This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
It is a dance we do in silence
Far below this morning sun
You in your life, me in mine
We have begun
Here we stand and without speaking
Draw the water from the well
And stare beyond the plains
To where the mountains lie so still
But it's a long way that I have come
Across the sand to find this peace among your people in the sun
Where the families work the land as they have always done
Oh it's so far the other way my country's gone
Across my home has grown the shadow
Of a cruel and senseless hand
Though in some strong hearts
The love and truth remain
And it has taken me this distance
And a woman's smile to learn
That my heart remains among them
And to them I must return
But it's a long way that I have come
Across the sand to find you here among these people in the sun
Where your children will be born
You'll watch them as they run
Oh it's so far the other way my life has gone
If you look for me, Maria
You will find me in the shade
Wide awake or in a dream
It's hard to tell--
If you come to me, Maria
I will show you what I've made
It's a picture for our lady of the well
Far below this morning sun
You in your life, me in mine
We have begun
Here we stand and without speaking
Draw the water from the well
And stare beyond the plains
To where the mountains lie so still
But it's a long way that I have come
Across the sand to find this peace among your people in the sun
Where the families work the land as they have always done
Oh it's so far the other way my country's gone
Across my home has grown the shadow
Of a cruel and senseless hand
Though in some strong hearts
The love and truth remain
And it has taken me this distance
And a woman's smile to learn
That my heart remains among them
And to them I must return
But it's a long way that I have come
Across the sand to find you here among these people in the sun
Where your children will be born
You'll watch them as they run
Oh it's so far the other way my life has gone
If you look for me, Maria
You will find me in the shade
Wide awake or in a dream
It's hard to tell--
If you come to me, Maria
I will show you what I've made
It's a picture for our lady of the well
Lyrics submitted by mikepauer
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In the late 60s and early 70s people like Jackson Brown did a lot of footloose traveling. People were also deeply uneasy with the state of the US government and the crass material economy. This seems to me a song, maybe autobiographical, of a man that went to Mexico, came across a young woman in a village, where yes, they still drew water from a well. He fantasized of staying with her and making his life there. But after some period of time, a week, a month, he realizes that he must go home and deal with the US society as well as he can.
The song is so open and non-specific, there could be 1000 different readings of it, depending on the person. It's the non-specificity and the use of elemental words like water, well, desert, etc., that contribute to a spiritual, dreamy feel. It's a feel very similar to other Southern California songs of the time.
As though part of a dance, two people come to the well every morning to draw water, which with the sun is the source of life on earth. They don't speak perhaps because they don't know each other, except for this daily, early-morning visit. Or perhaps they don't speak the same language. But in drawing water, they participate in a sacred, even though mundane, ritual that is far older than any religion. Both stare at the mountains, perhaps reading the season from the amount of snow, or just reaffirming that it is there as a permanent fixture of their lives.
It's a primitive place if you have to draw your own water. But the writer has made a long trip to come to this simpler place. Like many a religious figure, he has had to cross the desert to get there. But instead of a revelation, he goes backwards to what is already known, simpler, more primitive rhythms that are tied to nature, away from the frantic, manufactured complexity of where his country has gone. Simplicity. Growing food and watching your children run.
The picture of our lady of the well is reminiscent of paintings of pagan goddesses or patron saints. It's the gift he gives to the "people of the sun" before he returns home.
The cruel and senseless hand that passes over the country isn't a person or thing. It's a malign spirit that is destructive. The opposite of the God of Genesis who hovered over the waters in an act of creation.
Although he would like to stay and watch the children run, and commit himself to the simpler life where people have to retrieve their own water and grow there own food, he feels compelled to return to "the brave ones" back home who resist the cruel and senseless hand. Instead of the peace of life that is run by the rhythms of the sun and the splash of the water bucket, he conscience tells him he has to go home.
@thomas1005 I agree with your insightful interpretation of this song but I wanted to add an observation that I felt is important to it's essence. I believe that the "cruel and senseless hand" that he is referring to is a reference to "the invisible hand" that the economist Adam Smith used to refer to the "unseen forces that move the free market economy" in his famous book "The Wealth of Nations" and how this trend was having a negative effect on the working poor and middle class by favoring corporations and moneyed interests. He had escaped to a simpler life but realized that he had to go back and fight the good fight. My two cents....
Anybody wants to speak about this song? I love it and I'd like to know some of your thoughts about it.
Sounds kind of biblical to me .... but maybe it's a forerunner to Jackson's overtly political material of the 80's - "across my home has grown the shadow of a cruel and senseless hand/but in sone strong hearts the love and truth remain". I guess there's something healing about water. Drawing water from the well could be symbolic of new ways of thinking?
