Tight to the Jar
Journey through Ditches: Embracing Life's Weight with a Tight Grip
Lyrics
It's a ditch, okay, I have shoes and a blanket
Acknowledging a difficult situation ("ditch"), equipped with basic necessities.
My head resting light on a stone
Resting with little comfort, perhaps symbolized by a hard surface.
Though it's hard it's still rounded with a pocket for
Despite challenges, there's still some protection or capacity for intellect ("brains") within.
Brains or what goes for in halls under roof tile
Reflecting on what constitutes understanding or intelligence in confined spaces.
We'll sing another blistering ballad for grandma
Creating music ("blistering ballad") with emotional depth for a loved one.
Melody sweet till it rolls out the ear
Music has a soothing quality until it leaves one's immediate consciousness.
And the beer flows free as advice
Alcohol flows freely like advice, possibly implying both freely given and not always heeded.
With a tight hand holding the jar
A tight grip on something valuable or significant ("jar"), perhaps symbolic.
The mud cakes my chin strap, fills up my cuffs
Struggling in challenging conditions, represented by mud accumulation.
As I plod, now, from creek edge to street side
Moving from a natural setting ("creek edge") to a more structured environment ("street side").
As it dries I can whittle it little by little
Slowly overcoming difficulties, bit by bit, possibly symbolized by whittling away at dry mud.
"Hey, look, now I'm light as a bee"
Lightening one's mood or situation, possibly with a sense of humor ("light as a bee").
Those gray clouds mean nothing to one such as I
Ignoring looming troubles, represented by "gray clouds."
Though shadows stand tall as some school master whack
Despite challenges ("shadows"), standing strong in one's beliefs or actions.
On the back of a well intentioned quiet kid
Resisting authority or oppressive forces, comparing it to a harsh school punishment.
Arms held fast to the jar
Staying committed or attached to something significant ("jar").
And it's slow, so slow the idea
Slowly grasping a concept or idea, which takes time to develop.
The coming around of a sensible word
Anticipating the arrival or understanding of a meaningful word or realization.
It hovers and shakes like a hummingbird wing
Comparing the uncertainty or fragility of an idea to the fluttering of a hummingbird's wing.
At the end of a long hot year
At the end of a challenging period, perhaps with little progress ("long hot year").
Fry up that supper, we'll kill it for breakfast
Preparing food ("supper") to sustain oneself, symbolizing survival.
Turn the table down side and crazy
Disrupting established norms or routines ("turn the table down side and crazy").
With the legs up, the women up, the men up to Church for the spirit,
Engaging in religious or spiritual practices ("Church") and daily chores.
The hen yard, the bent steel Tack wrap
Reflecting on a difficult situation again, questioning its nature.
It's a ditch, yeah, I know that. And, I do wonder
Reflecting on one's past self and pondering the ability to overcome challenges.
How that bright faced, ten year old me of a boy
Wondering about the resilience or resourcefulness of one's younger self.
Found the road out I never could see
Failing to find a way out of difficulties, despite a younger self's potential insight.
With my eyes held tight to the jar
Being narrowly focused or unable to see beyond a certain perspective ("eyes held tight to the jar").
Comment