A Poor Man's Blues
Echoes of Struggle: The Duffle Coat Kids' Poignant Tale in 'A Poor Man's Blues'
Lyrics
From the front line to coal mine
Refers to the transition from military service ("front line") to working in a coal mine.
The picket line to the bread line
Describes the shift from participating in strikes ("picket line") to facing financial hardship ("bread line").
From good times to hard times
Expresses the contrast between good times and difficult times in life.
Well I don't mind and she don't care
Indicates a sense of resignation or acceptance by both the speaker and their partner.
Been running around in circles heading no where
Highlights a feeling of aimlessness and lack of progress in the speaker's life.
Worked all our lives ain't got nothing to show
Conveys a sense of hard work throughout life without tangible accomplishments.
Two kids no job and no where to go
Describes a challenging situation of having two children, no job, and no clear direction.
Well I swear blind but she can't see
The speaker asserts that they are committed, but their partner seems oblivious to the difficulties.
That look in our children's eyes haunting me
Reflects on the emotional impact of the children's gaze, suggesting a haunting feeling of responsibility.
Waiting on some good news
Expresses a hopeful anticipation for positive news amid challenging circumstances.
But all I hear is a poor man's blues
Despite the expectation of good news, the prevailing sentiment is one of hardship and struggle.
Well I ain't sure but she just knows
Uncertainty in the speaker's mind contrasted with the partner's confident intuition.
Sometimes you have to accept and just go with the flow
Suggests a philosophy of accepting difficult situations and going along with life's challenges.
Were standing in lines and waiting in queue's
Describes the experience of standing in lines and waiting in queues, possibly for basic necessities.
It's hard to walk when your wearing a poor man's shoes
Metaphorically conveys the difficulty of moving forward when burdened by poverty and hardship.
A poor man's a poor man's blues
Repetition emphasizes the overarching theme of facing and expressing the "poor man's blues."
A poor man's a poor man's blues
-Poor man's A poor man's blues
-Ooh ooh
Repetition of vocalizations adds emotional emphasis to the expression of hardship and struggle.
Ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh ooh
-Ooh ooh ooh ooh aah aah aah aah
-Ooh ooh ooh ooh aah aah aah aah
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