suggesting a public or perhaps performative aspect to her presence that further distances her. This dynamic, where she seems to control the narrative and his emotional response, is what "lashes me again," reinforcing the cyclical nature of his entanglement and the feeling that his own agency is compromised.
What makes these lyrics so resonant is their honest portrayal of an obsession that defies logic and circumstance. The contrast between having "everything" and lacking the one person who seems to hold the key to his peace is stark. The imagery of a storm, sun, and a recurring performance creates a potent emotional landscape. The narrator's repeated questioning of "how" highlights his inability to comprehend the enduring power of this connection, making his predicament feel both deeply personal and universally understood by anyone who's grappled with unrequited or complicated desire.