The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Please Call Me Baby" by the artist "Tom Waits"

In "Please Call Me Baby," Tom Waits paints a picture of a passionate yet volatile relationship. The lyrical protagonist, despite acknowledging his flaws – egotism, cruelty – desperately wants his lover to return.

The image of a fallen star, carelessly "swept away," sets the tone for the entire song. The star here symbolizes faded romance that the characters are trying to resurrect.

Their relationship is a constant struggle, "like cats and dogs." The lyrical hero recognizes their imperfections but believes that "something waits for us ahead." He is vulnerable, consumed by anxiety and loneliness, which is expressed in the repeating chorus: "Baby, please call me, wherever you are. It's too cold out there to be on your own."

The hero acknowledges his dark side but justifies himself by saying that "the angels might leave" along with the "demons." He fears losing not only his lover but also a part of himself. His love is selfish; he "hold[s] each other by the throats," simultaneously pushing her away and begging her to stay.

The song touches upon the discrepancy between dreams and reality: "Life ain't what it seems." Despite the difficulties and pain, the lyrical hero clings to this relationship, finding in it a painful but captivating sense of life.