This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Everybody I talk to is ready to leave
With the light of the morning
They've seen the end coming down
Long enough to believe
That they've heard their last warning
Standing alone
Each has his own ticket in his hand
And as the evening descends
I sit thinking 'bout Everyman
Seems like I've always been
Looking for some other place
To get it together
Where with a few of my friends
I could give up the race
And maybe find something better
But all my fine dreams
Well though out schemes
To gain the motherland
Have all eventually come down
To waiting for Everyman
Waiting here for Everyman
Make it on your own if you think you can
If you see somewhere to go I understand
Waiting here for Everyman
Don't ask me if he'll show -- baby I don't know
Make it on your own if you think you can
Somewhere later on you'll have to take a stand
Then you're going to need a hand
Everybody's just waiting to hear from the one
Who can give them the answers
And lead them back to that place
In the warmth of the sun
Where sweet childhood still dances
Who'll come along
And hold out that strong
And gentle father's hand?
Long ago I heard someone say
Something 'bout Everyman
Waiting here for Everyman
Make it on your own if you think you can
If you see somewhere to go I understand
I'm not trying to tell you
That I've seen the plan
Turn and walk away if you think I am
But don't think too badly
Of one who's left holding sand
He's just another dreamer,
Dreaming 'bout Everyman
With the light of the morning
They've seen the end coming down
Long enough to believe
That they've heard their last warning
Standing alone
Each has his own ticket in his hand
And as the evening descends
I sit thinking 'bout Everyman
Seems like I've always been
Looking for some other place
To get it together
Where with a few of my friends
I could give up the race
And maybe find something better
But all my fine dreams
Well though out schemes
To gain the motherland
Have all eventually come down
To waiting for Everyman
Waiting here for Everyman
Make it on your own if you think you can
If you see somewhere to go I understand
Waiting here for Everyman
Don't ask me if he'll show -- baby I don't know
Make it on your own if you think you can
Somewhere later on you'll have to take a stand
Then you're going to need a hand
Everybody's just waiting to hear from the one
Who can give them the answers
And lead them back to that place
In the warmth of the sun
Where sweet childhood still dances
Who'll come along
And hold out that strong
And gentle father's hand?
Long ago I heard someone say
Something 'bout Everyman
Waiting here for Everyman
Make it on your own if you think you can
If you see somewhere to go I understand
I'm not trying to tell you
That I've seen the plan
Turn and walk away if you think I am
But don't think too badly
Of one who's left holding sand
He's just another dreamer,
Dreaming 'bout Everyman
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Understanding that this song was not written for the following reason I have nonetheless considered an alternate meaning for the song which fits surprisingly well. Everyman = Jesus
Everybody I talk to is ready to leave With the light of the morning They've seen the end coming down long enough to believe That they've heard their last warning Standing alone Each has his own ticket in his hand And as the evening descends I sit thinking 'bout Everyman
Seems like I've always been looking for some other place To get it together Where with a few of my friends I could give up the race And maybe find something better But all my fine dreams Well thought out schemes to gain the motherland Have all eventually come down to waiting for Everyman
Waiting here for Everyman-- Make it on your own if you think you can If you see somewhere to go I understand Waiting here for Everyman-- Don't ask me if he'll show -- baby I don't know
Make it on your own if you think you can Somewhere later on you'll have to take a stand Then you're going to need a hand
Everybody's just waiting to hear from the one Who can give them the answers And lead them back to that place in the warmth of the sun Where sweet childhood still dances Who'll come along And hold out that strong and gentle father's hand? Long ago I heard someone say something 'bout Everyman
I'm not trying to tell you that I've seen the plan Turn and walk away if you think I am-- But don't think too badly of one who's left holding sand He's just another dreamer, dreaming 'bout Everyman
Like I said, not the original intent of the song but an interesting perspective to consider.
@wearydreamer <br /> <br /> The Everyman is a recurring theme in literature.<br /> <br /> artscolumbia.org/everyman-literature-analysis-175382/<br /> <br /> christian-history.org/everyman.html<br /> <br /> And so Jesus is an Everyman, as is Everyman the character in this play. <br /> <br /> And so:<br /> <br /> Everyman<br /> Into your hands, Lord, my soul I commend;<br /> Receive it, Lord, that it be not lost;<br /> As you me bought, so me defend,<br /> And save me from the fiend's boast,<br /> That I may appear with that blessed host<br /> That shall be saved at the day of doom.<br /> In manus tuas—of might's most<br /> For ever—commendo spiritum meum.<br /> <br /> Knowledge<br /> Now has he suffered that we all shall endure;<br /> The Good Deeds shall make all sure.<br /> Now has he made ending;<br /> Me thinks that I hear angels sing<br /> And make great joy and melody,<br /> Where Everyman's soul received shall be.<br /> <br /> Angel<br /> Come, excellent elect spouse to Jesus:<br /> Hereabove you shalt go<br /> Because of your singular virtue:<br /> Now the soul is taken from the body;<br /> <br /> Now shall you go into the heavenly sphere,<br /> To the which all you shall come<br /> That live well before the day of doom.<br /> <br /> Everyman as noted above in the Morality play, is torn between good and evil and with the help of many triumphs. Everyman is admitted to heaven.<br /> <br /> I will let you read the play. <br /> <br /> As I write I recall my college paper on the Everyman.<br /> <br /> Getting back to Jackson Brown. With Jackson’s typical approach, his language while the regular speech of the Everyman acknowledges the complexity of the struggle as we journey through life and beyond<br /> <br /> Everyman is Jesus and as Jackson is hoping, at some point he will be seen as a worthy Everyman <br /> <br /> Thanks Jackson so much for saying so very much in the language of the Everyman!<br /> <br /> Joe<br /> <br /> <br />
@wearydreamer It's funny that as an athiest I view these lyrics in quite the opposite way. The longing we have for some father figure to help us out is what led to the invention of a savior. I think you may be just another dreamer, dreaming 'bout Jesus.