I think the first verse is the writer's daddy's advice to his son to quit living like a kid and start being a man or else he'll end up with a dead end job, living in his parent's front yard, and looking haggard.
The second verse is his father explaining that he is a man of few words, but there are some things his son should know by now.
The first chorus is telling him how to act like a man: Girls wear "outfits" and boys wear clothes. A man should know what is wrong with his car - the alternator, the engine, the transmission, etc. A child would say it was "broke". Don't try to cover up where you came from, don't do drugs, remember your family back home, stay humble (unlike John Lennon), and always know you are worth something.
Third verse: St Florian is a town near the songwriter's hometown, and his father worked there in a factory, probably long hours. Then he went to school to do maintenance in a hospital, but the hours were long so he fell back on the only skill he had - painting houses.
Fourth verse: Stay true to who you are, don't act better than others. Kendale Gardens is an upper-class subdivision near the songwriter's hometown. The father is warning the son that if he doesn't straighten up, he'll end up like him, painting houses for rich people instead of being a rich person.
The last chorus is pretty self-explanitory. Be a man. Be who you are and don't let anyone or anything change you. Don't do drugs and don't forget about your family.
THE END
And I may be wrong, but those are my thoughts. And I LOVE this song!!!
@BamaGal - more specifically, I think this song is a father's advice to a son embarking on a career as a musician. His father understands that drugs are a part of the scene, but advises his son to draw a line: "have fun but stay clear of the needle". Although the son is going to be on the road a lot he should remember to "call home on your sister's birthday". The "don't tell 'em your bigger than Jesus" line is an obvious reference to Lennon's (misunderstood comment) and "don't give it away" is an admonishment to never play music...
@BamaGal - more specifically, I think this song is a father's advice to a son embarking on a career as a musician. His father understands that drugs are a part of the scene, but advises his son to draw a line: "have fun but stay clear of the needle". Although the son is going to be on the road a lot he should remember to "call home on your sister's birthday". The "don't tell 'em your bigger than Jesus" line is an obvious reference to Lennon's (misunderstood comment) and "don't give it away" is an admonishment to never play music for free.
I think the first verse is the writer's daddy's advice to his son to quit living like a kid and start being a man or else he'll end up with a dead end job, living in his parent's front yard, and looking haggard.
The second verse is his father explaining that he is a man of few words, but there are some things his son should know by now.
The first chorus is telling him how to act like a man: Girls wear "outfits" and boys wear clothes. A man should know what is wrong with his car - the alternator, the engine, the transmission, etc. A child would say it was "broke". Don't try to cover up where you came from, don't do drugs, remember your family back home, stay humble (unlike John Lennon), and always know you are worth something.
Third verse: St Florian is a town near the songwriter's hometown, and his father worked there in a factory, probably long hours. Then he went to school to do maintenance in a hospital, but the hours were long so he fell back on the only skill he had - painting houses.
Fourth verse: Stay true to who you are, don't act better than others. Kendale Gardens is an upper-class subdivision near the songwriter's hometown. The father is warning the son that if he doesn't straighten up, he'll end up like him, painting houses for rich people instead of being a rich person.
The last chorus is pretty self-explanitory. Be a man. Be who you are and don't let anyone or anything change you. Don't do drugs and don't forget about your family.
THE END
And I may be wrong, but those are my thoughts. And I LOVE this song!!!
@BamaGal - more specifically, I think this song is a father's advice to a son embarking on a career as a musician. His father understands that drugs are a part of the scene, but advises his son to draw a line: "have fun but stay clear of the needle". Although the son is going to be on the road a lot he should remember to "call home on your sister's birthday". The "don't tell 'em your bigger than Jesus" line is an obvious reference to Lennon's (misunderstood comment) and "don't give it away" is an admonishment to never play music...
@BamaGal - more specifically, I think this song is a father's advice to a son embarking on a career as a musician. His father understands that drugs are a part of the scene, but advises his son to draw a line: "have fun but stay clear of the needle". Although the son is going to be on the road a lot he should remember to "call home on your sister's birthday". The "don't tell 'em your bigger than Jesus" line is an obvious reference to Lennon's (misunderstood comment) and "don't give it away" is an admonishment to never play music for free.