It's a pity
It's a crying shame
Who pulled you down again?
How painful it must be
To bruise so easily inside
It's a pity
It's a downright crime
But it happens all the time
You wanna stay little daddy's girl
Wanna hide from the vicious world outside
But don't cry
Know the tears'll do no good
So dry your eyes
Your daddy he's the iron man
A battleship wrecked on dry land
Your mama she's a bitter bride
She'll never be satisfied,
And you know
That's not right
But don't cry
Know the tears'll do no good
So dry your eyes
They told you life is hard
It's misery from the start
It's dull and slow and painful
I tell you life is sweet
In spite of the misery
There's so much more
Be grateful
Who do you believe?
Who will you listen to
Who will it be?
It's high time that you decide
In your own mind
Tried to comfort you
Tried to tell you to be patient
They are blind
They can't see
Fortune gonna come some day
All gonna fade away
Your daddy the war machine and
Your mama the long and suffering
Prisoner of what she can not see
They told you life is hard
It's misery from the start
It's dull and slow and painful
I tell you life is sweet
In spite of the misery
There's so much more
Be grateful
Who do you believe?
Who will you listen to
Who will it be?
It's high time you decide
It's time you make up your own sweet little mind
They told you life is long
Be thankful when it's done
Don't ask for more
You should be grateful
But I tell you life is short
Be thankful because before you know
It will be over
'Cause life is sweet
And life is also very short
Your life is sweet
It's a crying shame
Who pulled you down again?
How painful it must be
To bruise so easily inside
It's a pity
It's a downright crime
But it happens all the time
You wanna stay little daddy's girl
Wanna hide from the vicious world outside
But don't cry
Know the tears'll do no good
So dry your eyes
Your daddy he's the iron man
A battleship wrecked on dry land
Your mama she's a bitter bride
She'll never be satisfied,
And you know
That's not right
But don't cry
Know the tears'll do no good
So dry your eyes
They told you life is hard
It's misery from the start
It's dull and slow and painful
I tell you life is sweet
In spite of the misery
There's so much more
Be grateful
Who do you believe?
Who will you listen to
Who will it be?
It's high time that you decide
In your own mind
Tried to comfort you
Tried to tell you to be patient
They are blind
They can't see
Fortune gonna come some day
All gonna fade away
Your daddy the war machine and
Your mama the long and suffering
Prisoner of what she can not see
They told you life is hard
It's misery from the start
It's dull and slow and painful
I tell you life is sweet
In spite of the misery
There's so much more
Be grateful
Who do you believe?
Who will you listen to
Who will it be?
It's high time you decide
It's time you make up your own sweet little mind
They told you life is long
Be thankful when it's done
Don't ask for more
You should be grateful
But I tell you life is short
Be thankful because before you know
It will be over
'Cause life is sweet
And life is also very short
Your life is sweet
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(PS) The girl is fine now.
The older I get, the more and more I understand some of my favourite music, and I find new meanings in it.
I know many of us hold an image of our dads, especially when we're little, a projection of power, majesty, integrity, something unimpeachable. This verse has always held a lot of meaning for me in that regard, but as I get older, I start to see the latter half of it more and more.
The verse is about that image we hold of him, the person we can hold on to when things are tough, and hide behind when we're scared, but also how as time goes on, we come to see the old warrior that has outlived its purpose, a relic of another era.
I've certainly felt that way for a while when I talk to my Dad, and I find out new things about him, like how he's a Trump supporter now, abandoning the reason and principle he once seemed to hold to in favor of that old time when maybe he saw himself as something so much more, too.
Of course, I'll never forget Natalie's caution in this song, either, that life is short, and to be thankful for what we've got.
Thanks, Natalie, for being one of my absolute favorite artists, and for helping me to see so much in life and express the feelings I always had difficulty in doing.
I think the fact that Ian's post was not necessarily the real story might be gleaned as Ian described the girl who inspired it as a "daughter of a friend." A friend who apparently is a "bitter bride" and "long suffering" who married an "iron man" and a "war machine". Not very complimentary description for friends.
This is my favorite Natalie Merchant song. And as beautiful as it is, what always moved me about this song was the ending, which -- as hopeful and inspiring the rest of the song is -- the ending is a real slap in the face.
But I tell you life is short
Be thankful because before you know
It will be over
'Cause life is sweet
And life is also very short
Your life is sweet
And then she repeats the last two lines over and over as it fades away. Life is short and that's what makes it sweet. Inspiring and haunting at the same time.
I was lucky to see her perform on her last anniversary tour. center stage 10 rows back. It was so lovely. A cherished moment in my life.