Where I Come From
Homeland Reflections: Patty Griffin's Tale of Identity and Change
Lyrics
Where I come from
Where the speaker originates from
is a land of many islands
A place characterized by numerous islands
Two rivers run
Describing the presence of two rivers
To the east and to the west
The rivers' directions, indicating a sense of orientation
I wanted to run far away as I could as fast as I could get But no matter where I've been I can't escape
Expressing a desire to escape, but facing the inescapability of one's identity
who I am
Emphasizing the difficulty of forgetting one's true self
Or forget
Reiterating the importance of the speaker's origin
Where I come from
Returning to the theme of the speaker's place of origin
Paint is peeling all the time
Describing a worn and weathered environment
The winter's long
Highlighting the harshness and duration of winter
Gets into your boots
The cold affecting daily life, penetrating even into one's boots
The rivers run high and wild
Depicting the rivers as untamed and forceful
High and wild in the springtime
Specifically, the wild nature of the rivers during spring
The tourists come through our fading little town When the sunshines
Describing the impact of tourism on the fading town
The veterans
Referring to those who have experienced past wars
The veterans of all the past wars
People who have served in various wars
Sit outside on a Sunday afternoon
Depicting a scene of relaxation and reflection on a Sunday afternoon
The mills closed down long ago and so We're way past unemployment
Highlighting the economic decline with the closure of mills
Like a bad joke somebody told on our town For their enjoyment
Comparing the town's misfortune to a cruel joke
September sun
Describing the beauty of the September sun
Colors boldly flying
Colors vividly displayed in the autumn foliage
In pretty reds, orange, gold and brown Most beautiful
Emphasizing the beauty of the fading light
As the light is dying
Repeating the beauty of the fading light, possibly indicating a deeper significance
Most beautiful
Expressing admiration for the beauty of the day's end
As the day goes down
Reiterating the beauty of the concluding day
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