Lyrics
It's gonna swallow me whole
Expressing a feeling of being overwhelmed and consumed by something.
The ground'll open up and in I'll fall
Anticipating a downfall or negative event symbolized by the ground opening up.
Down down down
Reinforcing the idea of descending or facing a challenging situation.
Mama set me up with a fine young thing
Describing a setup by someone, possibly a parent, with a promising individual.
And he was gonna buy me everything
Highlighting materialistic expectations from the relationship.
But he grabbed the hook and took out for deep water
Unexpectedly, the person takes a risky path, leaving the speaker in a difficult situation.
And pretty soon that fish, he pulled me in
Metaphorically depicting the consequences of the risky relationship.
It's gonna follow me home
Suggesting that the negative consequences will persist and follow the speaker home.
Somewhere in the shadows there's a place for me
Implies a hidden, dark place in the speaker's life.
In the cold cold ground
Emphasizing the bleakness and difficulty of the situation.
Trouble's right behind me there's hard times ahead
Indicating troubles and challenges approaching.
The devil's got his hammer he's poundin' on my bed
Using vivid imagery to describe the impact of troubles on the speaker.
Lost most my money I'm on my last hand
Describing financial struggles and being at a disadvantage.
I'm knockin' at hell's door with no weapon and no plan
Symbolizing a desperate situation with no clear solution or defense.
Feelin' kinda timid like an egg without a shell
Feeling vulnerable and exposed, like an unprotected egg.
But if I've been just bluffing I ain't gonna tell
Hinting at deception or bluffing without revealing the truth.
It's gonna swallow me whole
Reiterating the feeling of being consumed or overwhelmed.
The ground'll open up and in I'll fall
Repeating the anticipation of a negative event and descent.
Papa set me up with a sharp-eyed boy
Describing another setup, this time by the father, with a potentially risky person.
And I was gonna have him for my toy
Expressing initial intentions of a casual relationship.
But he stole my heart and took out for deep water
Unexpectedly, the person becomes more emotionally involved, leading to consequences.
And pretty soon that shark, he pulled me in
Metaphorically depicting the emotional impact of the relationship.
Sky's full of lightning the wind's spitting sand
Depicting a tumultuous and challenging environment with natural elements.
Sun burning oh so hot it gave the earth a tan
Describing harsh weather conditions and their effect on the environment.
The fish have all stopped jumping the bedbugs are asleep
Symbolizing a period of stillness and quietness after facing challenges.
I'll lay myself beside you and pray my soul to keep
Expressing a desire for solace and protection.
I wish I had a needle as fine as I could sew
Expressing a wish for a strong bond and unity with a loved one.
I'd stitch my baby to my side and down the road we'd go
Describing a longing for a journey with a loved one.
My shovel struck sorrow
Repetition of the emotional impact of sorrow, possibly from repeated negative experiences.
And the tears came running down
-My shovel struck sorrow
-And the tears came running down
-My shovel struck sorrow
-And the tears came running down
-My shovel struck sorrow
-And the tears came running down
-Little fishes in the brook
Depicting a simple, traditional family activity, possibly contrasting with the complexities in the speaker's life.
Papa catch them with a hook
-Brother clean it like a man
-Mama fry it in the pan
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