Song Meaning
The narrator opens with a dreamlike sensation, a phantom touch of feet that feels both real and imagined. This surreal intimacy, experienced "when I am fast asleep," establishes a tone of longing and perhaps a disconnect from waking reality. The repetition of "I know that I am dreaming" underscores the elusive nature of this connection, hinting at a desire for something tangible that remains just out of reach.
The lyrics then pivot to a memory shared by the narrator's mother about a past lover, a man who "looked at her instead / Of making love." This encounter, marked by laughter rather than intimacy, seems to have profoundly shaped her, leading her to believe she "ll never have another." This suggests a formative experience where genuine connection was replaced by a detached, perhaps even cruel, observation, leaving a lasting impact.
The narrator's own work as a "short-shirt clerk" in a shoe store becomes a central metaphor. He spends his days looking at feet, his thoughts "bittersweet" as he recalls his own past love, specifically her "black high heels." The repeated refrain, "I just want her shoes to fit her," is layered with meaning; it's a literal desire for a customer's purchase, but it also suggests a deeper wish for his past lover to find comfort and belonging, a resolution he couldn't provide.
This juxtaposition of the dreamlike touch, the mother's formative experience, and the narrator's daily work creates a poignant portrait of unfulfilled desire and lingering connection. The lyrics suggest that true intimacy is complex, sometimes found in the phantom sensations of dreams or the practicalities of fitting a shoe, rather than grand romantic gestures. The narrator's stated lack of bitterness, despite the bittersweet thoughts, points to a mature acceptance of past circumstances, focusing instead on the simple, practical act of ensuring a good fit.
