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Like faithful oxen through the chalk,
With dragging tails of history walk.
Soon confuse the compass and the cross.
Carefully and cursively we fill our traveling diaries with loss.
Beneath an angry Bible flood,
Did you and I first learn to love.
In my father's car we came to know.
And shivered in our painted clothes and paired like every animal below.
As heavy as a history book can be,
I will carry it with me, oh Lord.
And maybe when the bitterness has gone,
There'll be sweetness on our tongues once more.
Barefoot in a rowing boat,
You lose your shoes and freeze your toes.
And say I wear my sorrow like a crown.
And throw your arms around my head, and see it there in gold and red and brown.
As heavy as a history book can be,
I will carry it with me, oh Lord.
And maybe when the bitterness has gone,
There'll be sweetness on our tongues once more.
We'll soon forget our parents' names,
Like dogs will drive the wolves away.
And weep with fingertips opposed,
Like a church where nobody congregates.
But sweetness sings in the pasture,
We throw ourselves on the mercy of the earth.
If sand and salt have the answer,
Then the act itself will be louder than the word.
And I'll be on your side.
Like faithful oxen through the chalk,
With dragging tails of history walk.
Soon confuse the compass and the cross.
Carefully and cursively we fill our traveling diaries with loss.
Beneath an angry Bible flood,
Did you and I first learn to love.
In my father's car we came to know.
And shivered in our painted clothes and paired like every animal below.
As heavy as a history book can be,
I will carry it with me, oh Lord.
And maybe when the bitterness has gone,
There'll be sweetness on our tongues once more.
Barefoot in a rowing boat,
You lose your shoes and freeze your toes.
And say I wear my sorrow like a crown.
And throw your arms around my head, and see it there in gold and red and brown.
As heavy as a history book can be,
I will carry it with me, oh Lord.
And maybe when the bitterness has gone,
There'll be sweetness on our tongues once more.
We'll soon forget our parents' names,
Like dogs will drive the wolves away.
And weep with fingertips opposed,
Like a church where nobody congregates.
But sweetness sings in the pasture,
We throw ourselves on the mercy of the earth.
If sand and salt have the answer,
Then the act itself will be louder than the word.
And I'll be on your side.
Lyrics submitted by heartsrhythm
History Book Lyrics as written by Jonathan Warren Jon Warren
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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2nd verse is a flashback to when they were young, and part of the bible references are symbolic, and some literal. "Beneath an angry Bible flood,
Did you and I first learn to loveIn my father's car we came to know.
And shivered in our painted clothes and paired like every animal below.
."..... it means that whilst undeniably serious things were going on, it was really only as if they were the only two in the world. It refers to the huge flood in the bible, and the story of Noah's Ark... and how he paired two of every animal to carry on... The chorus just means that there is much in life he must deal with, as much as anyone can handle, and it has always been said that God gives no one more than he or she or it can handle, which is true, I believe. And he says that he will carry what life gives him, because he has his love, and needs nothing else. "And maybe when the bitterness has gone,
There'll be sweetness on our tongues once more." this is more literal... he means that when the hard times, or resentment has passed from him, he will be able to forgive and forget.
"Barefoot in a rowing boat,
You lose your shoes and freeze your toes.
And say I wear my sorrow like a crown." ...this refers to a personal moment between the two of them, and she sees him for who he is inside, and she makes it apparent to him.
"And throw your arms around my head, and see it there in gold and red and brown." here he's referring to her hair.... as he is so close to her when she holds him, and he can see all the colors in her hair, and also, the truth in her heart, or soul. In the end of the song he gets into more of the climax of the song. Giving the true meaning.... that whether is was his parents, or other family, or the universe.... it was always hard for them to be together, but that he didn't care, because he'd to anything for her, even if it meant his life was hard, and that he had to leave his family behind. In the end it of the song; the resolution, he talks about how it was all worth it, because that sweetness did come in their life, and they'd chosen between what theywanted and what was easy. And obviously the song may go along with losing their virginity to each other, because they loved each other, and it didn;t matter that they were probably dis-owned by their families, because they didn't care, and it didn't matter.... they only ever needed each other, not the acceptance of others.