About The Song
In the annals of country music, few artists have captured the depths of heartbreak and emotional turmoil quite like George Jones. With his soulful voice and poignant lyrics, Jones earned the moniker “The Possum” for his ability to embody the raw, untamed emotions of the human experience. Among his many enduring classics, “Window Up Above” stands as a testament to his artistry, a heart-wrenching ballad that chronicles the devastating aftermath of infidelity.
Released in 1960, “Window Up Above” soared to number two on the Billboard Country charts, establishing George Jones as a force to be reckoned with. The song’s opening lines paint a picture of domestic bliss gone awry, as the narrator observes his wife’s infidelity from the vantage point of an upstairs window:
“I’ve been living a new way of life that I love so But I can see the clouds are gathering And the storm will wreck our home.”
The narrator’s pain is palpable as he recounts the betrayal, his voice tinged with a mixture of disbelief and anguish. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the scene, with the narrator’s silent observation serving as a stark contrast to the intimacy unfolding below.
As the song progresses, the narrator’s emotional turmoil intensifies. He grapples with the realization that his marriage, once a source of love and security, has crumbled before his eyes. The line, “I thought we belonged together and our hearts fit like a glove,” echoes with the weight of shattered dreams and lost innocence.
Despite the devastation he feels, the narrator finds a glimmer of compassion for his wife. He acknowledges her unhappiness in the marriage, suggesting that her infidelity may be a desperate attempt to escape her own emotional turmoil. The line, “I hope he makes you happy and you will never lose his love,” is laced with a bittersweet mix of resignation and empathy.
“Window Up Above” concludes with the narrator left to pick up the pieces of his shattered heart. The final lines, “How I wish I could be dreaming and wake up to an honest love,” encapsulate his longing for a simpler time, when love was pure and untainted.
With its raw emotional honesty and poignant storytelling, “Window Up Above” remains a timeless classic of country music. George Jones‘s masterful performance captures the depths of heartbreak and despair, making the song a relatable and deeply moving anthem for anyone who has experienced the pain of infidelity.
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Lyric
I’ve been living a new wayOf life that I love soBut I can see the clouds are gath’ringAnd the storm will wreck our homeFor last night he held you tightlyAnd you didn’t even shoveThis is true for I’ve been watching (watching you)From the window up aboveYou must have thought that I was sleepingAnd I wish that I had beenBut I guess it’s best to know youAnd the way your heart can sinI thought we belonged togetherAnd our hearts fit like a gloveI was wrong for I’ve been watching (watching you)From the window up above— Instrumental —From my eyes the teardrops startedAs I listened on and onI heard you whisper to him softlyThat our marriage was all wrongBut I hope he makes you happyAnd you will never lose his loveI was wrong, I was watching (watching you)From the window up aboveHow I wish I could be dreamingAnd wake up to an honest loveI was wrong for I was watching (watching you)From the window up above…