the farmer drove his tractor
where the soil had been tilled
planting corn in rank and file
from the silo to the lumber mill
he rode along in silence
as looked out past the honeysuckle field
watched the water turn
turn the water wheel
started thinking about his daughter's affection
her reaction of disdain
the day he replaced the blue hydrangea
with the climbing grain
while her disappointed sister
looked on quiet as the snow
knowing well that those that know don't talk
and those that talk don't know

but she couldn't help but sing

the tortoise in the wheelchair
wrapped his forehead in a bandage
with a cast they made from plaster
for his phony broken leg
so he'd get pushed around the sidewalk
by the zookeeper's assistant
with the hummingbird obeserving
from behind the yellow flower
and he flapped his tiny wings
they moved so fast you couldn't see them
with resentment for the tortoise
which was clear by his expression
but the tortoise turned and smiled
with a peacefulness which proved
that there's a movement in our stillness
and however much we move

we're bound to stand completely still

come tortoise, standing still
go hummingbird, my will
come tortoise, stumbling blind
go hummingbird, my eyes
come tortoise, empty hand
go hummingbird, my plan
come tortoise, undefined
go hummingbird, my mind
come tortoise, letting go
go hummingbird, i know
come tortoise, come and die
go hummingbird, my I
goodbye, I
goodbye, I
bye, bye, bye


Lyrics submitted by shadowami

Goodbye, I! song meanings
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  • +3
    General Comment

    The theme of the song seems to be fruitless effort vs. productive stillness/resignation, with the moral being that total surrender to God is better than trying to get by on one's own understanding and volition. The song has uses a couple images to communicate this point.

    First we have the two daughters, one loudly voicing her disapproval (without getting what she wants, apparently) and the other standing silent (but still "disappointed"). I suppose the idea is that the quiet sister knows that the best way to accomplish your goals (in this case) is to grin and bear it.

    And then there's the tortoise and the hummingbird, one that gets moved around by making itself appear immobile (fake cast, etc.) and the other flapping furiously but staying in the same spot in the air.

    (also, a water "wheel" spinning but not actually going anywhere, and perhaps the father completing his work while just sitting silently)

    Great stuff, I'd say.

    JustPlainNJon April 17, 2009   Link

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