OK, I think a big comma needs to be noted in the lyrics of this song in the chorus line, it should read "I've never had to, knock on wood", and it talks about the western tradition of 'knocking on wood' (see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knocking_on_wood).
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.
I'm not entirely sure if it needs one myself. To knock on wood can mean to hope for the best, often regarding something that is largely beyond one's control, and I believe this ties into the song's theme of never being in such a situation.
I'm not entirely sure if it needs one myself. To knock on wood can mean to hope for the best, often regarding something that is largely beyond one's control, and I believe this ties into the song's theme of never being in such a situation.
@MammothChris : Yes, thank you! Finally, this song makes sense! For YEARS, I have criticized this song for singing about the opposite of what he means. When people knock on wood, it's because life is good and they want it to stay that way. For someone to say "I've never had to knock on wood," means the singer's life has never been good. So why does he say that he's sure it isn't good to have to knock on wood? I just had this discussion with my wife on the way to work...
@MammothChris : Yes, thank you! Finally, this song makes sense! For YEARS, I have criticized this song for singing about the opposite of what he means. When people knock on wood, it's because life is good and they want it to stay that way. For someone to say "I've never had to knock on wood," means the singer's life has never been good. So why does he say that he's sure it isn't good to have to knock on wood? I just had this discussion with my wife on the way to work today when this song came on the radio.
But your comment about the comma makes it all fall into place!
OK, I think a big comma needs to be noted in the lyrics of this song in the chorus line, it should read "I've never had to, knock on wood", and it talks about the western tradition of 'knocking on wood' (see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knocking_on_wood).
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.
i could never make sense of the placement of that "knock on wood" line. that makes all of the sense.
i could never make sense of the placement of that "knock on wood" line. that makes all of the sense.
I'm not entirely sure if it needs one myself. To knock on wood can mean to hope for the best, often regarding something that is largely beyond one's control, and I believe this ties into the song's theme of never being in such a situation.
I'm not entirely sure if it needs one myself. To knock on wood can mean to hope for the best, often regarding something that is largely beyond one's control, and I believe this ties into the song's theme of never being in such a situation.
@MammothChris : Yes, thank you! Finally, this song makes sense! For YEARS, I have criticized this song for singing about the opposite of what he means. When people knock on wood, it's because life is good and they want it to stay that way. For someone to say "I've never had to knock on wood," means the singer's life has never been good. So why does he say that he's sure it isn't good to have to knock on wood? I just had this discussion with my wife on the way to work...
@MammothChris : Yes, thank you! Finally, this song makes sense! For YEARS, I have criticized this song for singing about the opposite of what he means. When people knock on wood, it's because life is good and they want it to stay that way. For someone to say "I've never had to knock on wood," means the singer's life has never been good. So why does he say that he's sure it isn't good to have to knock on wood? I just had this discussion with my wife on the way to work today when this song came on the radio.
But your comment about the comma makes it all fall into place!