Broadripple Is Burning

First of all, I love this song. Can't stop listening to it. I saw them in concert a couple months ago. Loved it.

In my opinion, again its just that, but I think this is a song about a failed long distance relationship.

"Oh honey...........pick up chicks"

Broadripple is a neighborhood in Indianapolis I believe. I think this portion is talking about the utter chaos that hes been left in now that she has left him all alone in the neighborhood the grew up in and fell in love in.

"And darlin'.......headed home."

He remembers the night she told him she was leaving. He wishes they were heading back to Broadripple, but he knows they aren't. She's off to bigger and better things. So he's lost.

"And there was love.....most every night"

This is more reminiscing about their time together in Broadripple.

"And darlin' I'm drunk......and come back home."

He's drunk and he went to where she moved and he is begging her to move back to Broadripple so they can be together and make everything right.

Refrain

He's drunk and can tell she knows. He doesn't want her to judge him, he just wants her to come home. Otherwise he's going to be miserable and won't be able to live without her.

"And if my woman.....outer space."

She left him in the blink of an eye to move elsewhere and the only thing he knew to replace her with was booze and cigarettes. The cigarettes and outer space makes me picture a guy standing in the middle of the street, smoking a cigarette, looking up at the stars, thinking about what he's lost. It's quite haunting.

"Then somebody moves.......to shit"

Basically says when somebody moves away the whole relationship that you thought was perfect blows up in your face.

"But we.....forget that."

Here is trying to convince her. Even though we are far apart, we've got a lot going for us.

"And I wrote......east Japan."

Here is flying back home after his unsuccessful attempt to convince her to get back together and maybe even come home. She's the "nuclear bomb" that has devastated his life (east Japan).

"Don't F%#$

I'm not sure what all this talk about Bripple high school is, Broadripple is a district near downtown Indy. It's kind of the cultural district of Indy, lots of little shops and a few nightclubs. Home to Indy CD and Vinyl, a kickass music store, and Metamorphosis, a hipster tattoo parlor. Tons of artsy, hipster, indie kids around. Lots of smoking and drinking and sleeping with eachothers friends..... all while listening to incredible music. Broadripple is burning. I see it... and so does Richard Edwards.

To the version of Broadripple above: I think this song is about a guy who has lost the love of his life.

When he's speaking of "Broadripple burning", he's saying how down hill it has gone from former years.

".. that night in Fountain Square.. the trash-filled streets made me wish we were headed home" - again talking about how Fountain Square is a dump lately.

He's speaking about these two places because him & his girl friend would often frequent these parts of Indianapolis. Now that she has passed away or left, everything good about either district has completely vanished.

"And there was love inside the basement.. where that woman ((used)) to lie" - Again, telling you she has passed away or left him cold.

This guy takes to booze, cigarettes & day dreaming as a vice to fill the whole he now has.

Him hanging from a rope is not meant literally but metaphorically. Saying that he basically is dead now. What else could he be living for without her in his life?

I feel like the 2nd to last verse is about closure but I need help on the "bombing east japan" part. Maybe talking about World War II. I'm not sure if woment were inlisted in the militart back then, possibley but I just don't know. - If so theyn maybe it's about a guy who loses his love in war?

And yes, I'm from Indianapolis and swing by both of these area's quite frequently. They've both gone to shit. So the song is true.

i love this song. it describes life in indiana so well.

Broadripple High School is a school in the Indianapolis area, it burnt down and was rebuilt close to 100 years ago. I think it's very likely the first line of the song is a reference to this school.

First of all, I love this song. Can't stop listening to it. I saw them in concert a couple months ago. Loved it.

In my opinion, again its just that, but I think this is a song about a failed long distance relationship.

"Oh honey...........pick up chicks"

Broadripple is a neighborhood in Indianapolis I believe. I think this portion is talking about the utter chaos that hes been left in now that she has left him all alone in the neighborhood the grew up in and fell in love in.

"And darlin'.......headed home."

He remembers the night she told him she was leaving. He wishes they were heading back to Broadripple, but he knows they aren't. She's off to bigger and better things. So he's lost.

"And there was love.....most every night"

This is more reminiscing about their time together in Broadripple.

"And darlin' I'm drunk......and come back home."

He's drunk and he went to where she moved and he is begging her to move back to Broadripple so they can be together and make everything right.

Refrain

He's drunk and can tell she knows. He doesn't want her to judge him, he just wants her to come home. Otherwise he's going to be miserable and won't be able to live without her.

"And if my woman.....outer space."

She left him in the blink of an eye to move elsewhere and the only thing he knew to replace her with was booze and cigarettes. The cigarettes and outer space makes me picture a guy standing in the middle of the street, smoking a cigarette, looking up at the stars, thinking about what he's lost. It's quite haunting.

"Then somebody moves.......to shit"

Basically says when somebody moves away the whole relationship that you thought was perfect blows up in your face.

"But we.....forget that."

Here is trying to convince her. Even though we are far apart, we've got a lot going for us.

"And I wrote......east Japan."

Here is flying back home after his unsuccessful attempt to convince her to get back together and maybe even come home. She's the "nuclear bomb" that has devastated his life (east Japan).

"Don't F%#$

Seems to me this is pretty clearly about the loss of a lover by an chronic relapsing alcoholic. The hook is pretty clear evidence of that. From unfortunate experience, I vividly remember the look of betrayal and disappointment in the woman I’ve loved’s eyes as I realized a relapse has been found out. ‘Don’t look at me that way cuz I’ll be hanging from a rope, haunt u like a ghost’ is hauntingly resonant, as the feeling of letting her down is crushing to the spirit, knowing you are once again a source of pain and lost trust to someone you love above all else, definitely triggers the want to die or not be alive unfortunately. Very accurate. The verses are the finer details surrounding the cycle of loss and relapse and chaos left in addictions wake.

At least I think so.

love this song.

Broad Ripple is a high school in IN, likely where they attended.

Someone explain E. Japan bit? I'm trying to think Enola Gay here, but I don't know.

broad ripple is an area of town which is where the high school gets its name... broad ripple has tons of clubs and bars and some of the unsavory things that happen there are described in this song

so was he wasted on an airplane? haha just kidding...this song is awesome. but yeah, i dont get the east japan part either...