Ronnie James Dio - Don't Talk To Strangers - Meaning of the song
This song is about how we try to avoid the things in life that cause us pain, but as a result forgo that which makes life worth living.
The "don't"s vary from the apparently reasonable, "Don't talk to strangers". to the absurd, "Don't smell the flowers". These, however, are presented with equal seriousness in the song to show us how far we already have fell into the trap of Stranger Danger and the like, living in a world where men exist only to molest children and women to break the hearts of men.
The change of perspective in the song only further underlines that. While the narrator does not try to deny that he is "danger" he adds that "I'm forever the one that lets you look and see". The key that opens up the soul, so to speak, as the joys of life go hand in hand with the darker side.
Don't Talk To Strangers - Lyrics
Don't talk to strangers
Hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm hmm
Don't talk to strangers
'Cause they're only there to do you harm
Don't write in starlight
'Cause the words may come out real
Don't hide in doorways
You may find the key that opens up your soul
Don't go to heaven
'Cause it's really only hell
Don't smell the flowers
They're an evil drug to make you lose your mind
Don't dream of women
'Cause they'll only bring you down
Hey, you, you know me
You can touch me I'm real
I'm forever the one that lets you look and see
Can you feel me?
I'm danger, I'm the stranger
And I, I'm darkness
I'm anger, I'm pain
I, I'm the master
The evil song you sing inside your brain
Drive you insane
Don't talk
Don't let them inside your mind yeah
Run away, run away, go
No, no, don't let them in your mind
Protect your soul
Don't dance in darkness
You may stumble and you're sure to fall
Don't write in starlight
'Cause the words may come out real
Don't talk to strangers
'Cause they're only there to make you sad
Don't dream of women
'Cause they'll only bring you down yeah
Run, run, run, run away