☝️ Key Points
- The singer does not want to be just a temporary distraction or a mistake.
- She recognizes that the person passing by is not looking for a serious relationship.
- The singer does not want to be a bridge to get to someone else.
- She is afraid of falling in love with this person because she suspects they will only be there temporarily.
- The song lyrics express the fear of temporary love and disappointment, and ask the person to overlook her if they are not looking for something serious.
Interpretation
The song lyrics "Pass Me By (if You're Only Passing Through)" by
Kitty Wells are about a person who meets someone who only wants to be temporarily in their life. The main message of the song is that the singer doesn't want to be just a temporary distraction or a "mistake".
The singer realizes that the person passing through is not looking for a serious relationship. She describes them as a "traveler" who will move on once they find what they're looking for. The singer asks this person to simply pass her by if they're only passing through: "Pass me by, if you're only passing through".
The words "A bridge to burn to get to someone new" mean that the singer is not willing to be a bridge that the person uses to get to someone else. She doesn't want to be a stopover.
The singer is afraid of falling in love with this person because she suspects they will only be there temporarily. She pleads for them to stay away from her if they don't truly intend to stay: "Lord, help me if I fall in love with you, pass me by, if you're only passing through".
Overall, Kitty Wells' song lyrics express the fear of temporary love and disappointment, and urge the person to pass her by if they're not looking for something serious.