West End Blues

The speaker feels lonely and hurt, and the falling evening sun brings these feelings into focus. The thought of facing another day just as unhappy leads to a desire to leave and start over. The lyrics then turn toward a specific source of pain: the speaker’s man has gone away with another woman. The mood moves from general sadness to jealousy and blame, though the speaker still sounds deeply attached to him.

The “evening sun go down” suggests an ending, and it makes the speaker think of being alone. “Pack my dreams” gives hope a physical shape: the speaker may be giving up on a shared future and preparing to escape. The other woman’s “apron strings” are an image of control, implying that she keeps the man close or influences him. Calling his heart a rock cast in the sea suggests that he is cold and unreachable.

The speaker’s account is emotional rather than neutral. She blames the other woman’s appearance and influence, but also says her lover has a hard heart. It is not fully clear whether leaving is a firm plan or an expression of frustration. The final sadness suggests that even while accusing him, the speaker is still struggling with his absence and longing for the relationship.