This song really strongly reminds me of that book, Cold Mountain. Inman is a soldier who deserts the army, then tries to find his way home, relying on strangers to take him in and give him food on his way. In every house, the women and children were waiting for some man who was away at war and often they take him in because to them the war does not matter- they just see a man trying to get home the way their loved ones might be trying to get home.
I think this song is telling a similar story. I believe it is about a man who is trying to get back to his home (the home is described as decrepit and empty- waiting for him to return and maintain it again), but along the way approaches the houses of strangers for help. These strangers and their houses are also waiting for someone's return.
It is imploring us to look past politics and help one another as neighbors even in times of great upheaval. We can live by our own laws- be kind according to our own conscience, not according to what a political context might dictate.
This song really strongly reminds me of that book, Cold Mountain. Inman is a soldier who deserts the army, then tries to find his way home, relying on strangers to take him in and give him food on his way. In every house, the women and children were waiting for some man who was away at war and often they take him in because to them the war does not matter- they just see a man trying to get home the way their loved ones might be trying to get home.
I think this song is telling a similar story. I believe it is about a man who is trying to get back to his home (the home is described as decrepit and empty- waiting for him to return and maintain it again), but along the way approaches the houses of strangers for help. These strangers and their houses are also waiting for someone's return.
It is imploring us to look past politics and help one another as neighbors even in times of great upheaval. We can live by our own laws- be kind according to our own conscience, not according to what a political context might dictate.