The first verse's theme is irony. The guy gets his water stolen (critical that it's WATER being stolen, the most abundant resource there is) and shoots the guy who stole it. This is a very harsh and irrational decision...
The cops catch him at the border and bring him to justice. He gets his trial and all those who love and miss the dead guy are singing, cause they guy is being brough to justice. However, since he only shot the man due to him being a thief, "the hangman" (a metaphor for the justice system as a whole) isn't hanging, and they put him on the street. A man commits such a petty crime like stealing water, and pays for it with his life; another man shoots a man and goes free. Irony.
The second verse is about discord in relationships. The guy finds out his girl "is no high climber" (doesn't have high standards) and finds his best (only!) friend in a room with his girl, having an affair. He lost his only friend and his girl, and he's sure he's near the end (of his rope? patience? sanity?)
He rebounds with a girl who is very high maintenance. She goes crazy with him and his belongings, when in the end she's only using him. She doesn't give him what he wants (a relationship here, not sex) yet he keeps getting strung along and playing into her game (all the time you know she's smiling)... in the end, she will betray him just like the first girl did (you'll be on your knees tomorrow)
The third verse is about the "bad guys" in the world. Gambling is used as a metaphor here. You swear and kick and beg us that you're not a (lying/manipulative/cheating/etc.) man, then you find you're back in Vegas with a handle in your hand. This basically says that all people have some elements of "darker natures" in them, or some form of a vice, and as much as they deny it, it is still there and they are still a slave to it
"Black cards" refer to all the sins and "dark talents" you may have -- abilities you have which can get you an unfair advantage over others... However, in the Land of Milk and Honey (a common term used for Heaven) you will be judged on them.
All three verses share a common theme of things repeating themself. Crime perpetuates in the first verse, a man's unlucky streak with love in the second, and cheating/vindication in the third (as a man will cheat, but then be cheated at the Pearly Gates). However, as all three verses hint, there is nothing we can do about it; the first verse, the guy gets off due to a legal loophole; the second verse, the guy is doomed to live a loveless life; and in the third verse, you may swear you have no vices, but in reality, you're "back in Vegas with that handle in your hand."
What else would we expect, though, with a song titled "Do It Again?" History repeats itself. Bottom line. =)
I like ProfGlitch's explanation with one exception....
I like ProfGlitch's explanation with one exception....
I think the "mourners" that are "singin'" are testifying against him and not actually singing songs. To sing is slang for telling all that you know about something.
I think the "mourners" that are "singin'" are testifying against him and not actually singing songs. To sing is slang for telling all that you know about something.
@ProfGlitch agree with your insightful interpretation and like the way in which you bring together the elements. There was never any doubt in my mind from the first listen of many years ago that this is one's own Russian Roulette with destiny.
@ProfGlitch agree with your insightful interpretation and like the way in which you bring together the elements. There was never any doubt in my mind from the first listen of many years ago that this is one's own Russian Roulette with destiny.
@ProfGlitch This verse is set in the old west (note that the gunman "runs for the border") in which stealing a man's water or horse was tantamount to murdering him by slow death. The gunman's chase was justified, but the resulting murder was presumably not.
@ProfGlitch This verse is set in the old west (note that the gunman "runs for the border") in which stealing a man's water or horse was tantamount to murdering him by slow death. The gunman's chase was justified, but the resulting murder was presumably not.
The lead characters in the three verses are not all the same character. They are just three people caught in a loop of making bad life decisions; whether they go unpunished or self-punished via their consequences, either way they learn nothing from it and proceed to repeat them.
The lead characters in the three verses are not all the same character. They are just three people caught in a loop of making bad life decisions; whether they go unpunished or self-punished via their consequences, either way they learn nothing from it and proceed to repeat them.
The first verse's theme is irony. The guy gets his water stolen (critical that it's WATER being stolen, the most abundant resource there is) and shoots the guy who stole it. This is a very harsh and irrational decision...
