This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
He was a long, tall stranger from way down south
Where he'd left his life behind
He had a big, old Gibson and a pickup truck
And Shenandoah eyes
And I remember him sitting in that local bar
Where I earned my pay each night
Singing my songs to empty chairs and going home half tight
So the nights rolled by like headlights shining on a lonesome strip of tar
I kept his word of kindness close to me like a pick on my guitar
And we talked about the singers and the songs we loved
And the songs we'd most forgot
In that run-down bar they'd make last call
And I'd never want to stop
[Chorus]
'Cause I was living on nothing but a young girl's dreams
With my cowboy boots and my old six-string
Hitching my wagon to a star
Dreaming of leaving those local bars
When I'd get him up at closing time
For a couple of songs and a chance to shine
Like the star that he longed to be
He looked a hell of a lot like me
Well, he'd played a lot of places where the only wages were food and beer for free
No fancy licks, but he had him a gift for the kinds of songs he'd sing
But you do what you can to be a satisfied man
Just to have your peace of mind
So he gave it all up for a government job where the paychecks come on time
So now he comes to the bar to hear me play guitar
And to share a drink or two
And we sit swapping tales of where we've been and what we'd rather do
There's a wealth of dangers when you're talking to strangers
And I meet them all the time
But my heart knew better than my head when I looked into those eyes
[Chorus]
Well, maybe I'll quit when I've got me a kid and a place to call my own
But tonight there ain't nobody there waiting up for me at home
It's a helluva way to live from day to day
Not knowing where you're bound
But the look in his eyes made me realize
I was glad for the life I'd found
[Chorus]
Where he'd left his life behind
He had a big, old Gibson and a pickup truck
And Shenandoah eyes
And I remember him sitting in that local bar
Where I earned my pay each night
Singing my songs to empty chairs and going home half tight
So the nights rolled by like headlights shining on a lonesome strip of tar
I kept his word of kindness close to me like a pick on my guitar
And we talked about the singers and the songs we loved
And the songs we'd most forgot
In that run-down bar they'd make last call
And I'd never want to stop
[Chorus]
'Cause I was living on nothing but a young girl's dreams
With my cowboy boots and my old six-string
Hitching my wagon to a star
Dreaming of leaving those local bars
When I'd get him up at closing time
For a couple of songs and a chance to shine
Like the star that he longed to be
He looked a hell of a lot like me
Well, he'd played a lot of places where the only wages were food and beer for free
No fancy licks, but he had him a gift for the kinds of songs he'd sing
But you do what you can to be a satisfied man
Just to have your peace of mind
So he gave it all up for a government job where the paychecks come on time
So now he comes to the bar to hear me play guitar
And to share a drink or two
And we sit swapping tales of where we've been and what we'd rather do
There's a wealth of dangers when you're talking to strangers
And I meet them all the time
But my heart knew better than my head when I looked into those eyes
[Chorus]
Well, maybe I'll quit when I've got me a kid and a place to call my own
But tonight there ain't nobody there waiting up for me at home
It's a helluva way to live from day to day
Not knowing where you're bound
But the look in his eyes made me realize
I was glad for the life I'd found
[Chorus]
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I've never quite worked out what the the phrase "he looked a helluva lot like me" means. It would seem unlikely that the guy had a physical resemblance to MCC, is it that they were both looking for the same thing in music? "Looking" as in "searching"? Whatever the answer, a great autobiographical song of MCC's early days in music, described in a wonderfully flowing lyric.