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Give It Up Lyrics
From the place that I stand to the land that is openly free;
Watching rivers run black by the trees
that are vacant to greed.
Gotta give it up
gotta get a second chance
Gotta give it up
gotta get a second chance
and the tunes just started.
Gotta give it up
give it up
give it up
gotta give it up!
Or tell me why I'm so wrong
where does love come from
If you've sold your reasoning out?
How can I learn if I don't understand what I see.
If I'm giving this mess
take a walk
through a nightmare so real.
Gotta give it up
gotta get a second chance
. . .
Or tell me if I'm so wrong
where does luck come from
When you've never been without?
Give it up
give it up
give it up
gotta give it up
Give it up
give it up
gotta give it up.
Tell me if I'm so wrong
where does love come from
If you've sold your reasoning out?
Or tell me if I'm so wrong
where does luck come from
When you've never been without?
Watching rivers run black by the trees
that are vacant to greed.
gotta get a second chance
gotta get a second chance
Gotta give it up
give it up
give it up
gotta give it up!
where does love come from
If I'm giving this mess
take a walk
through a nightmare so real.
Gotta give it up
gotta get a second chance
. . .
where does luck come from
give it up
give it up
gotta give it up
give it up
gotta give it up.
Tell me if I'm so wrong
where does love come from
Or tell me if I'm so wrong
where does luck come from
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Not sure why this album doesn't get more praise than it has. Lyrically and musically and not to mention the stellar production, it set a benchmark for the era.
As to the meaning, Hollis' lyrics have a tendency to lean towards religion. This is no exception...seems like he's speaking to atheists who believe in nothing. Telling them to 'give it up' and questioning them about where love and luck come from...
@sonoflife Hollis tends to use religious imagery, but not always in a favorable light. He often shows great scorn to the very religious "little sheep" (example: Happiness is Easy is a straight up shot at folks who give up thinking and embrace the church, willing to go to war or hate or die for the supposed after life). While Hollis has said that he isn't especially religious (more humanist), he has shown a public interest in the welfare of the animals who share our planet. To me, this song seems clearly to be about the environment ("Watching rivers run...
@sonoflife Hollis tends to use religious imagery, but not always in a favorable light. He often shows great scorn to the very religious "little sheep" (example: Happiness is Easy is a straight up shot at folks who give up thinking and embrace the church, willing to go to war or hate or die for the supposed after life).
While Hollis has said that he isn't especially religious (more humanist), he has shown a public interest in the welfare of the animals who share our planet. To me, this song seems clearly to be about the environment ("Watching rivers run black and the trees that are vacant to greed") and the real and difficult lifestyle changes people need to make in order to stop the world going to hell "gotta give it up" (coal, cars, plastics, etc.). Also, it touches on the phenomenon that occurs as soon as anyone starts talking about "save the earth." The trendy and wealthy young things immediately start in with their 'hippie' jibes ("and the jokes just started.") and no one takes it seriously, but it's up to us all to take it very seriously. ("You can do it")
Everyone can pretty much find their own meaning in any song. I do think this one is pretty clear, but I'm me and you are you and so we will see things differently based on our own experiences.
@sonoflife +1 for Mindy’s response
@sonoflife +1 for Mindy’s response
I just adore the rawness of the instruments - meant to be a very basic, very Hammond organ driven - the bleak, vacant areas - just wonderfully artistic