God Knows When
Love Lost in Delta Rain: A Soulful Reflection by Radney Foster
Lyrics
The Mississippi moves a whole lot slower than you think
The Mississippi River's pace is slower than commonly perceived.
I've been to Memphis and rode it clean down to New Orleans
The singer has traveled from Memphis to New Orleans along the river.
I'd bet a Ben Franklin I've seen the whole world in between
The singer claims to have seen the world between the mentioned locations.
But I ain't seen you in God knows when
The singer hasn't seen the person being referred to in an extended period.
Too much of that bootleg liquor, not near enough champagne
Reference to excessive illegal alcohol and insufficient celebration.
Too much of that dust bowl love and not near enough Delta rain
Too much difficult love and not enough positive experiences.
I shed too many tears last I smelled 'em burnin' the cane
The singer has experienced hardship, possibly related to love.
But I ain't held you in God knows when
The singer hasn't embraced the person in a considerable time.
We had a love that we held true
A past love that the singer considered genuine.
I don't know how it slipped away
The singer doesn't understand how the love slipped away.
You always had good sense 'bout when to leave
Acknowledgment of the ex-partner's good judgment in leaving.
I wish you knew something 'bout when to stay
Expressing a desire for the ex-partner to know when to stay.
Power lines went down in hell 'cause they had an ice storm again
Description of a calamity causing power lines to fall.
The devil he cursed the TVA and now he's headed down south of I-10
The devil is blamed for an issue with the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).
You ain't been back so you must have cut some kind of deal with him
Suggesting the ex-partner made a deal with the devil.
'Cause hells froze over since God knows when
Using hyperbole, claiming an improbable event has occurred.
We had a love that we held true
Reiteration of a once true and strong love.
I don't know how it slipped away
The singer is unsure how the love ended.
You always had good sense 'bout when to leave
Recognizing the ex-partner's good judgment in leaving.
God I wish you knew something 'bout when to stay
Expressing a wish for the ex-partner to know when to stay.
The Mississippi moves a whole lot sadder than you think
The Mississippi River is portrayed as sadder than commonly perceived.
You cry tears in Memphis, they hit bottom south of New Orleans
Memphis is associated with tears that reach a low point south of New Orleans.
You won't feel redemption 'til they mingle in the warm Gulf Stream
Redemption is linked to tears mingling in the warm Gulf Stream.
And that ain't gonna happen 'til God knows when
The occurrence of redemption is uncertain and unspecified.
it ain't gonna happen 'til God knows when
Reiteration of the uncertainty of the specified event.
I ain't gonna hold you 'til God knows when
The singer won't embrace the person until an unspecified future time.
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