If New Orleans Is Beat
Navigating Desolation: Reflections on New Orleans' Beat
Lyrics
Your smile is fading a bit, so I ration it
Your smile is losing its brightness, and I'm trying to preserve it.
Don't think about it
Ignore or avoid dwelling on it.
Here where the Mississippi quits
Referencing the location where the Mississippi River ends.
Where it's still got a bit of Minnesota in it
The river still carries some influence from Minnesota.
No one will give you a thing these days
In contemporary times, people are less willing to help; instead, they prefer to destroy or discard things.
They'd rather kill it or throw it away
Continuation of the idea that people are reluctant to assist.
Don't 'do' dark American streets so
Avoiding unfamiliar or dangerous situations, possibly a metaphor for challenges.
If New Orleans is beat, if New Orleans is beat
Raising a question about the condition of New Orleans and its implications for the speaker and someone else.
If New Orleans is beat, if New Orleans is beat
-If New Orleans is beat, where does that leave you and me?
-The river takes, takes, takes and takes
The river continually takes without giving back.
It doesn't change and only changes
Emphasizing the river's unchanging nature amidst external changes.
See it there in a picture with me
Referring to a picture that includes the river and the speaker.
There's a caption beneath, 'New Orleans is beat'
A caption suggesting that New Orleans is struggling or defeated.
And if New Orleans is beat, if New Orleans is beat
Reiterating the concern about New Orleans and its potential impact on the speaker and another person.
If New Orleans is beat, if New Orleans is beat
-Where does that leave you and me?
-Where does that leave you and me?
Repeatedly questioning the consequences for the speaker and someone else if New Orleans is indeed in a difficult situation.
Where does that leave you and me?
-Your smile is fading a bit so I ration it
Repetition of the idea that the smile is fading, with a reminder not to dwell on it.
Don't think about it
Reiterating the advice to avoid thinking too much about the fading smile.
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