Phone Call from Leavenworth
Leavenworth Lament: Seeking Redemption Beyond Concrete Walls
Lyrics
They hold me here much longer
Expressing the duration of confinement, feeling detained for an extended period.
Probably go mad all by myself
Anticipating the psychological toll of prolonged isolation, suggesting a risk of going insane.
Now I really need somebody
Conveying a strong need for companionship or support from someone.
Said I really need somebody's help
Reiterating the plea for assistance, emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
Why does a man up in the judgment chair
Describing a person in a position of authority or judgment, possibly a legal figure.
Got his ass and God's right arm in some double pair, alright
Depicting a powerful figure with both earthly and divine attributes, creating a vivid image.
Walkin' a frozen line
Describing the challenging and precarious path the speaker is navigating.
A western winter be hail and rain
Using weather metaphors to emphasize harsh conditions, possibly reflecting the speaker's emotional state.
Way back in New York this mornin'
Referring to a distant past in New York, highlighting a sense of abandonment or forgotten identity.
There ain't no one there who ever gonna remember my name
Expressing a sense of isolation and the fear of being forgotten by others.
Now when the sun comes up
Addressing a moment when hope or positivity should prevail.
Mama you should know
Directing a message to the speaker's mother, conveying a shift in emotional detachment.
That now I just don't care no more, alright
Indicating a state of emotional numbness or resignation, not caring about consequences.
Three o'clock this morning
Specifying a particular time, possibly a significant or troubling moment.
When I thought I saw Jesus coming down
Describing a surreal or extraordinary experience involving the appearance of Jesus.
He came through the concrete baby
Portraying a miraculous entrance, breaking through physical barriers.
He came through them walls without no sound
Emphasizing the silent and unexpected nature of Jesus' arrival.
Now I mean concrete walls that ain't no clay
Clarifying the type of walls and underscoring their solidity.
I closed my eyes and he slipped away - alright
Narrating the disappearance of Jesus when the speaker closed their eyes.
They look at you sideways
Highlighting societal judgment or scrutiny, suggesting a sense of alienation.
They call no man by his Christian name
Observing a lack of personal recognition, emphasizing dehumanization.
All you got is your backbone to lean on
Stressing the importance of self-reliance, particularly on one's inner strength.
You can expect no help from your brain
Warning against expecting support or solutions from intellect or reason.
Now when a man wants reason
Suggesting that reasoning comes at a cost and requires a willingness to endure.
He best be willin' to pay
Implying that seeking justification or rationale demands sacrifice.
I'm down in Leavenworth prison now
Explicitly stating the speaker's current location, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
I do not count no days
Expressing a disregard for the passage of time, possibly due to the harshness of the environment.
Comment