Lyrics
I seen the ghost of Ophelia sellin' paraphernalia
I witnessed the ghost of Ophelia selling various items
She didn't need to, but half the fun is how they nail ya!
Enjoyment includes the risk of being caught
Then I saw her again, kissin' up on a friend
Observed Ophelia kissing someone who is a friend of a friend
Of a friend she told her mama that she never met
Ophelia told her mother about a person she claimed not to have met
He was kissin' her too, and as his lips turned blue
The person she kissed turned blue and disappeared into a cigarette she smoked
He disappeared into a cigarette Ophelia drew
Returned a cigarette to Ophelia; she dipped her head in the river
I gave her back the one I bummed, I didn't know where I came from
Returned a borrowed item, uncertain of its origin
She didn't either, so she dunked her head back in the river
Ophelia, like the speaker, lacks knowledge of her origin
I didn't see her for a year, but after fifty-thousand beers
Didn't see Ophelia for a year, but her presence is felt after numerous beers
You start to feel her in your teeth and in your ears!
Ophelia becomes ingrained in one's senses after drinking
She doesn't give it to me straight, she always keeps me hangin'
Ophelia doesn't communicate straightforwardly; keeps the speaker guessing
So I start clangin' on her words and on her changes
The speaker reacts by emphasizing on Ophelia's words and changes
"Maybe you never said 'I love you' to another one
Speculation on Ophelia's past actions regarding love
Or you never thought you'd say it again
Reflection on the possibility of expressing love again
But take it from the dead, honey
Advice from the dead: Moving on is a vital aspect of life
Movin' on's a livin' thing
Moving on is a living process
And maybe you have I say 'forever' when you're losin' it
Suggests saying 'forever' when losing something
'Cause you wanna polish over the sin
The desire to cover up mistakes
But the river doesn't care where you been
The river is indifferent to one's past
Where you went..."
Questioning where one has been
Can't say I never warned ya, I moved to California
Warning about a move to California for money and marijuana
For the money and the marijuana!
Reasons behind relocation
I saw the face of Amelia on your family regalia
Observation of Amelia's face on family items
I didn't know just what to think or what to tell ya
Uncertain response to Amelia's presence
I couldn't tell you how I seemed
Unable to describe one's state during a call from a dream
When I called you from a dream
Ophelia supporting the opposite side in a competition
Ophelia was rooting for the other team
Understanding Ophelia's perspective; can't blame her
How could I blame her, honey?
The speaker dislikes seeing someone alone
I can't stand seein' you alone
Unable to claim or possess Nancy
I couldn't claim you, Nancy
Characterizing Nancy as a wanderer
You always was a rollin' stone
The speaker indulges in drinking and dancing while Ophelia mourns
Now I'm drinkin' and dancin' while Ophelia moans
Repetition of lines 13-20
"Maybe you never said 'I love you' to another one
Reiteration of speculation about expressing love
Or you never thought you'd say it again
Reiteration of thoughts on expressing love again
But take it from the dead, honey
Reiteration of advice from the dead
Movin' on's a livin' thing
Reiteration that moving on is a living process
And maybe you have I say 'forever' when you're losin' it
Reiteration of saying 'forever' when losing something
'Cause you wanna polish over the sin
Reiteration of the desire to cover up mistakes
But the river doesn't care where you been!
Reiteration of the river's indifference to one's past
Why you left..."
Questioning the reason for someone's departure
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