Prisoners
Lonely Hearts and Hard Times: A Ballad of Longing and Liberation
Lyrics
Josie works the counter at the downtown five and dime,
Josie works at the downtown five and dime, possibly to alleviate loneliness or boredom.
Anything at all to help her pass the time.
Josie engages in various activities to pass the time.
Her mama keeps the baby and grandpa rambles
Josie's mother takes care of the baby, while grandpa reminisces about past joys.
On about the good times playing in his mind.
Grandpa recalls good times from his past, reflecting on memories.
It's a hard life living when you're lonely,
Expressing the difficulty of life when experiencing loneliness.
It's a long night sleeping alone.
Lonely nights make sleeping a prolonged and challenging experience.
It's a hard time waiting for tomorrow,
Anticipation for a better tomorrow is a challenging aspect of life.
It's a long, long way home.
The journey home is portrayed as a lengthy and arduous one.
Josie spends the evening with the people in the pages of the paperback
Josie finds solace in the characters of paperback novels during her evenings.
She picked up at the store.
Josie purchases books from the store, possibly seeking escapism.
Or sometimes it's the TV, or she'll try to write a letter, oh,
Alternately, Josie turns to TV or attempts letter writing, which is infrequent.
They don't come too often anymore.
Letter writing is a rare occurrence, suggesting a lack of connection or communication.
It's a hard life living when you're lonely, it's a long night sleeping alone.
Reiteration of the challenging nature of living when lonely.
It's a hard time waiting for tomorrow, it's a long, long way home.
Continued emphasis on the difficulty of waiting for a better future.
I stare at the gray walls before me, I see her face in the stone.
The speaker reflects on a confined space, contemplating the face of a loved one in the surroundings.
I try to imagine our baby, I wish they would let me go home.
The speaker tries to visualize their baby and expresses a desire to go home.
I wish they would let me go home.
Reiteration of the longing to return home.
(I wish they would let me go home) It's a hard life living when you're lonely,
Repeating the challenges of life when lonely, emphasizing the desire to go home.
(I wish they would let me go home) It's a long night sleeping alone.
Restating the difficulties of sleeping alone during lonely nights.
(I wish they would let me go home) It's a hard time waiting for tomorrow,
Reiteration of the struggles of waiting for a better tomorrow.
(I wish they would let me go home) It's a long, long way home.
Emphasis on the prolonged and challenging journey back home.
(I wish they would let me go home) It's a long, long way home.
Repetition of the theme of a long journey home.
(I wish they would let me go home) Bringing me and the other boys home,
Expressing a collective desire to bring the speaker and others back home.
(I wish they would let me go home) Bringing me and the other boys home.
Reiteration of the collective wish to be brought back home.
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