| Gillian Welch – Elvis Presley Blues Lyrics | 11 years ago |
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thanks jweyek for that correction on „decline”. Imo that is key to the song. As contrasted to John Henry who died in his finest moment, Elvis had a long and lonely decline to his death. That is sad. and thanks FishesWillLaugh, I agree - Gillian must really admire and understand the phenomenon that Elvis was. I don’t, but hearing the song and reading your explanations I am getting the feel for it. |
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| Gillian Welch – Dark Turn Of Mind Lyrics | 12 years ago |
| a song about a girl that was abused and this has changed her in a sinister way. | |
| Gillian Welch – I'm Not Afraid to Die Lyrics | 13 years ago |
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I love this song ... Nobody knows what waits ahead Beyond the earth and sky sets the frame of this song. then the refrain Lie-d Lie-d Lie I'm not afraid to die does she sing 'lie'? Or is it more like a carefree la-di-da? And there the work of my own hand Be broken by and by expands on the first verse in a personal way. Accepting personal insignificance. Sometimes it finds me fast asleep And wakes me where I lie what is this 'it' that finds her fast asleep? And why would it wake her 'where she lies'? Where else could it wake her? Is it 'lie' in the other sense, same question as for the refrain? Forget my sins upon the wind My hobo soul will rise Forgetting, not forgiving. This is not the regular Christian vocabulary. But it is in the same vein. Her sins keep her soul down, her plea is to forget them and her hobo soul will rise. It is the refrain that has the key I feel. The four verses shine a light on that from different angles. La-di-la I'm not afraid to die It is like singing in the dark when you are afraid. It brings you courage. Sometimes it finds me fast asleep And wakes me where I lie [very personal interpretation] Where she lies and when she is fast asleep is where she is woken up. It is the end of lies and of unconciousness. 'I am not afraid to die' is not being afraid to face ones personal lies and delusions and let go of them. So as to free your soul to rise. That is something scary but worth going for. |
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