The Pedestrian

I'm not sure, but I think the meaning could be similar to Minority. About being an individual... what do you people think??

As weird as this might sound, I think it's about excepting that tomorrow is never promised and you can go whenever. Because I thought okay, "Pedestrian" sometimes pedestrians are at risk of getting hit or it could be just a person "walking" through life maybe taking their time. Especially when he says " It don't take a jesus to save my soul." He saying no one has control over when he dies and he doesnt know what happens in the afterlife. Mostly this can be interpreted as him coming to grips with tomrrow never being promised when he says "When it's my time and it's my time to go." or just a pedestrian walking through life. This song is one of my top three favorites on the CD.

oh yeah, yours is much better.

Pedestrian also has another meaning - ordinary. I think that he is saying that despite his rock star status that he is really an ordinary guy who is trying to do the best for his family and community at large. Just think of all the service work that BilleJoe has done.

I agree with CateJello65 (and no, it's not weird that you think tha. It actually makes a lot of sense.)

You're born, you live, and you die. When it's your time, then it's your time to go.

Also, the lyrics are SLIGHTLY incorrect. I think it's supposed to be:

I don't need a reason, to be a misfit. Whatever the reason, how far I go. When it's my time then I will let you know.

It don't take a genius to be an idiot. It don't take a jesus to save my soul. When it my time, then it's my time to go.

Pedestrian is what I am. An understated Samaritan. Where I go, I go alone. As long as I am taking my time.

I don't have the answer, but please consider it. I listen to reason, the reason is true. I take my time, well now it's time to go.

Catchiest song off the FHT album, in my opinion, it's about a guy who "walks" alone through life while everyone else "drives." He takes a longer time to get where he needs to be. Motorists jeer at him as they pass by. So the pedestrian has a much harder time than other people. Despite this, he is a pedestrian by choice, just because he feels like it ("I don't have a reason to be a misfit"). He is also a good guy who doesn't really get a lot of recognition, because he does good deeds in a quiet way, such as not polluting the environment with a car ("Pedestrian is what I am, an understated samaritan"). The last line ("I did my time, well, now it's time to go") is key. He has to stop and wait for his turn to cross the street while others pass him and get their rewards first, but he's patient and takes whatever life throws at him with ease until it's his time.

I agree with Knockout000 and Catejello665. Both meanings put in one basically sums it up for me.

I think it's about getting out of prison. This is my after work jam.

I always thought this song was about feelings of isolation; that the writer feels like a pedestrian walking among the motorists around him, but that he's okay with that: 'Where I go, I go alone, as long as I am taking my time.'

I also believed it was about suicide and deciding to leave on one's own terms, as I heard later lyrics to be 'I don't have answer to be specific, but I'll give you the reason - the reason is true: I did my time, and now it's time to go.'

I've since understood that this was a mishear (or mondegreen) but, all the same, I drew great comfort from the words I thought to be correct when someone dear to me made that decision. For that I am eternally thankful.