How can a native english speaker unnderstand this lyric

Question

Hi.Please help me to understand that how a native speaker understand this lyric.I mean what kind of skills or background do you have that enables you to understand this lyric.For example I have chosen the following lyric :(Meanings are from this website)1 - This gun's for hire even if we're just dancing in the darkMeaning : He’s offering himself to her, and can’t promise anything more than “dancing in the dark”, simply a physical romance.Q ) How you would understand that he is talking about love?Q ) What dose “dancing in the dark” mean?2 - Man I ain't getting nowhere I'm just livin in a dump like thisThere's something happening somewhere baby I just know that there isMeaning : He’s stuck in his town, in a dingy place and he needs to get out; he knows somewhere else out there there’s a new life just waiting for him.Q ) How you would conclude that "dump" is referring to his town?3 - You sit around getting older there's a joke here somewhere and it's on meI'll shake this world off my shoulders come on baby the laughs on meMeaning : His life is almost comical; he’s aging and watching all of his dreams just fade away. He has resolve to move forward, but feels the stinging sensation of life passing him by.Q ) How you understand this part?Q ) What dose "here somewhere" means?

Clive · Accepted Answer

Please help me to understand that how a native speaker understand this lyric.
I mean what kind of skills or background do you have that enables you to understand this lyric. Let me turn the question around by asking you what kind of skills or background a speaker of your language would need to understand a lyric like this in your language.

Clive

Blue Jay · Answer

We have been accumulating knowledge of English phrases, idioms and colloquial usages since birth, so when we see a familiar phrase, or a phrase that is a variation on a familiar phrase, we recognize and understand it. Accordingly, we recognize the idioms and colloquial usages in your examples. I'm sure there are many things you hear in your own language which you would understand at once, but which would be meaningless to a non-native without laborious explanation.

CalifJim · Answer

MIGwhat kind of skills or background do you have that enables you to understand this lyric

A life-time of experience living in the culture that produced this lyric.

MIGQ ) How you would understand that he is talking about love?

In American culture, possibly in most of Western culture, dancing is a metaphor for love-making, or at least some kind of romantic encounter.

MIGQ ) What does“dancing in the dark” mean?

In some sense it's literal. It means 'dancing in the dark'. Specifically, 'in the dark' is a metaphor for ignorance, i.e., "We don't know what we're doing"; "The outcome of our activity is uncertain".

MIGQ ) How you would conclude that "dump" is referring to his town?

Because he says he's living there. That's either his home or the place his home is located.

MIGQ ) How you understand this part?

This question is a little too general to answer in any coherent way. There's a joke ... on me / The laugh's on me means I am the **** of a (nasty practical) joke, i.e. I have been made to look foolish— if that's what you wanted to know about. And the implication that it is the progress of his life, or the lack of any progress in his life, that makes him look foolish.

MIGQ ) What does "here somewhere" mean?

Somewhere within this situation. The same words can be used literally to mean somewhere within this place: I've lost one of my socks. It must be in my bedroom. Maybe it's in the closet. Maybe it's under the bed. It has to be here somewhere (at some location in my bedroom).

CJ

MIG · Answer

Hi Dear Teachers.
Thank you very much Clive, .Blue Jay and CalifJim.

First of all, I apologize for having many errors in my question.Still I have difficulty in making questions. I promise that I will work on it.

Clive : Let me turn the question around by asking you what kind of skills or background a speaker of your language would need to understand a lyric like this in your language.

Thank you very much Clive. Of course the answer would be what Blue Jay said.I was specifically speaking about this lyric.I was really curious to know how a native speaker would understand each part. I should have been more elaborate about "background". As I said, I am not good in question making.

Blue Jay : We have been accumulating knowledge of English phrases, idioms and colloquial usages since birth, so when we see a familiar phrase, or a phrase that is a variation on a familiar phrase, we recognize and understand it. Accordingly, we recognize the idioms and colloquial usages in your examples. I'm sure there are many things you hear in your own language which you would understand at once, but which would be meaningless to a non-native without laborious explanation.

Thank you very much .Blue Jay

CalifJimIn American culture, possibly in most of Western culture, dancing is a metaphor for love-making, or at least some kind of romantic encounter.

Thank you CalifJim.

CalifJimBecause he says he's living there. That's either his home or the place his home is located.

This was exactly what I was asking for. I didn't know how I could understand it is referring to its town.So its not clear.even you will take it generally as a place.

CalifJimSomewhere within this situation. The same words can be used literally to mean somewhere within this place: I've lost one of my socks. It must be in my bedroom. Maybe it's in the closet. Maybe it's under the bed. It has to be here somewhere (at some location in my bedroom).

I searched for "here somewhere" but I didn't find any clear answer.Thank you very much CalifJim.

Thank you all again.

Blue Jay · Answer

A dump is a place where you dispose of rubbish, but it is often used colloquially to refer to an undesirable place to live, either a house in poor condition, or, occasionally, a shabby town with few opportunities for the people who live there.
A hired gun is a mercenary, or assassin. By extension it can mean someone with special skills or knowledge who is brought in by a business or organization to tackle a difficult or unpleasant task, but who will leave after the job is done. The implication of it in your sentence is that his commitment is temporary. He will do what he is supposed to do while he is there, but he will not stay forever.

MIG · Answer

Thank you very much Blue Jay.

Your explanation about hired gun is really beautiful and also instructive.
Thank you again.

How can a native english speaker unnderstand this lyric

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