I originally thought this song was about a new kid in town that didn't fit in and was depressed, or "down". However, "gets down" has multiple meanings. It is slang for "party".
Notice the lyrics say "local kid gets down", and not "new kid gets down". This is reflecting upon the town, meaning the town is conservative and this song is not about a new kid fitting in, but rather a local kid. "They say, you coulda least faked it, boy", means you could at least try to act like a normal person acts in our town.
So we have a kid that parties and doesn't come home, and is getting poor grades, in a conservative town where this behavior is not normal. No wonder the cradle is rocking! What significance is the cradle, you ask? A cradle is slang for someone's home.
After he drops out of school, he's unemployed and "tied with who he meets", meaning he's either stuck couch surfing or in a gang.
I originally thought this song was about a new kid in town that didn't fit in and was depressed, or "down". However, "gets down" has multiple meanings. It is slang for "party".
Notice the lyrics say "local kid gets down", and not "new kid gets down". This is reflecting upon the town, meaning the town is conservative and this song is not about a new kid fitting in, but rather a local kid. "They say, you coulda least faked it, boy", means you could at least try to act like a normal person acts in our town.
So we have a kid that parties and doesn't come home, and is getting poor grades, in a conservative town where this behavior is not normal. No wonder the cradle is rocking! What significance is the cradle, you ask? A cradle is slang for someone's home.
After he drops out of school, he's unemployed and "tied with who he meets", meaning he's either stuck couch surfing or in a gang.
His folks are glad to be rid of him.
@Superdog11 His folks WEREN'T glad which is why the song says, "His folks aren't overjoyed"
@Superdog11 His folks WEREN'T glad which is why the song says, "His folks aren't overjoyed"
@Superdog11 So what you're saying is, this song could easily be on the "Footloose" soundtrack and is about Kevin Bacon? :D
@Superdog11 So what you're saying is, this song could easily be on the "Footloose" soundtrack and is about Kevin Bacon? :D