I don't think this is a song about the Missouri floods at all as other commenters have mentioned, I believe that's just a reference which I will explain shortly. I think this is a
song about Jay Farrar, by now a seasoned touring musician, reflecting on his time with his previous band and specifically his writing partner- Jeff Tweedy. Jay left the band, they were younger then, maybe now he's reflecting on the good times they had ( 7 years/ 3 Albums ) and how they couldn't work out their differences. He's "walkin' down main st. Lookin for a purpose from a neon sign" wondering what does all this touring from city to city really mean if two friends couldn't just get along doing what they loved. They forged a path together once " Seeing traces of stars that came before/hitting the pavement still asking for more". Now it's kinda wearing on him, he's older and thus, wiser, more reflective, more emotionally mature "Worn out wood and familiar songs"
He thinks about Jeff a lot now probably when he hears Wilco on the radio and just wonders what might have been - "To hear your voice is not enough/it's more than a shame"
We grow a few years older and some of us, if we do it right , we admit that maybe we were wrong and we were the ones who could have made some better decisions
"Throw away the bad news/put it to rest" i.e. End the feuding/bitterness.
"If learning is living and the truth is a state of mind...ther's something better..."
I really think this is a song about a guy who's a little older now and kind of regrets things playing out the way they did and at the same time owning up to his part of how things transpired. It's a deeply sad and melancholic tune and hence St. Genevieve can hold back flood waters but Saints 'don't bother with tear-stained eyes . Irony ; Flood ( HUGE pool of water) and then the Tears of regret.
......Genius song writing
@Boychild I agree to an extent. I always thought this song was about the end of Uncle Tupelo and Jay's relationship with Tweedy. Jay was probably sick of touring with a band that wasn't really his anymore and playing the same old songs. In my view, it is also about trying to move on in a more general sense. It must be recognized, however, that this was written well before Wilco had any success, so I think you might be reading too much into some of the maturity, wisdom and reflection. It will always be my favorite Son Volt song.
@Boychild I agree to an extent. I always thought this song was about the end of Uncle Tupelo and Jay's relationship with Tweedy. Jay was probably sick of touring with a band that wasn't really his anymore and playing the same old songs. In my view, it is also about trying to move on in a more general sense. It must be recognized, however, that this was written well before Wilco had any success, so I think you might be reading too much into some of the maturity, wisdom and reflection. It will always be my favorite Son Volt song.
@Boychild@Boychild to the poster who replied to boychild, how are you defining success? Jeff Tweedy was definitely enjoying a certain amount of success even before Wilco took off. I think you're implying a measure of intimacy with both Jay and Jeff that obviously does not exist.
@Boychild@Boychild to the poster who replied to boychild, how are you defining success? Jeff Tweedy was definitely enjoying a certain amount of success even before Wilco took off. I think you're implying a measure of intimacy with both Jay and Jeff that obviously does not exist.
@Southsider I was just logging in to say something similar. This album was recorded before Wilco's first album came out. Which means it was written well before Wilco's first album came out. Both of these albums came out in 1995 very quickly after the end of the farewell. So the breakup was still very fresh and neither splinter group had any radio or MTV success at the time. Hell I'd even hazard a guess that Jay started writing this song even before the break-up was official.
@Southsider I was just logging in to say something similar. This album was recorded before Wilco's first album came out. Which means it was written well before Wilco's first album came out. Both of these albums came out in 1995 very quickly after the end of the farewell. So the breakup was still very fresh and neither splinter group had any radio or MTV success at the time. Hell I'd even hazard a guess that Jay started writing this song even before the break-up was official.
@Boychild Thank you for your great interpretation of a beautiful song with deep lyrics; Tear Stained Eye! Whether or not it’s 100% correct or not, doesn’t matter! Not every single word in poetic, artfully written songs necessarily have a ‘real life’ association….of course. That being said, I believe that very much, if not all of your interpretation is spot on! Even more than that, it is extremely well written! Just like the song!
@Boychild Thank you for your great interpretation of a beautiful song with deep lyrics; Tear Stained Eye! Whether or not it’s 100% correct or not, doesn’t matter! Not every single word in poetic, artfully written songs necessarily have a ‘real life’ association….of course. That being said, I believe that very much, if not all of your interpretation is spot on! Even more than that, it is extremely well written! Just like the song!
