In the first verse the repetition of 'so it goes' infers some known order, perhaps like a prophecy of life that everyone is known to follow. Heirloom/abbey stones, heirlooms holding great sentimental value and abbey stones possibly referring to an abbey, like the religious buildings so family & religion, also history with the abbeys, all strong influential traits in life that are known to guide you, they’re what you find in that 'prophecy'. Then the writer metophroically says gamble it away, roll the bones and live life without the restrictions that come from the family & religion, live life with no inhibitions.
In the second verse ‘clever drawings’ sticks out, could be maps or diagrams? connotations of jobs perhaps? its getting rid of the materialistic parts of life, the big house the fancy car the job, dont be restricted by this 'ideal' of life kind of like saying to reject the american dream (Shakey Graves being from Austin, Texas). Also the crash the car/unplug the phone is just more like living life recklessly and for fun.
The third verse/line asks who can we blame for us living the way we do? what went 'wrong' in society that means we have to break free from this.
The fourth verse mentions 'so it goes', the known prophecy order, this time a juxtaposition of country/city, theyre mismatching, people try to change their appearances to fit what others want to see
again, after its gamble with that & live for yourself in the moment.
The fifth verse suggests to distance yourself from your past troubles, as they will haunt and will stay with you unless you let them go.
The sixth verse/line links to the fifth; everyone says your past haunts you etc.
seventh verse; saying theres no point struggling against yourself or who you really are, we all die as ourselves so why deny yourself the chance to be yourself in life when thats what you’re gonna be the moment before you die
And finally the eighth is just questioning life after death, do we really die alone? what happens after life? thats the one thing he cant tell you.
In the first verse the repetition of 'so it goes' infers some known order, perhaps like a prophecy of life that everyone is known to follow. Heirloom/abbey stones, heirlooms holding great sentimental value and abbey stones possibly referring to an abbey, like the religious buildings so family & religion, also history with the abbeys, all strong influential traits in life that are known to guide you, they’re what you find in that 'prophecy'. Then the writer metophroically says gamble it away, roll the bones and live life without the restrictions that come from the family & religion, live life with no inhibitions.
In the second verse ‘clever drawings’ sticks out, could be maps or diagrams? connotations of jobs perhaps? its getting rid of the materialistic parts of life, the big house the fancy car the job, dont be restricted by this 'ideal' of life kind of like saying to reject the american dream (Shakey Graves being from Austin, Texas). Also the crash the car/unplug the phone is just more like living life recklessly and for fun.
The third verse/line asks who can we blame for us living the way we do? what went 'wrong' in society that means we have to break free from this.
The fourth verse mentions 'so it goes', the known prophecy order, this time a juxtaposition of country/city, theyre mismatching, people try to change their appearances to fit what others want to see again, after its gamble with that & live for yourself in the moment.
The fifth verse suggests to distance yourself from your past troubles, as they will haunt and will stay with you unless you let them go.
The sixth verse/line links to the fifth; everyone says your past haunts you etc.
seventh verse; saying theres no point struggling against yourself or who you really are, we all die as ourselves so why deny yourself the chance to be yourself in life when thats what you’re gonna be the moment before you die And finally the eighth is just questioning life after death, do we really die alone? what happens after life? thats the one thing he cant tell you.