I slept all day
I woke with distaste
And I railed
And I raved

That the difference between
The sprout and the bean
It is a golden ring
It is a twisted string
And you can ask the counselor
You can ask the king
And they'll say the same thing
And it's a funny thing:

Should we go outside?
Should we go outside?
Should we break some bread?
Are y'interested?

And as I said
I slept as though dead
Dreaming seamless dreams of lead

When you go away
I am big-boned and fey
In the dust of the day
And in the dirt of the day

And the danger, danger, drawing near them was a white coat
And the danger, danger, drawing near them was a broad boat
And the water, water, running clear beneath a white throat
And the hollow chatter of the talking of the tadpoles

Who know th'outside
Should we go outside?
Should we break some bread?
Are y'interested?


Lyrics submitted by Mopnugget

Sprout and the Bean Lyrics as written by Joanna Newsom

Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING

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Sprout and the Bean song meanings
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    General Comment

    I, too, think the song is likely about a relationship and not an abortion.

    "Big-boned and fey" is not a description of pregnancy (pregnant women are not usually thought of as ugly), but feeling less happy about herself when her partner is not present.

    "Should we go outside? Should we break some bread?" seems to me to be a reference to a picnic. Breaking bread could have religious connotations, but mostly I think it just refers to sharing a meal.

    And counsellor is actually a real word. It was the name for the chess piece that eventually became the queen.

    musicsnobon November 30, 2008   Link

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