The Joint
Secret Flames: Unveiling the Hidden Stories in Eric Church's 'The Joint'
Lyrics
The only joint my mother burned was on the rural route
The only joint my mother smoked was in a rural area.
She sparked in old man tater's woods so she wouldn't be found out
She smoked it in old man tater's woods to keep it a secret.
Turned off the dome light and snuck off by herself
Turned off the car's dome light and sneaked away alone.
Crashed down beneath that window, fired it up, and gave it hell
Found a secluded spot under a window, lit up, and enjoyed it intensely.
At that hangout my daddy used to hang around
Refers to a location where the speaker's father used to spend time.
We watched it all go up in smoke until it all came down
They witnessed everything disappearing or being destroyed due to some events.
Just like after tabs and stooge and tables got turned
Mentions various activities or substances ("tabs and stooge and tables") that had consequences.
To the only joint my momma ever burned
Refers to the only time the speaker's mother smoked a joint.
Just like someone flipped a switch, dad started coming home
After a significant change, the father started coming home regularly.
No more eating late cause supper's with that tater gone
No more late meals because the father is now present, possibly due to the absence of the mentioned joint.
I had my suspicions, til the night when we said grace
The speaker had suspicions, possibly about the father's behavior.
Dad said, "Forgive us, our transgressions as I lit up momma's face."
During grace, the father confesses to the joint, asking for forgiveness.
At that hangout my daddy used to hang around
Refers again to the location where the father spent time.
We watched it all go up in smoke until it all came down
They observed everything being destroyed or changing at that location.
Just like after tabs and stooge and tables got turned
Mentions consequences after various activities or substances.
To the only joint my momma ever burned
Reiterates the only time the speaker's mother smoked a joint.
Lot of small town gonna find some bloodhounds in this town
Suggests that in a small town, secrets are hard to keep, and someone eventually finds out.
I'm the only one who ever found out was dad
The speaker is the only one who discovered that it was the father who found out about the joint.
At that hangout my daddy used to hang around
Revisits the location where the father spent time.
We watched it all go up in smoke until it all came down
They witnessed everything being destroyed or changing again at that location.
Just like after tabs and stooge and tables got turned
Mentions consequences after various activities or substances again.
To the only joint my momma ever burned
Final reference to the only time the speaker's mother smoked a joint.
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