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come home and my guitar
has nothing to say to me
i've recoil from all my friends
and then i'm in misery
been so long since i've been held
really, since i was his
probably just need to be held
that's probably all it is
course then i think of my dad
who time travels mostly now
back to when he was free
and holding out hope somehow
who sits all day in a line
of wheelchairs against a wall
inventing ways to play out time
like us all
like us all
to all the people out there tonight
who are comforting themselves
if you should happen to see my light
you can stop and ring my bell
i'm just sittin' here in this sty
strewn with half-written songs
taking one breath at a time
nothin' much going on
nothin' much going on
little flashing zero
on my answering machine
rats scratching at my pain,
brain shuffling its feet
guess i have my father's heart
and it may or may not keep on trying
can't really tell you what it is
keeps me this side of that dark line
but i'm not here to take care of him
and i'm not here to take care of me
i'm going outside to watch the house burn down
across the street
i'm going outside to watch the house burn down
across the street
come home and my guitar has nothing to say to me
i've recoil from all my friends
and then i'm in misery
been so long since i've been held
really, since i was his
probably just need to be held
that's probably all it is
to all the people out there tonight
who are comforting themselves
if you should happen to see my light
you can stop and ring my bell
i'm just sittin' here in this sty
strewn with half-written songs
taking one breath at a time
nothin' much going on
nothin' much going on
has nothing to say to me
i've recoil from all my friends
and then i'm in misery
been so long since i've been held
really, since i was his
probably just need to be held
that's probably all it is
who time travels mostly now
back to when he was free
and holding out hope somehow
who sits all day in a line
of wheelchairs against a wall
inventing ways to play out time
like us all
like us all
who are comforting themselves
if you should happen to see my light
you can stop and ring my bell
i'm just sittin' here in this sty
strewn with half-written songs
taking one breath at a time
nothin' much going on
nothin' much going on
on my answering machine
rats scratching at my pain,
brain shuffling its feet
guess i have my father's heart
and it may or may not keep on trying
can't really tell you what it is
keeps me this side of that dark line
and i'm not here to take care of me
i'm going outside to watch the house burn down
across the street
i'm going outside to watch the house burn down
across the street
i've recoil from all my friends
and then i'm in misery
been so long since i've been held
really, since i was his
probably just need to be held
that's probably all it is
who are comforting themselves
if you should happen to see my light
you can stop and ring my bell
i'm just sittin' here in this sty
strewn with half-written songs
taking one breath at a time
nothin' much going on
nothin' much going on
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
what a beautifully sad song.
I'm not exactly sure how to explain this song. All I can say is that it expresses the state of loneliness perfectly.
the line " little flashing zero on my answreing machine" , is perfect
i think this song is very subjective, but it feels like she has had a truly rough day and gone home to hide away by herself. she tries to rationalise and normalise how she feels, "probably just need to be held, that's probably all it is" then she tries to help herself by helping others, "to all the people out there tonight, who are comforting themselves, if you should happen to see my light, you can stop and ring my bell" to me, that is that feeling of loneiness when you want somebody near, and you want to protect them from what you are feeling.
I was trying to pick a few lines out of this song to put in my away message, and I had difficulty. I ended up putting in three entire verses.
The first verse = perfect description of everything in my life right now. I also love the chorus, and the "answering machine" line... sigh. So amazing. I love this woman.
It does indeed sum up loneliness perfectly.
"been so long since i've been held really, since i was his probably just need to be held that's probably all it is"
--what amazing lines.
I feel this song is not only about loneliness but also her father that died the summer before and how she wasn't really around and now she feels what he feels lonely. I feel she is mourning her father and how she wanted to be more like he and that a piece of him will always be in her heart. and i love this song and Ani Difranco