| Jars of Clay – Tea And Sympathy Lyrics | 16 years ago |
|
How about applying the death of a child (perhaps to war) to these lyrics as a plea from the parent not to be shut out by the other: Fare thee well = as in goodbye and be well (maybe to the child) Trade in all our words = there’s nothing to be said (to their spouse) For tea and sympathy = let’s just sit and be together wonder why we tried for things = to change the course of life/to protect their child could never be = fate play our heart's lament = feel and mourn our sorrow like an unrehearsed symphony = the loss of a child isn’t something you can truly prepare for not intent to leave this castle full of empty rooms = a home that a child will never return to is hard to leave, even for a cup of tea our love the captive in the tower = what do you do in a tower — you look out and wait for someone — their love is now captive in the tower, looking and waiting never rescued = for a child who will never come and all the victory songs seemed to be playing out of tune = wars are won.....for a cost to some.... at a cost to others cause it's not the way that it has to be= we lost our child, let’s not lose each other don't trade our love for tea and sympathy, no = there’s still us, let’s not shut each other out -it’s ok to feel happiness and love for each other no, it's not the way that it has to be you begin = the other spouse is trying to breakthrough and all your words fall to the floor = the feelings of love for their child and the years shared can’t be conveyed with mere words and break like China cups = (china cups are fragile and valuable) the words spoken resurface the loss and the waitress = someone unconnected, on the outside, grabs a broom = “grabs”(not gets)/rushes — as in grabbing a towel versus getting a towel when something spills and tries= because you really can’t to sweep them up = an effort — usually futile to make it better I reach for my tea, slowly drink in = some sorrow you learn to live with, to incorporate it into who you are cause it's not the way that it has to be don't trade our love for tea and sympathy, no and, it's not the way that it has to be don't trade our love for tea and sympathy fare thee well = again trying to find a way to say goodbye and be well (to the child) the words, the bag of leaves that fill my head (all the feelings, all the years that memory captures) I could taste the bitterness = choice to isolate, be angry, curse fate and call the waitress instead = but chooses to reaches out — to a meaningless stranger no less cuz she holds the answer, smiles = who it may be revealed knows the pain of losing a child too and asks one teaspoon or two = symbolic for a friend today, perhaps tomorrow too don't trade us for tea and sympathy = don’t give up don't trade us for tea and sympathy we can work it out = we will find our way don't trade us for tea and sympathy don't trade us for tea and sympathy we can work it out we can work it out |
|
* This information can be up to 15 minutes delayed.