This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
My name is Joe Roberts, I work for the state
I'm a sergeant out of Perrineville, barracks number eight
I always done an honest job, as honest as I could
I got a brother named Franky, and Franky ain't no good
Now ever since we was young kids, it's been the same come down
I get a call on the shortwave, Franky's in trouble downtown
Well if it was any other man, I'd put him straight away
But when it's your brother sometimes you look the other way
Yeah, me and Franky laughin' and drinkin', nothin' feels better than blood on blood
Takin' turns dancin' with Maria as the band played "Night of the Johnstown Flood"
I catch him when he's strayin', like any brother would
Man turns his back on his family, well, he just ain't no good
Well, Franky went in the army back in nineteen sixty-five
I got a farm deferment, settled down, took Maria for my wife
But them wheat prices kept on droppin' 'til it was like we were gettin' robbed
Franky came home in sixty-eight and me I took this job
Yeah, we're laughin' and drinkin', nothin' feels better than blood on blood
Takin' turns dancin' with Maria as the band played "Night of the Johnstown Flood"
I catch him when he's strayin', teach him how to walk that line
Man turns his back on his family, he ain't no friend of mine
Well, the night was like any other, I got a call 'bout quarter to nine
There was trouble in a roadhouse out on the Michigan line
There was a kid lyin' on the floor lookin' bad, bleedin' hard from his head
Was a girl cryin' at a table and it was Frank, they said
Well, I went out and I jumped in my car and I hit the lights
Well, I musta done a hundred and ten through Michigan County that night
It was out at the crossroads, down 'round Willow bank
Seen a Buick with Ohio plates, behind the wheel was Frank
Well I chased him through them county roads
'Til a sign said "Canadian border five miles from here"
I pulled over the side of the highway and watched his taillights disappear
Me and Franky laughin' and drinkin', nothin' feels better than blood on blood
Takin' turns dancin' with Maria as the band played "Night of the Johnstown Flood"
I catch him when he's strayin' like any brother would
Man turns his back on his family, he just ain't no good
I'm a sergeant out of Perrineville, barracks number eight
I always done an honest job, as honest as I could
I got a brother named Franky, and Franky ain't no good
Now ever since we was young kids, it's been the same come down
I get a call on the shortwave, Franky's in trouble downtown
Well if it was any other man, I'd put him straight away
But when it's your brother sometimes you look the other way
Yeah, me and Franky laughin' and drinkin', nothin' feels better than blood on blood
Takin' turns dancin' with Maria as the band played "Night of the Johnstown Flood"
I catch him when he's strayin', like any brother would
Man turns his back on his family, well, he just ain't no good
Well, Franky went in the army back in nineteen sixty-five
I got a farm deferment, settled down, took Maria for my wife
But them wheat prices kept on droppin' 'til it was like we were gettin' robbed
Franky came home in sixty-eight and me I took this job
Yeah, we're laughin' and drinkin', nothin' feels better than blood on blood
Takin' turns dancin' with Maria as the band played "Night of the Johnstown Flood"
I catch him when he's strayin', teach him how to walk that line
Man turns his back on his family, he ain't no friend of mine
Well, the night was like any other, I got a call 'bout quarter to nine
There was trouble in a roadhouse out on the Michigan line
There was a kid lyin' on the floor lookin' bad, bleedin' hard from his head
Was a girl cryin' at a table and it was Frank, they said
Well, I went out and I jumped in my car and I hit the lights
Well, I musta done a hundred and ten through Michigan County that night
It was out at the crossroads, down 'round Willow bank
Seen a Buick with Ohio plates, behind the wheel was Frank
Well I chased him through them county roads
'Til a sign said "Canadian border five miles from here"
I pulled over the side of the highway and watched his taillights disappear
Me and Franky laughin' and drinkin', nothin' feels better than blood on blood
Takin' turns dancin' with Maria as the band played "Night of the Johnstown Flood"
I catch him when he's strayin' like any brother would
Man turns his back on his family, he just ain't no good
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Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
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Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
really sad, great storytelling. I can't really listen to this in public, because the strangest thing happens: water comes out of my eyes, especially on the "taillights disappear" part. Shit, it's happening again...
Johnny Cash does a great (better IMO) version as well.
I love how at the end of the first couple choruses the line about a man turning his back on his family sound like him justifying his support for his screwup brother, but then at the end it has a double meaning...him refusing to take his brother's freedom, and his brother favoring his criminal life to his family. Sad as hell.
The film "The Indian Runner" (directed by Sean Penn) was based off of this song
Great Song. Bruce is the man.
This song is almost unbearably sad and melancholy -- it's only a small story, but there's this great well of sadness and sorrow that lies beneath it that goes beyond anything on the surface of the song. Like the whole Nebraska album really. I love it ;-) Although it's obviously set in modern times, it has a timeless feel, especially the chorus, as if it's some centuries-old folk song Springsteen has adapted.
I have always been delighted by Bruce's purposeful use of place names and locations, ALWAYS making it seem familiar, yet the places he seems to pinpoint don't really exist! (Almost like no one being able to figure out where "Springfield" in the Simpsons really is.) The only "Perrineville" in the US is in New Jersey. Frank has Ohio plates. He is chased through "Michigan County" (there is no "Michigan County" in any state), to the Canadian border, the closest access from Ohio being Michigan! My other favorite (as a Utah resident) is in "Promised Land", where he leaves "Rattlesnake Speedway in the Utah desert" and travels across the "Waynesboro County line". The only Waynesboro County in the US is in Virginia!
A lot of songwriters use places and things that don't exist in their lyrics. Dylan wrote about 'the foggy ruins of time'. I'm never seen the foggy ruins of time, nor a picture of it, but I know exactly what it looks like because of the way the song is sung. Just like I can picture Michigan County and 1 car chasing another. They never existed, but you can see them in your mind plain as day. Choosing exact places and times might have been more accurate, but would not demand the use of the listener's imagination. P.S. loved your comments, msgelter.
I love the truth and reality in this song. Sometimes you must do what you must do. I love this song.
F***ing great song... It must be the name Franky (as for Suicide's "Frankie Teardrop") that makes this song so haunting... I think you're 3000% right, Cherub Rock, nothing to add to it. I'm fond of your geographic references, msgelter...
"Taking turns dancing with Maria, as the band played Night of the Johnstown Flood". For me personally, this song is evocative enough in itself to form the basis of an entire dramatic production. With the guitar in the background...my God, such a powerful scene.
A very beautiful song. Probably one of my all time favorite Springsteen tracks. So evocative of a post Vietnam future for America.