Lyrics
Go out yonder, peace in the valley
Expressing a desire to find peace in a distant place.
Come downtown, have to rumble in the alley
Describing a need to engage in a street fight downtown.
Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in
Conveying a sense of emotional or physical distress.
Has anybody seen my lady
Inquiring about the whereabouts of a significant other.
This living alone will drive me crazy
Feeling overwhelmed and distressed by the experience of living alone.
Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in
Reiterating the theme of personal struggle and distress.
I'm gonna go down by the water
Expressing a intention to seek solace near water.
But I ain't gonna jump in, no, no
Committing not to take drastic actions like jumping into the water.
I'll just be looking for my maker
Expressing a search for meaning or purpose, possibly in a spiritual context.
And I hear that that's where she's been? Oh
Suggesting the possibility that the speaker's quest for meaning is associated with a feminine entity.
Out of nine lives, I spent seven
Indicating a history of challenges and hardships, with a metaphor of having nine lives.
Now, how in the world do you get to Heaven
Pondering the path to salvation or a better life after facing numerous challenges.
Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in
Reiterating the ongoing struggle and the difficulty of the speaker's situation.
I just spent sixty days in the jailhouse
Recounting a period of imprisonment lasting sixty days.
For the crime of having no dough, no, no
Explaining the reason for imprisonment as the lack of financial resources.
Now here I am back out on the street
Describing the speaker's return to the streets after being released from jail.
For the crime of having nowhere to go
Highlighting the challenge of being homeless or having no clear direction in life.
Save your neck or save your brother
Presenting a dilemma where one must choose between saving oneself or a sibling.
Looks like it's one or the other
Stressing the gravity of the situation and the difficult choices to be made.
Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in
Reiterating the sense of distress and turmoil in the speaker's life.
Now two young kids might start a ruckus
Anticipating potential trouble caused by two young individuals who may feel deceived or manipulated.
You know they feel you trying to shuck us
Expressing a sense of vulnerability and the perception that others are trying to deceive or cheat the speaker.
Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in
Reiterating the ongoing struggle and the difficulty of the speaker's situation.
Comment