Steven
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Post by Steven on Aug 19, 2016 13:16:00 GMT -5
"It's Decoration Day And I knew the Hill Boys would put us away, But my Daddy wasn't afraid He said we'll fight till the last Lawson's last living day
I never knew how it all got started A problem with Holland before we were born And I don't know the name of that boy we tied down And beat till he just couldn't walk anymore But I know the caliber in daddy's chest And I know what Holland Hill drives The state let him go, but I guess it was best 'Cause nobody needs all us Lawson's alive.
Daddy said one of the boys had come by The lumber man's favorite son He said, beat him real good but don't dare let him die And if you see Holland Hill run Now I said, they ain't give us trouble no more That we ain't brought down on ourselves But a chain on my back and my ear to the floor And I'll send all the Hill Boys to hell. "
- Drive-By Truckers, "Decoration Day"
I've always been a fan of this tune but became a much bigger fan of it after reading the lyrics and letting each word sink in. Isbell is easily one of today's most gifted songwriters.
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.indulgecountry
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"You left a mark on my face // And brought a dozen red flags in a vase"
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Post by .indulgecountry on Aug 20, 2016 0:34:12 GMT -5
Some mommas and daddies ran out of love in '94 And some mommas and daddies don't even talk no more - "Love Triangle," RaeLynn
Chills. :'(
This whole song is exceptional lyrically. Love the line about her mom being a "Southern belle statue in the screen door," too.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 22, 2016 0:44:10 GMT -5
Some mommas and daddies ran out of love in '94 And some mommas and daddies don't even talk no more- "Love Triangle," RaeLynn Chills. :'( This whole song is exceptional lyrically. Love the line about her mom being a "Southern belle statue in the screen door," too. I agree, those are great lines and the whole song is great, but for some reason I'm particularly drawn to the entire 2nd verse. It's sad, but it's such a great visual. Bowling alley burger Fries and a milkshake Headed to the same old Two-dollar matinee 'Baby, how's your school been, And how's your mom?'
Patsy Cline echoes Back off the dashboard Staring at my boots And the dusty old floorboard Baby, two weeks ain't really all that long
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 11, 2016 2:00:52 GMT -5
Sprung a loose wire, that's a fact. Got a strange little monkey on my back. But I kinda like the company.
Martina McBride - "Anything's Better Than Feeling The Blues"
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someguy
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Post by someguy on Sept 11, 2016 2:14:15 GMT -5
Sprung a loose wire, that's a fact. Got a strange little monkey on my back. But I kinda like the company. Martina McBride - "Anything's Better Than Feeling The Blues" LOVE that song. It wouldn't have worked as a single, but it's so edgy and in your face. The Martina no one knows, lol.
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Sept 11, 2016 2:31:32 GMT -5
Sprung a loose wire, that's a fact. Got a strange little monkey on my back. But I kinda like the company. Martina McBride - "Anything's Better Than Feeling The Blues" LOVE that song. It wouldn't have worked as a single, but it's so edgy and in your face. The Martina no one knows, lol. YES!!! Haha that is a perfect way to describe it! It may not have worked as a single, but it is definitely a style I wish she would revisit...
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.indulgecountry
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Best Country Poster 2011, 2017, & 2018
"You left a mark on my face // And brought a dozen red flags in a vase"
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Post by .indulgecountry on Sept 11, 2016 4:00:49 GMT -5
I've never listened to "Anything's Better Than Feeling The Blues" before, so thank you guys for introducing me to another great Martina McBride song. I like it a lot.
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Andy
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Post by Andy on Sept 11, 2016 18:11:28 GMT -5
"I married a girl I met in Tennessee The baby didn't make it, so neither did we I still think about her but she's fadin' fast It don't do no good to dwell on your past" -Chris Knight, "Heart of Stone"
One of my all-time favorite verses. Tells an interesting story and makes a keen life observation in just four lines.
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sabre14
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Post by sabre14 on Sept 17, 2016 13:53:38 GMT -5
"Keep on dreamin', even if it breaks your heart."
