Everyone But Me
Navigating Life's Broken Glass: Rosanne Cash's 'Everyone But Me' Meaning
Lyrics
We plow a similar field
We share similar life experiences or face similar challenges.
Of all the bones of remembered hearts
We carry the memories and emotions of past relationships.
And all the crackpot dreams
Reference to unconventional dreams or aspirations.
And all the backroom art
Alludes to hidden or private forms of expression.
We run a similar course
We navigate life's path, encountering obstacles symbolized by broken glass.
On a track laid with broken glass
Our journey is challenging, marked by difficulties and hardships.
So tie your shoes real tight
Advice to be prepared for life's challenges and move forward cautiously.
It goes by real fast
Life passes quickly, urging the listener to be mindful and present.
Mother and Father
Reference to the absence of parents.
Now that you're gone
Expressing the fact that the parents are no longer alive.
It's not nearly long enough
Time without parents feels insufficient despite being objectively long.
Still it seems too long
The duration still feels prolonged, indicating the impact of their absence.
I gave up my name for you
Sacrifices made, possibly in a relationship, symbolized by giving up a name.
Gave up my edge, it made me bleed
The sacrifices were significant and resulted in personal pain.
And I pleased everyone
Seeking approval or validation from others at the cost of personal satisfaction.
I mean everyone but me
Despite pleasing everyone else, the speaker feels unfulfilled.
There behind the closing door
Behind closed doors, the speaker feels inadequate and, paradoxically, excessive.
I'm not enough and then too much
Struggling with self-worth and the complexity of one's own existence.
Our strange and beautiful lives
Life's journey, beautiful yet strange, fades away and turns to insignificance.
Fade and turn to dust
Alluding to the transient nature of life, with experiences eventually becoming dust.
Mother and Father
Repetition of the reference to absent parents.
Now that you're gone
Reiteration of the enduring sense that the time without parents is insufficient.
It's not nearly long enough
Despite time passing, the absence of parents remains deeply impactful.
Still it seems too long
The duration still feels prolonged, emphasizing the lasting impact.
It's just wasn't long enough
Reflecting on the duration without parents, finding it insufficient yet too long.
Still it seems too long
Reiteration of the paradoxical feeling that the time without parents is inadequate and extended.
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