Meaning of "Tattoo" by Gordon Lightfoot

The lyrics of "Tattoo" by Gordon Lightfoot speak to themes of love, friendship, and the inevitable passage of time. The narrator gets a tattoo as a symbol of their feelings for someone special, expressing that their emotions will live on forever just like the ink on their skin. The mention of boys at the parlor and the reference to drinking all day add a sense of nostalgia and longing for the past, as the narrator contemplates the fleeting nature of time and the desire to hold onto moments that are slipping away. The repetition of the phrase "The water's still flowing through the rose on my skin, this here tattoo is for you" emphasizes the permanence of the message being conveyed. Overall, the lyrics evoke a sense of longing, love, and the inevitability of change.