I think the lyrics in this are pretty literal. It's about Lana, and her exboyfriend, I assume. She's "on [her] own", and has found that she has to pawn the earrings he gave her, to make means for herself. And seeing that love be sold is a sad thing for her, she "almost cried" as she watched them go. She had to do this to make money - she doesn't live a lavish lifestyle "I don't mind living on bread and oranges" but she needs to pay for travelling expenses, and so, she sells the earrings he gave her.
It's also very clear why they broke up - "in the name of higher consciousness" - ie because of God. Lana seems to believe in God and has acknowledged she had a "wild" past, but hasn't had a drink or anything in seven years. She's a reformed wild child, and upon having the spiritual reawakening she seems to have had, she had to "let the best man [she] knew go". She would rather "know what God knows" because "no man can keep [her] together". She relies on God now.
But she still has those Pawnshop Blues, watching her old love go. It reminds her of him, and is symbolic of finally letting him go.
I think the lyrics in this are pretty literal. It's about Lana, and her exboyfriend, I assume. She's "on [her] own", and has found that she has to pawn the earrings he gave her, to make means for herself. And seeing that love be sold is a sad thing for her, she "almost cried" as she watched them go. She had to do this to make money - she doesn't live a lavish lifestyle "I don't mind living on bread and oranges" but she needs to pay for travelling expenses, and so, she sells the earrings he gave her.
It's also very clear why they broke up - "in the name of higher consciousness" - ie because of God. Lana seems to believe in God and has acknowledged she had a "wild" past, but hasn't had a drink or anything in seven years. She's a reformed wild child, and upon having the spiritual reawakening she seems to have had, she had to "let the best man [she] knew go". She would rather "know what God knows" because "no man can keep [her] together". She relies on God now.
But she still has those Pawnshop Blues, watching her old love go. It reminds her of him, and is symbolic of finally letting him go.