Meaning of "Sand in Your Shoes" by Al Stewart

The lyrics of "Sand in Your Shoes" by Al Stewart reflect on the bittersweet nature of love and relationships. The narrator describes their partner as someone who never quite fit into the simple country life, always yearning for the fast-paced city. Despite shared memories and moments, the realization dawns that the city was where the other person truly belonged, leading to a sense of acceptance and farewell. The juxtaposition of the countryside and the city serves as a metaphor for different personalities and desires, highlighting the inevitability of parting ways when two individuals are fundamentally different. The theme of missed communication, with the absence of letters promised but never received, emphasizes the finality of the goodbye. Overall, the lyrics capture the melancholy of unfulfilled love and the acceptance of diverging paths in life.