cornstarch
Reckoning Shadows: Consequences of Choices
Lyrics
Tried to warn 'em, but in the end, go ahead, I'll take the blame
Tried to warn 'em, but in the end, willing to take responsibility for the consequences.
Somebody's gotta do it and to me it's all the same
Expressing a willingness to undertake a task, regardless of the indifference or consequences.
Tried to warn 'em, but in the end, go ahead, I'll take the blame
Repetition of the first line, emphasizing the readiness to accept blame.
Somebody's gotta do it and to me it's all the same
Reiteration of the second line, emphasizing the apathy towards the task at hand.
Brave words, I wanna be there when they turn
Desire to witness the consequences of bold statements.
Corn starch in the baggie like, when will you learn?
Metaphorically comparing a risky situation to corn starch in a baggie, questioning when understanding will prevail.
Don't get aggie, c'mon man, we all just got burned
Discouraging aggression, acknowledging shared adversity.
Woman at me like, mommy and daddy, behavior is learned
An observation of learned behavior from parental figures.
Dramatic reenactment went badly for all those concerned
Referring to a failed attempt to recreate a past event, possibly with negative consequences for all involved.
As a child, broke in a neighbor's house
Recalling a childhood incident of breaking into a neighbor's house.
Searchin' for what, I don't know
Uncertain about the motive behind the action.
Wasn't rich, wasn't hurtin', I didn't do it for the dough
Clarifying that the motivation wasn't financial.
Seen him pull up, through the curtain and slipped out the back door
Evading detection when the neighbor returned.
Lost my temper, moms looked just like she seen a ghost
Describing the emotional impact on the narrator's mother.
When he got out, gave him the money
Returning money to the neighbor upon his release, pretending it was a loan.
We both pretended it was a loan
A shared pretense to maintain a semblance of normalcy.
Down the road, seen him lookin' bummy outside the liquor store
Observing the neighbor's decline in circumstances after serving time.
Hurried past like I ain't know him, somethin' caught in my throat
Avoiding recognition of the neighbor in a changed state.
Tried to warn 'em, but in the end, go ahead, I'll take the blame
Repetition of the theme of warning and accepting blame.
Somebody's gotta do it and to me it's all the same
Reiteration of the indifferent attitude towards the task.
(Tried to warn 'em, but in the end)
Repetition of the warning theme, suggesting a recurring pattern.
Oh no, that's terrible
Conversation between unidentified individuals discussing the plight of an old man, reflecting on his past and current state.
He's not hurting anyone
-Neither are we
-Oh God
-Every time I see one of those old guys I
-Every time I see one of those old guys I
-I always think the same thing
-What do you think?
-I always think that he was once somebody's baby boy
-No, really, I do, I think he was once somebody's baby boy
-And he had a mother and father who loved him and now
-There he is, half dead on a park bench
Concluding the conversation with a somber image of an elderly individual in a deteriorated state.
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