Follow someone vs. follow someone *down*

[Nantes]

I've noticed recently that several songs use the phrase "Follow someone down", such as:

Zedd ft. Bright Lights - Follow You Down
Gin Blossoms - Follow You Down
3OH!3 - Follow Me Down
Bob Dylan - Baby, Let Me Follow You Down
etc.

What is the difference of those phrases vs. simply following someone?

Thanks.

 

[bhaisahab]

I've noticed lately that several songs use the phrase "Follow someone down", such as:

Zedd ft. Bright Lights - Follow You Down
Gin Blossoms - Follow You Down
3OH!3 - Follow Me Down
Bob Dylan - Baby, Let Me Follow You Down
etc.

What is the difference of those phrases vs. simply following someone?

Thanks.

It usually depends on context. However, in the context of popular songs it's hard to be sure. Songwriters are not always thinking about literal meaning when they write songs.

 

[Nantes]

I already knew its usage in phrases such as "Peter followed Anna down the aisle", but in those songs there doesn't appear to be a specific physical place they can actually go down.

 

[MikeNewYork]

I've noticed recently that several songs use the phrase "Follow someone down", such as:

Zedd ft. Bright Lights - Follow You Down
Gin Blossoms - Follow You Down
3OH!3 - Follow Me Down
Bob Dylan - Baby, Let Me Follow You Down
etc.

What is the difference of those phrases vs. simply following someone?

Thanks.

In the Zedd lyrics, there is mention of a black hole and diving in after her. In the Gin Blossoms lyrics, there is a mention of jumping off a bridge. The 30H!0 song was for the film Alice In Wonderland. It is likely that "down" refers to "down the rabbit hole. In all three cases, "down" simply refers to a direction. I have no clue about the Dylan song.

 

[Nantes]

In the Gin Blossoms lyrics, there is a mention of jumping off a bridge.

But the chorus is:

"Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down
Anyplace but those I know by heart
Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down
I'll follow you down, but not that far"

Notice that he says anywhere you go. So even if the person went, say, climbing the Everest, the guy would follow them down the Everest, even though they are going upwards! Your explanation of "down" literally meaning a downwards direction does not look very sound :/

 

[MikeNewYork]

But the chorus is:

"Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down
Anyplace but those I know by heart
Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down
I'll follow you down, but not that far"

Notice that he says anywhere you go. So even if the person went, say, climbing the Everest, the guy would follow them down the Everest, even though they are going upwards! Your explanation of "down" literally meaning a downwards direction does not look very sound :/

The lyrics use the bridge, not Mt. Everest.

Jumping off a bridge, it's just the farthest that I've ever been
Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down
Anyplace but those I know by heart
Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down
I'll follow you down, but not that far
​

At any rate, if you don't like my answer, ignore it. :roll: