I don't know if I'm reading things into this song that aren't there, but to me he is speaking to his older brother who has disappeared for a couple of years and comes home in pretty sorry state. The singer doesn't remember him as he sees him now. It seems the brother is suffering through something, possibly drug addiction or maybe just a unhappy life, and has done this before - come home and relied on his family while he gets himself together. There is a longing on the part of the singer to help, but he realizes there is nothing he can say or do to help his brother.
I agree with songyone. When I heard this song I immediately came to this conclusion.
I agree with songyone. When I heard this song I immediately came to this conclusion.
'Penniless and tired, with your hair grown long
I was looking at you there and your face looked wrong'
Implies an evident change in appearance - unkept and not for the better as goes with drug addiction.
'Memory is a fickle siren song' He is alarmed by what he rememebered and what is now in front of him.
'You don't say a single word of the last two years' - he's feeling shame/nothing positive to say.
'Penniless and tired, with your hair grown long
I was looking at you there and your face looked wrong'
Implies an evident change in appearance - unkept and not for the better as goes with drug addiction.
'Memory is a fickle siren song' He is alarmed by what he rememebered and what is now in front of him.
'You don't say a single word of the last two years' - he's feeling shame/nothing positive to say.
See your rugged hands and a silver knife - knife may imply a fight of sorts?
Twenty dollars in your hand makes you hold so tight - desperation for money for drugs.
All the evidence of your vagrant life - lost, homeless
And you will try to do what you did before - He realises it's a pattern that will repeat.
Pull the wool over your eyes
For a week or more - the denial and cycles of addiction
Let your family take you back to your original mind - Family taking you back again and attempting to help.
'There's nothing I can do
There's nothing I can say'
The helpless bystander who is unable to break his addiction for him.
@songyone I believe you're right on target. I totally identify with this song, not as the "vagrant" brother but as the one who can do nor say anything that will change him.
@songyone I believe you're right on target. I totally identify with this song, not as the "vagrant" brother but as the one who can do nor say anything that will change him.
I believe I gathered the same thing about the song as you did. Oddly, I was able to compare the song to my own life some years ago.... I had a friend that was like a brother to me and he saw me about a year after my addiction had started but now it was worse of course. And I was clenching 20 dollars (2 rolls of quarters) in my hand tighter then a punching fist. My friend was naturally confused why I would just let this addiction consume me when I was somewhat...
I believe I gathered the same thing about the song as you did. Oddly, I was able to compare the song to my own life some years ago.... I had a friend that was like a brother to me and he saw me about a year after my addiction had started but now it was worse of course. And I was clenching 20 dollars (2 rolls of quarters) in my hand tighter then a punching fist. My friend was naturally confused why I would just let this addiction consume me when I was somewhat of a promising artist and perhaps had a future. But I would just continue down this path and every day put my crummy stocking hat on and go and cop my junk. I didn't shower for about 6 months and my only possession was an old trusty pocket knife. Records, stereo, guitars all long gone by now. This would all continue for 3 more years until I finally let my family into my life again and began to turn it all around..11 years later I'm going strong and I very much enjoy the images and light that every morning brings me.
I don't know if I'm reading things into this song that aren't there, but to me he is speaking to his older brother who has disappeared for a couple of years and comes home in pretty sorry state. The singer doesn't remember him as he sees him now. It seems the brother is suffering through something, possibly drug addiction or maybe just a unhappy life, and has done this before - come home and relied on his family while he gets himself together. There is a longing on the part of the singer to help, but he realizes there is nothing he can say or do to help his brother.
I agree with songyone. When I heard this song I immediately came to this conclusion.
I agree with songyone. When I heard this song I immediately came to this conclusion.
'Penniless and tired, with your hair grown long I was looking at you there and your face looked wrong' Implies an evident change in appearance - unkept and not for the better as goes with drug addiction.
'Memory is a fickle siren song' He is alarmed by what he rememebered and what is now in front of him. 'You don't say a single word of the last two years' - he's feeling shame/nothing positive to say.
'Penniless and tired, with your hair grown long I was looking at you there and your face looked wrong' Implies an evident change in appearance - unkept and not for the better as goes with drug addiction.
'Memory is a fickle siren song' He is alarmed by what he rememebered and what is now in front of him. 'You don't say a single word of the last two years' - he's feeling shame/nothing positive to say.
See your rugged hands and a silver knife - knife may imply a fight of sorts? Twenty dollars in your hand makes you hold so tight - desperation for money for drugs. All the evidence of your vagrant life - lost, homeless
And you will try to do what you did before - He realises it's a pattern that will repeat.
Pull the wool over your eyes For a week or more - the denial and cycles of addiction
Let your family take you back to your original mind - Family taking you back again and attempting to help.
'There's nothing I can do There's nothing I can say' The helpless bystander who is unable to break his addiction for him.
It should get played at an Nar-Anon meeting.
@songyone I believe you're right on target. I totally identify with this song, not as the "vagrant" brother but as the one who can do nor say anything that will change him.
@songyone I believe you're right on target. I totally identify with this song, not as the "vagrant" brother but as the one who can do nor say anything that will change him.
I believe I gathered the same thing about the song as you did. Oddly, I was able to compare the song to my own life some years ago.... I had a friend that was like a brother to me and he saw me about a year after my addiction had started but now it was worse of course. And I was clenching 20 dollars (2 rolls of quarters) in my hand tighter then a punching fist. My friend was naturally confused why I would just let this addiction consume me when I was somewhat...
I believe I gathered the same thing about the song as you did. Oddly, I was able to compare the song to my own life some years ago.... I had a friend that was like a brother to me and he saw me about a year after my addiction had started but now it was worse of course. And I was clenching 20 dollars (2 rolls of quarters) in my hand tighter then a punching fist. My friend was naturally confused why I would just let this addiction consume me when I was somewhat of a promising artist and perhaps had a future. But I would just continue down this path and every day put my crummy stocking hat on and go and cop my junk. I didn't shower for about 6 months and my only possession was an old trusty pocket knife. Records, stereo, guitars all long gone by now. This would all continue for 3 more years until I finally let my family into my life again and began to turn it all around..11 years later I'm going strong and I very much enjoy the images and light that every morning brings me.