6 Meanings
Add Yours
Follow
Share
Q&A
Don't Ask for the Water Lyrics
i hate this old place
what it represents
and i hate who i was
who i ended up since
if you learn how to swim
just in case you drown
don't ask her for the water
'cause she'll swallow you down
it's just 10 miles a piece
and the hardest of nights
and her bellfries got arch
but her rooftops alright
down here in the sewer
i'm smellin a rat
don't ask her for the whiskey
'cause the water's all that
and what horses we rode
through what somber fields
with our lovers at war
and the dust on our heels
and the infidels screamed
it's all been a lie
don't ask her for the water
'cause she'll teach to cry
don't ask her for the water
'cause she'll teach to cry
and her weapon of choice
is a red pattern dress
and a sack full of stones
with her hands on her chest
and a book full of quotes
and a tight fastened lip
don't ask her for the water
'cause you'll sink like a ship
don't ask her for the water
'cause you'll sink like a ship.
what it represents
and i hate who i was
who i ended up since
if you learn how to swim
just in case you drown
don't ask her for the water
'cause she'll swallow you down
it's just 10 miles a piece
and the hardest of nights
and her bellfries got arch
but her rooftops alright
down here in the sewer
i'm smellin a rat
don't ask her for the whiskey
'cause the water's all that
through what somber fields
with our lovers at war
and the dust on our heels
and the infidels screamed
it's all been a lie
don't ask her for the water
'cause she'll teach to cry
don't ask her for the water
'cause she'll teach to cry
is a red pattern dress
and a sack full of stones
with her hands on her chest
and a book full of quotes
and a tight fastened lip
don't ask her for the water
'cause you'll sink like a ship
don't ask her for the water
'cause you'll sink like a ship.
Add your song meanings, interpretations, facts, memories & more to the community.
Wow, I can't believe no one has commented on this song. It's one of my favorites from the first CD. It seems as though the person he's singing about has possibly hurt him in some way in the past, but he's still willing to be with the individual, even though he knows he's vulnerable to having his heart broken again. I dunno.
This could be true. Could he also be talking about his time back in North Carolina? " hate this old place what it represents and i hate who i was who i ended up since.....'cause she'll swallow you down it's just 10 miles a piece and the hardest of nights and her bellfries got arch but her rooftops alright down here in the sewer"
i'm totally completely guessing but I think it's about this girl that he digs, but she's left him hurt and scared of love. he tries to be wary of her but inside he knows he'd have her back at all costs. maybe where he is only reminds him of her (I hate this old place) and he hates how he is now because of her (who I ended up since). she may not seem like much in the beginning, a sweet girl with a book of quotes and a pretty red dress but she knows exactly how to bring him down (sack full of stones) with her whiskey and antics. I don't know.
wtf is a belfry?
Do you think the last verse is referencing Virginia Woolf?
"and her weapon of choice is a red pattern dress and a sack full of stones with her hands on her chest and a book full of quotes and a tight fastened lip"
She killed herself in a river with stones in her pocket...and she was a writer. Not saying the song's about her but this is surely a reference, no?
I thought of Virginia Woolf as well! I don't know about the dress, but the sack full of stones sounds like Ms. Woolf.
I thought of Virginia Woolf as well! I don't know about the dress, but the sack full of stones sounds like Ms. Woolf.
The question is, why would Virginia Woolf be using her death as a weapon? I think Ryan Adams must have admired her to reference her. So one can interpret this and say that she makes lovers/admirers cry from grief.
The question is, why would Virginia Woolf be using her death as a weapon? I think Ryan Adams must have admired her to reference her. So one can interpret this and say that she makes lovers/admirers cry from grief.
This is also not the first woman writer who Mr. Adams has written about. He also wrote about Sylvia Plath...I guess he has a thing for women writers.
This is also not the first woman writer who Mr. Adams has written about. He also wrote about Sylvia Plath...I guess he has a thing for women writers.
What I don't get is the first half...
What I don't get is the first half of the song.
Whoa, so I just realized this song is probably a reference to the Howlin' Wolf's "I Asked Her For Water (She Gave Me Gasoline)", which was later covered by Lucinda Williams. Not sure if anyone else noticed, but it blew my mind when I did.
Don’t ask for the water is maybe about racism in the south. Asking for water is like asking for truth. Asking for the truth will teach you about pain. Weapon of choice, confederate flag.