Deserted Cities Of The Heart

Cream's 'Deserted Cities Of The Heart' is a poignant exploration of lost love and the passage of time. The song opens with a vivid image of a street where 'time has died,' setting a somber tone that permeates the entire piece. The 'golden treat you never tried' suggests missed opportunities and unfulfilled desires, evoking a sense of regret. The lyrics reflect on a past that is irretrievably gone, with the narrator longing to 'catch your dancing eye,' a metaphor for recapturing a moment of joy or connection that has since faded away.

The recurring theme of dreams and their unattainability is central to the song. The 'road to dreams' symbolizes a journey towards aspirations that ultimately end in disillusionment. The narrator's heart is 'drowned in no love streams,' a powerful metaphor for emotional desolation and the absence of love. The imagery of a cold, barren street where 'trees are gone' and 'the dark has won' further emphasizes the bleakness of the narrator's current state, contrasting sharply with the hopeful pursuit of dreams in the past.

The chorus reinforces the inevitability of love's end, with the wind 'shouting like a drum' and the declaration that 'love's end has come.' This stark realization is underscored by the draining of love 'to the last drop,' leaving the narrator in a state of emptiness. The song concludes with a return to the dark, cold street, symbolizing the inescapable nature of time and the finality of lost love. The repetition of 'my heart's drowned in no love streams' serves as a haunting reminder of the emotional void left behind.