I believe this song is about his ex girlfriend from back in Joplin.
"Girl, I've been thinking a lot, about who we coulda been, if I was back home, just chilling, with you and all my friends. But, dear, I'm gone. And, that's the lousy truth."
He's speaking to his girlfriend from home. He's telling her that he's been thinking about the future they could have possibly had, had he stayed at home. Just hanging out with her and his friends. He then tells her that, although he doesn't like the fact that he's left her, he's gone and that's the truth of the matter.
"For the past three years, I swear, I've been a better man. Then, who I've become. I know, I know, I know, I let you down. But, I've been gone, for too dang long."
He's telling her that he knows he's not as good of a man as he was in the past three years. He knows that the person he has become is letting her down. He obviously feels guilt, and loves her very much, but at the same time he's gone. He's been gone, and there isn't anything that can be done about that.
"So, if you go away, right now. Then, I can guarantee, that I won't break your heart. But, if you go, and stay, then, baby, I will hope and pray, that you will run away. 'Cause, dear, it breaks my heart, to see you here."
He is saying that he can only guarantee that he won't hurt her if she leaves. (Emotionally, as he has already left physically.) He is also telling her that if she stays, he'd wish she was gone. This is not because he doesn't love her, it's because it breaks his heart to see her waiting around, when he knows things are different and he is gone.
"So, shine outward, not inward. You've been a selfish, little girl. For the past three years, I've been through, more than you could know. And, God, I don't, want you to know, what I have been through, 'cause, you just wouldn't understand. You're just a girl, with some issues, as bad as it may sound. But, you're the girl, who's been driving me mad."
This part I believe might hold resentment towards her. He's basically telling her she's been selfish, she hasn't been thinking about what he could be going through. Whether it was his parents divorce last year, or maybe even the trials and tribulations of being away from home. He doesn't want to tell her what he's been through because, she wouldn't get it or maybe even comprehend the severity of it. Although he knows it sounds bad, he's telling her she's just a girl with some issues. This could either mean that she thinks her problems are more than they are, or that she may have some actual issues like with anger, depression, etc. But although he holds this resentment, he loves her dearly.
"So, if you go away, right now. Then, I can guarantee, that I won't break your heart. But, if you go, and stay, then, baby, I will hope and pray, that you will run away. 'Cause, dear, it breaks my heart, to see you here."
I already described what this part may mean .
"So, go, to school in Chicago. Find a new boy, a new life, a whole new set, of friends. 'Cause, all that I will ever do, is break your heart. And, dear, it breaks my heart, to see you here. Yeah, dear, it breaks my heart, to see you here."
He's telling her to follow her dreams of leaving Joplin to go to school, and meet new people, and even start a new life with another man. He's telling her, that no matter what he's going to break her heart. And it is killing him for her to still be waiting around.
"But, just so you know, I've been thinking a lot, about who we coulda been, if I was back home, just chilling, with you and all my friends. But, dear, I'm gone."
He still wants her to know that he thinks about her, and what they could have turned into. But he knows that he's gone, and things between them are over now. I think that from the emotion in his voice during this portion of the song, (It goes into a slow accapela moment, it's quite beautiful.) he still really loves her and the song he just sang, is somewhat a disappointment to himself. Like, how am I going to end things with this girl I love..?
I believe this song is about his ex girlfriend from back in Joplin.
"Girl, I've been thinking a lot, about who we coulda been, if I was back home, just chilling, with you and all my friends. But, dear, I'm gone. And, that's the lousy truth."
He's speaking to his girlfriend from home. He's telling her that he's been thinking about the future they could have possibly had, had he stayed at home. Just hanging out with her and his friends. He then tells her that, although he doesn't like the fact that he's left her, he's gone and that's the truth of the matter.
"For the past three years, I swear, I've been a better man. Then, who I've become. I know, I know, I know, I let you down. But, I've been gone, for too dang long."
He's telling her that he knows he's not as good of a man as he was in the past three years. He knows that the person he has become is letting her down. He obviously feels guilt, and loves her very much, but at the same time he's gone. He's been gone, and there isn't anything that can be done about that.
"So, if you go away, right now. Then, I can guarantee, that I won't break your heart. But, if you go, and stay, then, baby, I will hope and pray, that you will run away. 'Cause, dear, it breaks my heart, to see you here."
He is saying that he can only guarantee that he won't hurt her if she leaves. (Emotionally, as he has already left physically.) He is also telling her that if she stays, he'd wish she was gone. This is not because he doesn't love her, it's because it breaks his heart to see her waiting around, when he knows things are different and he is gone.
"So, shine outward, not inward. You've been a selfish, little girl. For the past three years, I've been through, more than you could know. And, God, I don't, want you to know, what I have been through, 'cause, you just wouldn't understand. You're just a girl, with some issues, as bad as it may sound. But, you're the girl, who's been driving me mad."
This part I believe might hold resentment towards her. He's basically telling her she's been selfish, she hasn't been thinking about what he could be going through. Whether it was his parents divorce last year, or maybe even the trials and tribulations of being away from home. He doesn't want to tell her what he's been through because, she wouldn't get it or maybe even comprehend the severity of it. Although he knows it sounds bad, he's telling her she's just a girl with some issues. This could either mean that she thinks her problems are more than they are, or that she may have some actual issues like with anger, depression, etc. But although he holds this resentment, he loves her dearly.
"So, if you go away, right now. Then, I can guarantee, that I won't break your heart. But, if you go, and stay, then, baby, I will hope and pray, that you will run away. 'Cause, dear, it breaks my heart, to see you here."
I already described what this part may mean .
"So, go, to school in Chicago. Find a new boy, a new life, a whole new set, of friends. 'Cause, all that I will ever do, is break your heart. And, dear, it breaks my heart, to see you here. Yeah, dear, it breaks my heart, to see you here."
He's telling her to follow her dreams of leaving Joplin to go to school, and meet new people, and even start a new life with another man. He's telling her, that no matter what he's going to break her heart. And it is killing him for her to still be waiting around.
"But, just so you know, I've been thinking a lot, about who we coulda been, if I was back home, just chilling, with you and all my friends. But, dear, I'm gone."
He still wants her to know that he thinks about her, and what they could have turned into. But he knows that he's gone, and things between them are over now. I think that from the emotion in his voice during this portion of the song, (It goes into a slow accapela moment, it's quite beautiful.) he still really loves her and the song he just sang, is somewhat a disappointment to himself. Like, how am I going to end things with this girl I love..?
"And, that's the lousy truth."
But that's the truth of the matter, he's gone.