| Joanna Newsom – On A Good Day Lyrics | 15 years ago |
| stupid me, I posted my reply before I read this one, which now makes a lot more sense. | |
| Joanna Newsom – On A Good Day Lyrics | 15 years ago |
|
I see this as being a rather straightforward song exemplifying the weakness of human will in the face of nature's courses. "Hey hey hey the end is near. On a good day you can see the end from here, But I won't turn back now though the way is clear. I will stay for the remainder." This could point to a possible "doomsday" that is destined to happen eventually, possibly during the narrator's lifetime. Even on the best days, the looming dread of what nature has in store is still clear. But rather than try to fight or run from it, she will continue what little life left she has to live. "I saw a life and I called it mine. I saw it drawn so sweet and fine, And I had begun to fill in all the lines, Right down to what we'd name her." The narrator must have had her whole life planned out, right down to what she was going to name her child. But, this has yet to happen, as it's still just filled in lines instead of actual events. "Our nature does not change by will. In the Winter 'round the ruined mill The creek is lying flat and still. It is water though it's frozen." Nature is not phased by the will of man. It only changes itself. The mill could represent the authority of man, and the fact that it's ruined (by either the creek around it or the Winter that it's in) shows its true strength in the face of nature. Only the Winter, another facet of nature, can freeze the water and change it to ice. Not the will of man. "So, across the years and miles and through On a good day you can feel my love for you. Will you leave me be so that we can stay true To the path that you have chosen?" In the fleeting moments of a life that's coming to an end, the narrator tries to stay true to the life she has, even if it's not chosen by her. On a good day, her lover (another facet of human life) can see her love for him -- but, ironically, a good day is also where "the end" is most clear. Perhaps the reality is that the strongest of human passions still only serve to remind us that we're powerless in reality. The narrator has not even the strength to decide her own fate, following instead in the life her lover has chosen. This is just what I get out of it, and is probably wrong. But the message I see is that NATURE > HUMAN WILL. |
|
* This information can be up to 15 minutes delayed.