From listening to this song and reading the lyrics i believe its about a man who has just married a girl named Maria
'You in your life, me in mine We have begun'
and is now beginning his new life with her. Through falling in love with Maria he has gained a peace and learned that he has a good heart. They are now ready to begin their life together
Another meaning of the song could be explained through the title 'Our Lady of the Well' It could very well be that Jackson Browne is describing the presence of the Holy Mother coming into his life. Mary or Maria has awoken his consiousness and now he is going to live his life like he should.
And it has taken me this distance And a woman's smile to learn That my heart remains among them And to them I must return
Further proof that it is religious is that if you listen to the next song on the album, "colors of the sun" he refers to seeing "Joseph and Maria", the parents of Jesus.
Wait, weren't Jesus' parents called Joseph and Mary? I have serious reservations as to whether Jackson Browne is religious, agnostic at the very most..
Whether JB is religious or not? That's between him and God, I suppose, though I also see indications of his being conscious of religion and God in his lyrics. Don't know why croakditch stated that he felt JB was "agnostic at best", but figure it was probably a statement based on his assumption that a liberal minded writer must be non-believing unless otherwise proclaimed... I personally think that is painting with a broad brush and that croakditch is mistaken.<br /> Regarding using the name Maria in lieu of Mary, if you look at the cover of the album you see a scene near the well. I see a Mexican/Spanish theme there, where Maria would be an appropriate translation. I too think there is some religious implication here, specifically from the roots of Catholicism, though I don't believe this to be a specifically religious song. Though I do see that he has included religion in the writing of his song, and it is easy to see that this is something significant in his heart.
I stated, above, making reference to Mexico. I actually should have stated Central/South American scene. Maybe a place where simpler life style, in tune with their spiritual beliefs and family values, as opposed to how far the other way things have gone in the US. Back in the sixties, this was probably more true than today, as now it seems things have gone awry across most of the world.
I forgot to mention that it really an awesome song:)
Yeah, always thought of the story of someone leaving his home and family to live with his woman far away, reaching inner peace but still missing what he left behind. But I still don't catch the title/well/water thing...
BTW, I love the "where your children will be born/ You'll watch them as they run" lines. JB's got this unique quality to make everyone's life's ordinary events look like something epic!
Great song. I've never really known what it means, and I don't think it really has the polish of JB's later material, but I do like it.
First thing to consider is the cover photo. It seems that there is a man slouched on a chair behind and to the right of a well. Looks very much like Mexico. It is, in fact, the courtyard of the Abbey where Jackson spent formative years. I once stopped by to participate in a songwriting workshop put on by Severin, Jackson's brother and current resident of the Abbey. It was instant recognition when I stepped through the doorway into that courtyard. I stopped in my tracks held my breath even. I had just walked into an album cover from my youth. "Only in L.A.," I thought.
It does seem that the song covers some political ground and draws analogies to romance and growing up. Sometime (I speculate) there is simply a brilliant song title that needs a melody and some words. The active imagination of a child growing up in such a place as the Abbey could easily find poetry in the notion that there is actually a lady who lives in the well.
That all of life springs forth from a well is one of the oldest, and yes, somewhat biblical notions. The well was often the social hub of a village. The spoken bulletin board of a people and a time.
enjoyed your post, found it valuable; your information about the Abbey and JB's brother! I understand the song to be about a relationship with Maria, which he seems to say he cannot commit to as he "must return" to his people; the the last verse, The lady of the Well, yes the oldest of spiritual thinking perhaps, connect the life giving of water toa greater force
"Across my home has grown the shadow of a cruel and senseless hand, although in some strong hearts the love and truth remain." "... among your people in the sun, where the families work the land, as they have always done, oh its so far the other way my country's come." I believe this is a reference to USA immigration policy and to farm workers, perhaps after traveling south and visiting Mexican friends. The lyrics speak of truths more than 40 years ago, as well as unfortunately, the truths of today. Jackson wrote this when he was quite young, but I believe he already had the inner stirrings of political dissent. The lyrics are more poetic and not as overt and powerful as his later lyrics, such as "Lives in the Balance" and "Looking East". "Our Lady of the Well" gently hints both at the Catholicism that is so important to the Mexican families who work our land, and Mexico / California's shared use of water. The last lyrics, "If you come to me Maria, I will show you what I've made -- its a picture of Our Lady of the Well" may be describing the song he has just written, and the "picture" he has painted with words.
I highly recommend listening to Lyle Lovett's rendition of this song on "Looking Into You" tribute album. Jackson Browne's lyrics are made for and from his heart and mind; he sings his songs best. However, Lyle makes a worthwhile heart felt effort!