She used to say she was an orphan
Never was exactly the truth
It's just her mother got tired
Tired of her hanging round
So she ended up living in a home for girls
A straight hair kid in a house full of curls
A straight haired kid always hanging around

She'd sing swing low
Sweet chariot
She's coming for to carry me home

So the first chance she got she said I do
To a tall town boy who said me too
Honorable mention all district quarterback
He said I'll carry you away
She left him drunk on a stool in a county line bar
Going on about high school
How he was a star
She just got tired, tired of him hanging around

She'd sing swing low
Sweet chariot
She's coming for to carry me home

Dairy queen
Had two baby boys two more diamond rings
The husbands they were brave
But she split that one horse town
Just got tired all the people hanging around
Split that one horse town
Now she lives outside LA
With a broke down baseball player
Used to playdouble A
Religious man
Never drinks or swears
She's tired of all the talk about her
Getting saved
Tired of all the talk about
Revelation days
She's tired
Tired of him hanging around

She sings swing low
Sweet chariot
She's coming for to carry me home


Lyrics submitted by robertcousins

Orphan song meanings
Add Your Thoughts

1 Comment

sort form View by:
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    Like a lot of Sam Baker's work, Orphan tells the tale of ordinary folk and their lives. This tells of an outsider when a child - a straight hair kid in a house full of curls - whose mother had no time for her and was happy to marry her off to the local jock to get her out of her hair (no pun intended). The song tells of a series of drab, failed marriages and ends with her stuck in another apparently lifeless and loveless marriage. Sam's sparse lyrics and sparse music contrast beautifully with the melodic female voice that sings parts of the song. The use of swing low, sweet chariot evokes an atmosphere perhaps at odds with the apparent misery of the girl's life.

    Piffstilchardon September 07, 2017   Link

Add your thoughts

Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.

Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!

More Featured Meanings

Album art
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere. In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Album art
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988. "'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it." "There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Album art
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version. Great version of a great song,
Album art
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Album art
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it. “I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.