Barton Hollow Lyrics

Lyric discussion by jarshikah 

Cover art for Barton Hollow lyrics by Civil Wars, The

I'm a dead man walking here - he killed someone and he may as well be dead according to the law But that's the least of all my fears - he doesn't care about the law Ooh, underneath the water - the proof of what he did is underneath the water

It's not Alabama clay - ? hmmm... maybe the water talked about above is in Alabama somewhere? That gives my trembling hands away - he's not scared because of that Please forgive me father - he wants god to forgive him

Ain't going back to Barton Hollow - they're never going back to Barton Hollow, which may be where they killed Devil gonna follow me e'er I go - pretty much explains itself Won't do me no good washing in the river - cleansing themselves of evil now wont do them anygood now? Can't no preacher man save my soul - no preacher can save them from hell

Did that full moon force my hand? - they wonder what caused them to kill Or that un marked hundred grand? - maybe they killed for money Ooh, underneath the water - underneath the water is the evidence Please forgive me father - wants god to forgive hthem

Miles and miles in my bare feet - they run from the cops miles and miles Still can't lay me down to sleep - no matter how exhausted they are the guilt wont let them sleep If I die before I wake I know the Lord my soul won't take - if they die they know they are going to hell

I'm a dead man walking - hes doomed I'm a dead man walking

Keep walking and running and running for miles - they run from the cops Keep walking and running and running for miles Keep walking and running and running for miles

Ain't going back to Barton Hollow - same as above Devil gonna follow me e'er I go Won't do me no good washing in the river Can't no preacher man save my soul

thats the literal interpretation. but figuratively they did somethin bad and are running from their guilt but it keeps finding them and they dont think they are going to be forgiven, and then go to hell.

Perhaps the Alabama clay is referring to the clay that appears near riverbeds, as if he dirtied his hands while disposing of the body. Anyway, I think you pretty much nailed it.

Yep thats Perfect

The reason he states it's not Alabama clay is because Barton Hollow is an actual place in Tennessee just across the Alabama state line. As for the rest of the song, I'd say you are dead on.