☝️ Key Points
- The song lyrics tell the story of a man who wants to separate from his lover.
- It is about the repeated experience of being abandoned and the ignorance of the lover.
- The singer is determined to leave, even though he knows it will be painful for his lover.
- The text highlights the difficulties that come with letting go of a relationship.
Interpretation
The song lyrics "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" by
Frank Sinatra tell the story of a man who wants to break up with his lover. The meaning of the lyrics lies in the feelings of separation and the repetition of past experiences.
The text begins with the singer talking about how he travels to Phoenix and believes that his lover, by the time he arrives there, will already be up. He leaves a goodbye letter at her door and expects her to laugh when she reads the part where he says he's leaving. This is because he has already left her so many times.
The singer continues his journey to Albuquerque and thinks that maybe she will take a break at work to call him. But when she picks up the receiver, she only hears the ringing of the phone on the wall, no one answers.
When the singer finally reaches Oklahoma, his lover is already asleep. She murmurs his name in her sleep and cries because she thinks he will really leave her. However, the singer has tried so many times to tell her that he will leave, but she has never really understood or believed it.
The repetition of the leaving and the ignorance of the lover are central themes of the song. It shows the difficulty of ending a relationship and the consequences it has on both partners. The singer is determined to leave, but he knows it will be very painful for his lover. Nevertheless, he is willing to endure that pain and seek his own happiness.
The song lyrics "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" are an emotional portrayal of separation and highlight the difficulties that come with letting go of a relationship.