What's a Boy to Do
Searching for Identity: Mat Kearney's Reflection on Manhood and Loss
Lyrics
'm sure that I'm moving to St. Louis
The speaker is planning to move to St. Louis.
Three long years wondering here in New York City
Reflecting on three years spent in New York City, seeking something.
I guess I'm looking for the right way to do this
Expressing a search for the right approach to life.
I guess I'm looking for the right things to call pretty
Searching for meaningful and genuine qualities.
Young boys playing in the park turning their backs to take a shot
Observing young boys playing, possibly metaphorical for innocence.
You know I'll stay sharp around here'cause they're stoning and leaving type
Awareness of criticism and judgment, staying vigilant.
It's the kind of love that comes and goes when there's company coming around
Describing a love that is inconsistent, influenced by external factors.
What's a boy to do who knows no man now?
Pondering what to do when one lacks guidance or a mentor figure.
What's a boy to do who knows no man now?
Reiteration of the uncertainty and lack of guidance for the speaker.
Daddy's been looking down his nose at all of them
Father's disapproval and the speaker's quest for identity.
And I've been looking round for someone to tell me who I am
Seeking affirmation and understanding of self from others.
He kept saying I was too young to finish a fight
Recalling being considered too young to face challenges.
I'd die each time they came I never got to draw my knife
Regret for missed opportunities, not being able to confront adversity.
Well it was just a pair of shoes in a middle school room with the world watching in
A significant moment in a school setting, possibly indicating a formative experience.
An angel is crying I'm dying just a little inside as they ran away
Emotional turmoil and sorrow as an angel weeps during a distressing event.
Funny which words stick around 20 years down when you're driving alone
Reflecting on impactful words that linger over time.
What's a boy to do when there's no man at home?
Questioning how to navigate life without a fatherly figure.
What's a boy to do when there's no man at home?
Reiteration of the challenge faced by the speaker without paternal guidance.
Well I'll stack all my books into perfect rows
Organizing life in an orderly manner, possibly as a coping mechanism.
From the biggest down to the smallest ones
Arranging possessions by size, indicative of a desire for control.
And I buy all the perfect clothes
Investing in a polished appearance, perhaps to project a specific image.
Bullet proof and black, where I look like a son
Choosing a defensive, tough exterior represented by bulletproof clothing.
Well it was just a rainy night at his house
Describing a specific rainy night at someone's house, hinting at an event.
A bottle spinning around the room
An intoxicating and chaotic scene with a spinning bottle.
And everybody's singing and slipping down the bottom of a halfway rush of blood
A lively atmosphere with singing and a rush of emotions.
And I was grabbing Missy but I was trying to find the light switch in the dark
Struggling to find clarity in a challenging situation, using Missy as a metaphor.
What's a boy to do with no man in his heart?
Pondering how to cope without a male role model in the speaker's life.
What's a boy to do with no man in his heart?
Reiterating the challenge of navigating life without paternal guidance.
It's all quiet for the first time
Experiencing a rare moment of silence without external influences.
With no voices left to fall
Observing the absence of voices, suggesting solitude.
I saw a boy at the bottom of the bridge
Noticing a boy at the bottom of a bridge, possibly facing a crisis.
His car was left there on the top
A deserted car atop the bridge, symbolizing abandonment or isolation.
It's four o'clock in the morning
Describing the early morning hour, emphasizing the gravity of the situation.
Didn't need to be like this
Expressing regret or frustration over the unfolding events.
There's a white sheet left to cover up
A white sheet covering a missed opportunity for a sacred connection.
What should have been a holy kiss
Reflecting on what could have been a significant and meaningful moment.
It's not like those days
Contrasting the current situation with a nostalgic past.
It's not like I'm scared of you
Asserting independence or fearlessness in the face of challenges.
What's the Son of Man and a boy to do?
Pondering the role and actions of the Son of Man in challenging circumstances.
What's the Son of Man and a boy to do?
Reiteration of the speaker's contemplation on the actions of the Son of Man.
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