A Man And A Woman

The lyrics describe a speaker who treasures a close relationship and fears risking it for the excitement of a new romance. At first, he comforts the woman and presents their love as something precious. Later, his words become more unsettled: he describes sleeping outside, feeling incomplete, and losing both her and God. The movement from reassurance to loneliness suggests that the relationship may be remembered, imagined, or already slipping away.

Several images make these feelings vivid. “Honey on my tongue” suggests that the woman brings pleasure and sweetness. Love that “catches you by the heel” is pictured as something persistent: a person may try to escape it, but genuine love can catch up with them. The “mysterious distance” between a man and a woman suggests a gap in understanding or intimacy, even when two people are close. The stray-dog image, in turn, conveys exposure and abandonment.

The song leaves important details unclear. The speaker says the woman was “already mine,” which may mean he recognizes a bond that existed before he understood it, rather than describing literal ownership. His contrast between love and romance suggests that lasting attachment can matter more than the thrill of pursuing someone new. Yet his later distress complicates that confidence: holding someone may seem to protect him from pain, but the lyrics do not explain exactly what happened or whether the relationship can be restored.