I wondered perhaps if the pale green things mentioned were analogous to signs of goodness in his stepfather... that the weak plants pushing their way up through the ground were evidence that his stepfather wasn't all bad, but they were still weak.
Though I like the other ideas posted too, it could be any of them really.
Absolutely agree. This was my first impression as well.
Absolutely agree. This was my first impression as well.
Most of his songs about his stepfather deal with the fear, bitterness and rebelliousness his stepfather's abusive alcoholism produced in him. Those sensations are easy to explain. But this one is different; anybody who has ever had an abusive/neglectful/addicted parent will understand. Human beings define themselves by their parents, for better or worse. There's an instinctual need to cling to the little things that make even the worst parents worthwhile as a human being, no matter how small they may be.
Most of his songs about his stepfather deal with the fear, bitterness and rebelliousness his stepfather's abusive alcoholism produced in him. Those sensations are easy to explain. But this one is different; anybody who has ever had an abusive/neglectful/addicted parent will understand. Human beings define themselves by their parents, for better or worse. There's an instinctual need to cling to the little things that make even the worst parents worthwhile as a human being, no matter how small they may be.
Amid the constant memories of the misery, fear...
Amid the constant memories of the misery, fear and chaos of his childhood with his stepdad, it's not until John hears he "finally died" (John's glad, and nobody could blame him) that he suddenly remembers this rare and unexpected moment of kindness and humanity in a relationship that was so defined by it's domination and inhumanity.
That morning with his stepson was the little tuft of pale green Indiana sawgrass, peeking through the hard, broken asphalt of his stepfather's nature.
And as anybody who's been there can tell you, those rare moments are memorable too.
I wondered perhaps if the pale green things mentioned were analogous to signs of goodness in his stepfather... that the weak plants pushing their way up through the ground were evidence that his stepfather wasn't all bad, but they were still weak.
Though I like the other ideas posted too, it could be any of them really.
Absolutely agree. This was my first impression as well.
Absolutely agree. This was my first impression as well.
Most of his songs about his stepfather deal with the fear, bitterness and rebelliousness his stepfather's abusive alcoholism produced in him. Those sensations are easy to explain. But this one is different; anybody who has ever had an abusive/neglectful/addicted parent will understand. Human beings define themselves by their parents, for better or worse. There's an instinctual need to cling to the little things that make even the worst parents worthwhile as a human being, no matter how small they may be.
Most of his songs about his stepfather deal with the fear, bitterness and rebelliousness his stepfather's abusive alcoholism produced in him. Those sensations are easy to explain. But this one is different; anybody who has ever had an abusive/neglectful/addicted parent will understand. Human beings define themselves by their parents, for better or worse. There's an instinctual need to cling to the little things that make even the worst parents worthwhile as a human being, no matter how small they may be.
Amid the constant memories of the misery, fear...
Amid the constant memories of the misery, fear and chaos of his childhood with his stepdad, it's not until John hears he "finally died" (John's glad, and nobody could blame him) that he suddenly remembers this rare and unexpected moment of kindness and humanity in a relationship that was so defined by it's domination and inhumanity.
That morning with his stepson was the little tuft of pale green Indiana sawgrass, peeking through the hard, broken asphalt of his stepfather's nature.
And as anybody who's been there can tell you, those rare moments are memorable too.