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Just Give Me Time Lyrics

This red-haired girl of mine tore a pinecone from the pine
to cut into her palm, singing the song her sinking lover sung
I shut my eyes, ripped the train from off the line
but a sudden gust of snow blew through a hole in my girl's clothes
Well, my girl knows she�s not all right
and I don�t mind.
Just give me time, baby, give me time.

Her stinging eyes, and her sixteen-hour drive, and our shared, transparent rope
and our icy dive through hope I�ll memorize, and I�ll cut into my mind
I can�t believe it can be so
I won�t believe that my girl froze

Well, my girl knows I�m coiled tight and green inside
Just give me time, baby, give me time

And that weight you hold, it�s getting light
and, love, I know you�ll raise it easily up high
Just give it time, just give it time

Oh baby, just give it time.
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Submitted by
cautionary Song On Jun 13, 2006
3 Meanings

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Cover art for Just Give Me Time lyrics by Okkervil River

can someone please suggest what this song could mean? i have no idea but i love it the only clue i have is that before playing it live will once said 'im now going to sing a song about my ex girlfriend...'

Cover art for Just Give Me Time lyrics by Okkervil River

I love it too. Generally speaking, I always thought it sounded like the narrator's girlfriend had been hurt in a past relationship, and because of that she doesn't completely trust him yet. It's implied that he's jealous over the situation (the "coiled tight and green inside" part), but he tells her it's okay because he'll get over it with time. And he believes that she'll overcome it as well (the last verse). I love how it seems to go from talking about himself to talking about her, changing from "just give me time" to "just give IT time."

But that being said, some of the specific lines are very opaque to me. I have no idea what "tore a pinecone from the pine/to cut into her palm" could possibly mean, to give just one example. :-P Whatever it's about though, it's really beautiful.

I kind of find it interesting that Will said it was about an ex-girlfriend though, just because it doesn't seem like he writes about himself (at least not so directly, anyway) very often.

Cover art for Just Give Me Time lyrics by Okkervil River

yeah thats true he doesn't tend to write about himself, but i think he did more often in their ealier work (like this ep) and he just hides them. certainly in the 3 most recent albums he writes about fictional characters.

its a beautiful song. i've heard travis nelson say in an interview that this is his all-time favourite song by okkervil river.

i find it really lulling, sort of meditative, this song helps me get to sleep... the repitition of that line just sounds so pleading and oh i just love will to death

 
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