day, or that something is depressing him. So he needs his escape. What makes this song amazing is that often times it is within the song where these people who affect us are able to live; the song keeps them alive and is meant for that simple escape. I'm sure the singer knew well that he could not keep her and is the entire point... However, imagine if "Marianne" were to "communicate" her affections back. I'd surmise that he would have much difficulty letting her go and allowing her to live in his dream and song. And that's my $0.02. Song Meaning: Awesome tune! Boston's greatest, hands down. I thinks it's about how a song can bring back bittersweet memories & help us escape reality at the same time. Whenever I hear it, I think of a girl I had a crush on many years ago. (Her name wasn't Marianne, but that's beside the point.) I was too shy at the time to even ask her out. She started dating someone else & she eventually married him. Last I heard, she was still married to him. "...And dream of a girl I used to know/ I closed my eyes and she slipped away/ She slipped away/ She slipped away" Yep, she slipped away from me. Well, life goes on. General Comment: I loooove this song, that guitar solo makes me want to learn the guitar even more. ive been planning on buying myself a guitar and learning to play it