The cops catch him at the border and bring him to justice. He gets his trial and all those who love and miss the dead guy are singing, cause they guy is being brough to justice. However, since he only shot the man due to him being a thief, "the hangman" (a metaphor for the justice system as a whole) isn't hanging, and they put him on the street. A man commits such a petty crime like stealing water, and pays for it with his life; another man shoots a man and goes free. Irony.
The second verse is about discord in relationships. The guy finds out his girl "is no high climber" (doesn't have high standards) and finds his best (only!) friend in a room with his girl, having an affair. He lost his only friend and his girl, and he's sure he's near the end (of his rope? patience? sanity?)
He rebounds with a girl who is very high maintenance. She goes crazy with him and his belongings, when in the end she's only using him. She doesn't give him what he wants (a relationship here, not sex) yet he keeps getting strung along and playing into her game (all the time you know she's smiling)... in the end, she will betray him just like the first girl did (you'll be on your knees tomorrow)
The third verse is about the "bad guys" in the world. Gambling is used as a metaphor here. You swear and kick and beg us that you're not a (lying/manipulative/cheating/etc.) man, then you find you're back in Vegas with a handle in your hand. This basically says that all people have some elements of "darker natures" in them, or some form of a vice, and as much as they deny it, it is still there and they are still a slave to it
"Black cards" refer to all the sins and "dark talents" you may have -- abilities you have which can get you an unfair advantage over others... However, in the Land of Milk and Honey (a common term used for Heaven) you will be judged on them.
All three verses share a common theme of things repeating themself. Crime perpetuates in the first verse, a man's unlucky streak with love in the second, and cheating/vindication in the third (as a man will cheat, but then be cheated at the Pearly Gates). However, as all three verses hint, there is nothing we can do about it; the first verse, the guy gets off due to a legal loophole; the second verse, the guy is doomed to live a loveless life; and in the third verse, you may swear you have no vices, but in reality, you're "back in Vegas with that handle in your hand."
What else would we expect, though, with a song titled "Do It Again?" History repeats itself. Bottom line. =)
I like ProfGlitch's explanation with one exception....
I like ProfGlitch's explanation with one exception....
I think the "mourners" that are "singin'" are testifying against him and not actually singing songs. To sing is slang for telling all that you know about something.
I think the "mourners" that are "singin'" are testifying against him and not actually singing songs. To sing is slang for telling all that you know about something.
water was not plentiful out in the western deserts. People killed for water and horses
water was not plentiful out in the western deserts. People killed for water and horses
I think you over thought it, and water is scare in the dessert
I think you over thought it, and water is scare in the dessert
If you steal a man's water in the desert, it's tantamount to murder. Not a petty crime in that case.
If you steal a man's water in the desert, it's tantamount to murder. Not a petty crime in that case.
Water is "woman." Think about it.
Water is "woman." Think about it.
@ProfGlitch agree with your insightful interpretation and like the way in which you bring together the elements. There was never any doubt in my mind from the first listen of many years ago that this is one's own Russian Roulette with destiny.
@ProfGlitch agree with your insightful interpretation and like the way in which you bring together the elements. There was never any doubt in my mind from the first listen of many years ago that this is one's own Russian Roulette with destiny.
@ProfGlitch This verse is set in the old west (note that the gunman "runs for the border") in which stealing a man's water or horse was tantamount to murdering him by slow death. The gunman's chase was justified, but the resulting murder was presumably not.
@ProfGlitch This verse is set in the old west (note that the gunman "runs for the border") in which stealing a man's water or horse was tantamount to murdering him by slow death. The gunman's chase was justified, but the resulting murder was presumably not.
The lead characters in the three verses are not all the same character. They are just three people caught in a loop of making bad life decisions; whether they go unpunished or self-punished via their consequences, either way they learn nothing from it and proceed to repeat them.
The lead characters in the three verses are not all the same character. They are just three people caught in a loop of making bad life decisions; whether they go unpunished or self-punished via their consequences, either way they learn nothing from it and proceed to repeat them.