As Kind as You Can
A Tuesday Night's Tale of Love and Vigil
Lyrics
They got married on a Tuesday night in April
Depicts the wedding ceremony happening on a specific Tuesday night in April.
Her sister as a witness and her sister's man
Her sister and her sister's partner serve as witnesses to the wedding.
The dog lying on the kitchen tile as usual
The dog is in its usual place on the kitchen tile during the ceremony.
The words written on the back of the commissioner's hand
Refers to words written on the back of the commissioner's hand, suggesting importance or significance.
The words written on the back of the commissioner's hand
-They always said a big wedding wasn't needed
Expresses the belief that a grand wedding is unnecessary, and they anticipate a lasting love.
They always said they'd probably always be in love
-All they really needed to hear
Emphasizes the simplicity of the occasion, with the couple dressed in everyday clothes.
Dressed in their everyday clothes
-The words written on the back of the commissioner's hand
Reiterates the significance of the words on the commissioner's hand.
Be as kind as you can
Encourages kindness and understanding, even in challenging circumstances.
If I ever become
-What you can't understand
-The children were keeping their vigil over the spring
Describes children keeping watch over spring, deciding green is the finest color, and others being away at war.
The water was weeping with rhythm and tone and shade
-They decided, together, the finest color of all was green
-Everyone else was away somewhere at war
-They wrote a letter
Tells of letters expressing hope for victory and well-being for those at war.
It said that "we hope you come home winners"
-They wrote another that said, "we hope the others do the same"
-Remember, everyone is dying of thirst
Highlights the universal struggle, emphasizing everyone's need for compassion and understanding.
By the time they make it back to the spring
Suggests that upon returning to the spring, everyone reads the words on the back of their hand, indicating a shared experience.
Everyone is reading the words off the back of their hand
-Be as kind as you can
Reiterates the call for kindness and understanding in challenging situations.
If I ever become
-What you can't understand
-Teddy never made it home
Tells the story of Teddy's strange experience involving a UFO and waking up in a rapeseed field, with a sense of familiarity in his thoughts.
Said he saw a UFO
-Woke up in the rapeseed field
-Behind the old department store in the mall
-And as the sun was coming up
-All he knew was that he'd been somewhere
-And the sound of the words going round in his head
-So weirdly familiar, like the back of his hand
-Be as kind as you can
Concludes with a repetition of the plea for kindness and understanding in the face of the unknown.
If I ever become
-What you can't understand
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