the lumberjack song
Unraveling Tales of Abandonment and Resignation
Lyrics
My ex-best friend is a lesbian
Refers to the speaker's former best friend who is a lesbian.
She goes to town on the girls downtown
She engages in intimate activities with women in the downtown area.
And in her head she's a waitress
She imagines herself as a waitress, possibly indicating a fantasy or role-play in her mind.
Collecting cash for the wife and kids
Implies she collects money for her family, though she left them behind.
The wife and kids she abandoned, oh
She abandoned her wife and kids.
The holy ghost, yeah he calls her name
Suggests a religious reference where the speaker mentions the Holy Ghost calling out to her.
But she wont drown in your lake disease
She refuses to be influenced or affected by something negative, likened to a 'lake disease.'
Your breath of bees, your tree like knees
Describes unpleasant traits or attributes ('breath of bees', 'tree-like knees') that are collapsing or failing.
Are falling down
Reiterates the collapse or failure indicated in the previous line.
My next door neighbor has a bag
Introduces a new character, the speaker's next-door neighbor.
He fills with foul uncultured rags
He carries a bag filled with dirty, unrefined materials.
He saw her in the street one night
He encountered the lesbian friend on the street at night.
He stuffed her in and closed it tight
He forcibly put her into his bag and sealed it shut.
Pollinate my head with dread, dread, dread
The speaker feels anxious and overwhelmed, asking for relief from his distress.
I close my mouth, the bees wont find me here
The speaker is trying to remain silent to avoid the bees, possibly symbolic of troubles or negativity.
She will drown in your lake disease
Repeats the idea of the friend being affected by the negative influences she tried to avoid.
Your breath of bees, your tree like knees
Reiterates the unpleasant traits or characteristics leading to a downfall.
Get chopped down…
Suggests an end or termination, possibly indicating a consequence of the negative traits.
Your bed is full of splinters
The bed is uncomfortable, full of problems or discomforts ('splinters').
Toothpick, toothpick fingerprint
Reference to identifying someone's presence or involvement through a trace or mark ('fingerprint').
Your holy ghost has run away
The friend's sense of spiritual guidance or support has disappeared.
Girl you are stuck till your death day…
Implies the friend is trapped in her situation until her death.
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