To me, the song is about leaving home and coming back to find that everything's changed except the scenery. You can come home, see your same old friends, go to the same places you used to and do the same things, yet nothing's the same. I know that's probably not what the song is REALLY about, but that's what it means to me.
On a more general note: I absolutely LOVE the imagery created by the closing line. I about shat myself the first time I heard it. The whole final verse is perfection.
Agreed, the last verse, especially the last line about the crows is just amazing. Especially because it mentions the crows on the power lines at the beginning, and then the image comes back and just ties the whole song together.
Agreed, the last verse, especially the last line about the crows is just amazing. Especially because it mentions the crows on the power lines at the beginning, and then the image comes back and just ties the whole song together.
Beautiful song, kind of didn't notice it for a while amongst the millions of other songs on the album but now that I have, it's one of my favourites for sure.
Beautiful song, kind of didn't notice it for a while amongst the millions of other songs on the album but now that I have, it's one of my favourites for sure.
I'd say the song is very obviously about Joel's childhood in Lunenburg, NS. Growing up with friends, playing in crappy bands, etc, and his friend Judy. Obviously Joel eventually leaves his small town for bigger things, but never forgets his friends and family he left behind. Judy was tragically taken before her time, hence comparing the two journeys through Gallows Hill that take place in the song, comparing the first line "I do not know any who's buried here" to "someone that we know and love is buried here".
I'd say the song is very obviously about Joel's childhood in Lunenburg, NS. Growing up with friends, playing in crappy bands, etc, and his friend Judy. Obviously Joel eventually leaves his small town for bigger things, but never forgets his friends and family he left behind. Judy was tragically taken before her time, hence comparing the two journeys through Gallows Hill that take place in the song, comparing the first line "I do not know any who's buried here" to "someone that we know and love is buried here".
Also, Judy is referenced in On &...
Also, Judy is referenced in On & On & On in the verse about those that Joel's lost "I sing a verse now
For those come and gone
And left this earth now
And we’re stuck here rolling on
I can still hear Tappen tap
I can still hear Judy’s laugh
Helen’s making movies
And my Granny Kay, she’s baking cookies
They’ve come and gone now"
Just the look on Joel's face when singing this song live was enough to prove to me that everything he talked about the 'anger left to kill' and 'flowing like rivers deep' that he's one of the most honest musicians both musically and emotionally I've ever had the opportunity to see and hear.
To me, the song is about leaving home and coming back to find that everything's changed except the scenery. You can come home, see your same old friends, go to the same places you used to and do the same things, yet nothing's the same. I know that's probably not what the song is REALLY about, but that's what it means to me.
On a more general note: I absolutely LOVE the imagery created by the closing line. I about shat myself the first time I heard it. The whole final verse is perfection.
Agreed, the last verse, especially the last line about the crows is just amazing. Especially because it mentions the crows on the power lines at the beginning, and then the image comes back and just ties the whole song together.
Agreed, the last verse, especially the last line about the crows is just amazing. Especially because it mentions the crows on the power lines at the beginning, and then the image comes back and just ties the whole song together.
Beautiful song, kind of didn't notice it for a while amongst the millions of other songs on the album but now that I have, it's one of my favourites for sure.
Beautiful song, kind of didn't notice it for a while amongst the millions of other songs on the album but now that I have, it's one of my favourites for sure.
I'd say the song is very obviously about Joel's childhood in Lunenburg, NS. Growing up with friends, playing in crappy bands, etc, and his friend Judy. Obviously Joel eventually leaves his small town for bigger things, but never forgets his friends and family he left behind. Judy was tragically taken before her time, hence comparing the two journeys through Gallows Hill that take place in the song, comparing the first line "I do not know any who's buried here" to "someone that we know and love is buried here".
I'd say the song is very obviously about Joel's childhood in Lunenburg, NS. Growing up with friends, playing in crappy bands, etc, and his friend Judy. Obviously Joel eventually leaves his small town for bigger things, but never forgets his friends and family he left behind. Judy was tragically taken before her time, hence comparing the two journeys through Gallows Hill that take place in the song, comparing the first line "I do not know any who's buried here" to "someone that we know and love is buried here".
Also, Judy is referenced in On &...
Also, Judy is referenced in On & On & On in the verse about those that Joel's lost "I sing a verse now For those come and gone And left this earth now And we’re stuck here rolling on I can still hear Tappen tap I can still hear Judy’s laugh Helen’s making movies And my Granny Kay, she’s baking cookies They’ve come and gone now"
Just the look on Joel's face when singing this song live was enough to prove to me that everything he talked about the 'anger left to kill' and 'flowing like rivers deep' that he's one of the most honest musicians both musically and emotionally I've ever had the opportunity to see and hear.