I don't think this is a song about the Missouri floods at all as other commenters have mentioned, I believe that's just a reference which I will explain shortly. I think this is a song about Jay Farrar, by now a seasoned touring musician, reflecting on his time with his previous band and specifically his writing partner- Jeff Tweedy. Jay left the band, they were younger then, maybe now he's reflecting on the good times they had ( 7 years/ 3 Albums ) and how they couldn't work out their differences. He's "walkin' down main st. Lookin for a purpose from a neon sign" wondering what does all this touring from city to city really mean if two friends couldn't just get along doing what they loved. They forged a path together once " Seeing traces of stars that came before/hitting the pavement still asking for more". Now it's kinda wearing on him, he's older and thus, wiser, more reflective, more emotionally mature "Worn out wood and familiar songs" He thinks about Jeff a lot now probably when he hears Wilco on the radio and just wonders what might have been - "To hear your voice is not enough/it's more than a shame" We grow a few years older and some of us, if we do it right , we admit that maybe we were wrong and we were the ones who could have made some better decisions "Throw away the bad news/put it to rest" i.e. End the feuding/bitterness. "If learning is living and the truth is a state of mind...ther's something better..." I really think this is a song about a guy who's a little older now and kind of regrets things playing out the way they did and at the same time owning up to his part of how things transpired. It's a deeply sad and melancholic tune and hence St. Genevieve can hold back flood waters but Saints 'don't bother with tear-stained eyes . Irony ; Flood ( HUGE pool of water) and then the Tears of regret. ......Genius song writing
@Boychild I agree to an extent. I always thought this song was about the end of Uncle Tupelo and Jay's relationship with Tweedy. Jay was probably sick of touring with a band that wasn't really his anymore and playing the same old songs. In my view, it is also about trying to move on in a more general sense. It must be recognized, however, that this was written well before Wilco had any success, so I think you might be reading too much into some of the maturity, wisdom and reflection. It will always be my favorite Son Volt song.
@Boychild I agree to an extent. I always thought this song was about the end of Uncle Tupelo and Jay's relationship with Tweedy. Jay was probably sick of touring with a band that wasn't really his anymore and playing the same old songs. In my view, it is also about trying to move on in a more general sense. It must be recognized, however, that this was written well before Wilco had any success, so I think you might be reading too much into some of the maturity, wisdom and reflection. It will always be my favorite Son Volt song.
@Boychild @Boychild to the poster who replied to boychild, how are you defining success? Jeff Tweedy was definitely enjoying a certain amount of success even before Wilco took off. I think you're implying a measure of intimacy with both Jay and Jeff that obviously does not exist.
@Boychild @Boychild to the poster who replied to boychild, how are you defining success? Jeff Tweedy was definitely enjoying a certain amount of success even before Wilco took off. I think you're implying a measure of intimacy with both Jay and Jeff that obviously does not exist.
@Southsider I was just logging in to say something similar. This album was recorded before Wilco's first album came out. Which means it was written well before Wilco's first album came out. Both of these albums came out in 1995 very quickly after the end of the farewell. So the breakup was still very fresh and neither splinter group had any radio or MTV success at the time. Hell I'd even hazard a guess that Jay started writing this song even before the break-up was official.
@Southsider I was just logging in to say something similar. This album was recorded before Wilco's first album came out. Which means it was written well before Wilco's first album came out. Both of these albums came out in 1995 very quickly after the end of the farewell. So the breakup was still very fresh and neither splinter group had any radio or MTV success at the time. Hell I'd even hazard a guess that Jay started writing this song even before the break-up was official.
@Boychild I think you nailed this song meaning!
@Boychild I think you nailed this song meaning!
@Boychild
@Boychild
@Boychild Thank you for your great interpretation of a beautiful song with deep lyrics; Tear Stained Eye! Whether or not it’s 100% correct or not, doesn’t matter! Not every single word in poetic, artfully written songs necessarily have a ‘real life’ association….of course. That being said, I believe that very much, if not all of your interpretation is spot on! Even more than that, it is extremely well written! Just like the song!
@Boychild Thank you for your great interpretation of a beautiful song with deep lyrics; Tear Stained Eye! Whether or not it’s 100% correct or not, doesn’t matter! Not every single word in poetic, artfully written songs necessarily have a ‘real life’ association….of course. That being said, I believe that very much, if not all of your interpretation is spot on! Even more than that, it is extremely well written! Just like the song!