Hell in My Water
Redemption's Sorrow: Exploring Inner Turmoil Through Song
Lyrics
Your baby she heard, that you ain't her daddy
Your child has heard that you are not her biological father.
And I think you know what I mean
The speaker believes the listener understands the implication.
And if you see her around won't you tell her I'm sorry
If the listener encounters the child, ask them to convey an apology from the speaker.
When I am sober I'm mean
When sober, the speaker admits to being mean or harsh.
God must've come down, put hell in my water
The speaker feels as if there is something dark or troublesome in their life, symbolized as "hell in my water."
Cuz I follow my sorrow upstream
The speaker suggests they follow their sorrows or troubles upstream, perhaps seeking the root cause.
One day I'll be a lady with change in my pockets
Expressing a desire to transform into a more refined person when able to overcome personal challenges.
When I can get myself clean
Aspiration to become clean, possibly referring to overcoming addiction or personal struggles.
And the war and the wind come and go
Reference to the transient nature of war and wind, drawing parallels to the fleeting aspects of whiskey, women, and substance abuse.
Like the whiskey and the women and the blow
Comparing the transience of war and wind to the fleeting nature of whiskey, women, and substance abuse.
With your tourmaline eyes turnin' good gold to stone
Description of someone with captivating eyes turning something good into something lifeless or unfeeling.
Cheap alchemy, dry as a bone
Mention of a type of cheap transformation, possibly indicating unsuccessful or unfulfilling changes.
I got your sherry, your face in my locket
The speaker possesses a memento (locket) with a representation of the listener's face and sherry, suggesting a connection to the past.
But you know that you're no James Dean
The listener is not comparable to the iconic James Dean, suggesting a realization about their true nature.
The wheels have been turning and lessons I'm learning
Reflecting on personal growth and learning from life experiences, symbolized by the turning wheels.
Like the difference between sleep and a dream
Distinguishing between sleep and a dream, possibly alluding to recognizing reality from illusion.
And some woman come walkin trying to tell me that you love her
Someone, possibly a woman, claims that the listener loves her, creating a conflict or confusion for the speaker.
But I thought that you were with me
The speaker believed the listener was committed to them despite the claim made by another person.
Well your baby she heard that you ain't her daddy
A repetition emphasizing that the child has heard about the listener not being their biological parent.
And I think you should know what I mean
A reiteration that the listener should understand the implied message.
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