i like pipKo's interpretation. here is an added thought to that notion...perhaps the line "trading a daughter and 2000 dollars for a national steel" is not about the father losing a daughter but maybe she is trading settling down/family life/kids (daughter), with the $2000 dollars for a guitar.
otherwise, the lyric 'trading a daughter and 2000 dollars for a national steel', sounds like a parent would be trading/exchanging kathleen and money for a guitar for himself.because when a trade is made, you give something up and get something in return, so i dont see how that interpretation works because than the parent would be getting the guitar, not her.
i agree she was asking him for a loan for some of the $2000. "are you writing this all down" refers to how he is keeping track of everything she owes him. money, being a grandfather perhaps? what do you guys think?
i like pipKo's interpretation. here is an added thought to that notion...perhaps the line "trading a daughter and 2000 dollars for a national steel" is not about the father losing a daughter but maybe she is trading settling down/family life/kids (daughter), with the $2000 dollars for a guitar. otherwise, the lyric 'trading a daughter and 2000 dollars for a national steel', sounds like a parent would be trading/exchanging kathleen and money for a guitar for himself.because when a trade is made, you give something up and get something in return, so i dont see how that interpretation works because than the parent would be getting the guitar, not her. i agree she was asking him for a loan for some of the $2000. "are you writing this all down" refers to how he is keeping track of everything she owes him. money, being a grandfather perhaps? what do you guys think?