Lyrics
My mamma told me "Save the last drop"
Advice from the speaker's mother to savor and not waste anything.
Cherish all that you hold dear
Encouragement to value and appreciate everything important in life.
She picked me up from school on Monday
A personal memory of being picked up from school by the mother on a Monday.
Bloody knuckles and a roar of cheers
Description of a moment with the father involving physical activity, possibly a sports event.
My poppa told me "Clean your plate"
Parental advice to finish meals to avoid wasting food.
If you don't it will go to waste
Emphasis on not wasting food, possibly tying to a broader life lesson.
He put me on his shoulders and broke his back
Recollection of a moment with the father carrying the speaker on his shoulders, followed by a metaphorical departure.
So I jumped off and flew away
A symbolic leap of independence or escape from a situation.
This dry ditch will take me away
A metaphorical place of escape for the speaker.
The grackles and the onions won't tell
Reference to nature (grackles and onions) as silent witnesses.
The ants on the hill march to their bite
Metaphor involving ants marching, possibly signifying determination or routine.
When the rain clouds begin to smell
Imagery of rain clouds, symbolizing change or renewal.
My brother said "Make a plate"
Instructions from the brother to prepare a plate of food.
He'll take it home that night
Intention to take the prepared plate home, but the outcome is not successful.
We went ahead and got our start
A collaborative effort to start something, but it doesn't yield the expected results.
But he didn't get a single bite
The brother doesn't receive any positive response or benefit.
My sister said "Trim the fat"
Advice from the sister to eliminate unnecessary elements, possibly in life.
Some parts just remind me of home
Identification of certain elements that evoke memories of home.
When we last spoke we set things right
Resolution or reconciliation in a past conversation with the sister.
And now I just want her home
Expression of a desire for the sister to return home.
This dry ditch will swallow me whole
Repetition of the dry ditch metaphor, suggesting a recurring theme of escape.
The grackles and the onions can't say
Nature as silent witnesses again, not providing answers or communication.
The ants are swept from their march
Disruption or deviation from a planned course, possibly symbolizing life's unpredictability.
When the storm clouds begin to rain
Imagery of storm clouds, indicating potential challenges or difficulties.
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