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Have you ever been close to tragedy
Or been close to folks who have?
Have you ever felt a pain so powerful
So heavy you collapse?No?
Well I've never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if
I've never had to knock on wood
And I'm glad I haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good
That's the impression that I get
Have you ever had the odds stacked up so high
You need a strength most don't possess?
Or has it ever come down to do or die?
You've got to rise above the restNo?
Well I've never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if I've never had to knock on wood
And I'm glad I haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good
That's the impression that I get
I'm not a coward I've just never been tested
I'd like to think that if I was I would pass
Look at the tested and think there but for the grace go I
Might be a coward
I'm afraid of what I might find out
Never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if I've never had to knock on wood
And I'm glad I haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good
That's the impression that I get
Never had to but I'd better knock on wood
'Cause I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if I never had to but I'd better knock on wood
'Cause I'm sure it isn't good
And Im glad I haven't yet
That's the impression that I get
Or been close to folks who have?
Have you ever felt a pain so powerful
So heavy you collapse?No?
Well I've never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if
I've never had to knock on wood
And I'm glad I haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good
That's the impression that I get
Have you ever had the odds stacked up so high
You need a strength most don't possess?
Or has it ever come down to do or die?
You've got to rise above the restNo?
Well I've never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if I've never had to knock on wood
And I'm glad I haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good
That's the impression that I get
I'm not a coward I've just never been tested
I'd like to think that if I was I would pass
Look at the tested and think there but for the grace go I
Might be a coward
I'm afraid of what I might find out
Never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if I've never had to knock on wood
And I'm glad I haven't yet
Because I'm sure it isn't good
That's the impression that I get
Never had to but I'd better knock on wood
'Cause I know someone who has
Which makes me wonder if I could
It makes me wonder if I never had to but I'd better knock on wood
'Cause I'm sure it isn't good
And Im glad I haven't yet
That's the impression that I get
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I think song is about this writer's admiration for people who have survived through adversity and about him wondering if he was put in a challenging situation whether he could get through it.
So the lines;
"I've never had to, knock on wood,
But I know someone who has,
Makes me wonder if I could,
Makes me wonder if..."
"I'm not a coward, I've just never been tested,
I'd like to think that if I was I would pass,
Look at the tested and think but for the grace go I,
Might be a coward, I'm afraid of what I might find out...
These lines are about the writer never having to face adversity, and how he's glad he hasn't because he's not sure how he'd cope, he might be a coward but he doesn't know because he's never been tested.
The way I've always looked at this since I heard it was that we should appreciate what we have. There are tons of things we could complain about but over all... we have it pretty good. He's asking if you've been in these situations and then mockingly "No? Well..." (which somehow didn't make it into the lyrics above o_x Really?)
But I really like the added "I'm not a coward" bridge as well. Because honestly I don't want to go through it but if I had to I'd like to think I'd make it out on top too.
Great song. Really inspiring.
They are all over the place.
The singer has seen all the hard times that has come to his fellow friends, but the hard times seem to pass him by.
"Have you ever been close to tragedy
Or been close to folks who have"
"I've never had to knock on wood
But I know someone who has"
He wonders if he would be able to handle the hard times if they ever come to him.
"I'm not a coward,
I've just never been tested
I'd like to think that if I was,
I would pass"
He's glad the hard times have spared his life, but he thinks he could handle it if his luck ever changes.
I'm going to say I heard this song when I was about 8 years old, and I actually searched for the song for a while at some points, not knowing the title or band.
But then I was listening to the NOFX radio station on last.fm and this song came on and I got real damn excited!
HAH! I love this song!