Song Meaning
The lyrics paint a scene of intimate connection, beginning with a visual of "two clear drops of wine" shimmering on the rim of a glass, set upon a "table set for two." The flickering candlelight reflecting in the eyes of the beloved establishes a mood of quiet anticipation and shared presence. This initial tableau is rich with sensory detail, hinting at a deliberate, almost ritualistic, preparation for a moment of deep communion.
The dominant emotional tone is one of gentle unfolding and deepening affection. The narrator observes the "blues rhythm flowing," likening the encounter to an "Arab custom," suggesting a sense of tradition and perhaps a slightly exotic, yet familiar, courtship. The question "what else shall we discuss / to preserve the feeling" reveals a delicate balance: a desire to prolong the present moment and the nascent closeness, rather than rushing through conversation.
A key craft element is the recurring imagery of light and its interplay with darkness and time. The "candle flickers incessantly" and the "night is dipped in darkness," creating a contrast that highlights the intimacy of the shared space. This flickering light mirrors the hesitant yet persistent growth of "closeness," which the lyrics describe as being "woven warp and weft," a metaphor for the intricate, gradual process of building a relationship. The passage of time is marked by the relentless "minute chasing minute," emphasizing the preciousness of each shared second.
The ultimate effect is a profound sense of tender surrender to love. The lyrics suggest that in this quiet, charged atmosphere, the bond between the two individuals is not forced but naturally "woven." The final lines, where "love will lead us both / to a world of oblivion," offer a powerful image of being consumed by affection, escaping the mundane world into a shared, dreamlike state of blissful forgetfulness. This ending feels earned, a natural culmination of the careful, loving attention paid to the present moment throughout the song.