Joe
Resilience Echoes: A Tale of Love, Loss, and the Newport Ridge
Lyrics
Up on the Newport Ridge
Describing the location where the narrator resided.
It's there that I lived
Reiterating the place of residence.
With my husband Joe and a couple of kids
Living there with her husband Joe and children.
He worked the factory by day
Joe's work at the factory during the day.
And the fields by night
Joe's additional work in the fields at night.
'Til they closed them both a year ago July
Both the factory and fields closed a year ago in July.
They came to take it all away without a how do you do
Authorities arrived abruptly to seize belongings.
The sheriff just walked in one day
The sheriff informed Joe about the situation.
Said now Joe, you're through
Joe succumbed to the pressure and left.
Joe just caved in, he took the kids and he went
Joe departed, leaving his gun as a warning.
But he left his gun and they better not come again
Now Joe sends some money
Joe sends money and occasional love.
And sometimes he sends his love
Expressing resignation about the situation.
With a why don't you, what is done is done
Reflecting on their modest but satisfactory life.
Well, me and Joe weren't much
But we was what we was
-And when times got tough you know that seemed enough
During hardships, their relationship felt sufficient.
They tried to take it all away without a how do you do
Repetition of authorities' attempt to take possessions.
The sheriff just walked in one day
Continued description of the sheriff's actions.
Said now Joe, you're through
Joe's compliance with the situation.
Joe just caved in, he took the kids and he went
Joe's departure, leaving his gun behind.
But he left his gun and they better not come again
And sometimes at twilight, I sit with my pipe
Reflecting on moments alone during twilight.
Look down the lane as the cars go slowly by
Observing passersby without interaction.
Even people I know, they don't come in to say hello
Lack of social contact with acquaintances.
To the crazy woman living out on the line
Feeling isolated and labeled as eccentric.
But they tried to take it away without a how do you do
Reiteration of authorities' attempt to seize property.
The sheriff just walked in one day
Continued involvement of the sheriff in Joe's situation.
Said now Joe, you're through
Joe's compliance with the situation.
Joe just gave in, he took the kids and he went
Joe's departure, leaving his gun as a warning.
But he left his gun and they better not come again
But he left his gun and they better not come again
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