Eli Young Band (written by Will Hoge and Eric Paslay)
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someguy
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Post by someguy on Oct 2, 2016 1:50:09 GMT -5
"Forgive me for what I do, but if you want out it's up to you"
Reba McEntire - "Fancy" (Bobbie Gentry)
"I hope life treats you kind, and I hope you get all you dreamed of. I wish you joy and happiness, but above all this, I wish you love"
Dolly Parton - "I Will Always Love You" (Dolly Parton)
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Post by travelrocks24 on Oct 5, 2016 5:05:12 GMT -5
"'Til I learned that one step forward will take you further on, then a thousand back or a million that ain't you're own" - Clay Walker "Dreaming With My Eyes Open" "And the taste of Southern Comfort on my lips, tells me I ain't ready to quit" - Jason Aldean "I Ain't Ready To Quit "Sherrif Grady's still running hard, got his name and picture in every yard. Nobody's run against him since '83, he just likes to read the" - Brett Eldredge "Signs" "Your heroes will help you find good in your self, your friends won't forsake you for somebody else" - Randy Travis "Heroes And Friends" "But I'll bet my last dollar on a plain and simple fact, Oscar never said a word about me behind my back, And the way the I was raised to understand, Well that alone makes him the better man" - Randy Travis "Oscar The Angel" "I opened up the note and found a set of keys, here's your car son, I hope it flies" - Jeff Carson "The Car" "Dwight Yoakam's in the corner trying to catch my eye, Lyle Lovett's right beside me with his hand up on my thigh" - Mary Chapin Carpenter "I Feel Lucky"
"I took a walk in the rain one day on the wrong side of the tracks, I stood on the rails til I saw that train, Just to see how my heart would react" - Mary Chapin Carpenter "I Take My Chances""Cause honey I'm right there waitin' on you, At the bottom of your glass" - Patty Loveless "Here I Am" "A few more songs on the all night radio, and he'll spend the rest of his life with the one that he loves" - Kathy Mattea "Eighteen Wheels And A Dozen Roses" "Someday he'll tell her about the money he hid, And someday she'll tell him that the boy is his kid" - Garth Brooks "That 'Ol Wind" "There's so much about you that I'm gonna miss, But it's alright baby if I hurry I can still make Cheyenne" - George Strait "I Can Still Make Cheyenne "And the crazy thing about it, Is she'd take him back, But the fool in him that walked out, Is the fool who just won't ask" - Garth Brooks "She's Gonna Make It" "Lucy, you know the world must be flat, 'cos when people leave town, they never come back" - Hal Ketchum "Small Town Saturday Night" I was waiting to see who would have some Mary Chapin Carpenter lyrics.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2016 7:20:36 GMT -5
"I've found time can heal almost anything"
Taylor Swift "Fifteen". One of her most underrated and most mature singles she ever put out
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matty005
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Post by matty005 on Oct 19, 2016 8:06:09 GMT -5
"I've found time can heal almost anything" Taylor Swift "Fifteen". One of her most underrated and most mature singles she ever put out Agreed. I also like the line: "'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you, You're gonna believe them." It's so simple, yet rings so true. And, sad to say, it really is the same whether you're 15, or 22 or 35.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2016 20:07:08 GMT -5
"I've found time can heal almost anything" Taylor Swift "Fifteen". One of her most underrated and most mature singles she ever put out Agreed. I also like the line: "'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you, You're gonna believe them." It's so simple, yet rings so true. And, sad to say, it really is the same whether you're 15, or 22 or 35. Eh, while the line is very true, it rings a little generic. Still the songbas a whole is very well written. The reason why I said the line "I've found time can heal most anything" is because that line right their is very true and is especially true in my life. Time (4 years) has healed me and my best friend past and we are back to being friends again. Here's another lyric I love from Taylor Swift "And we walked down the block to my car and I almost brought him up, but you start to talk about the movies that your family watches". Taylor Swift "Begin Again"
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Oct 19, 2016 20:22:30 GMT -5
On a related note, I love the part of Dixie Chicks' "I'm Not Ready To Make Nice" that goes:
"They say time heals everything, but I'm still waiting."
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Ten Pound Hammer
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Post by Ten Pound Hammer on Oct 19, 2016 21:06:05 GMT -5
"All you wanted was a one-night stand / The fire, the wine, and the touch of a man / But I fell in love and ruined all your plans / So what'll you do about me?" -- Doug Supernaw, "What'll You Do About Me" (obligatory gushing over Dennis Linde)
"Can't believe what I said / But at least I made you laugh / After all this time since we said goodbye / I'm glad I can still do that " -- Jon Pardi, "When I've Been Drinkin'"
"That crown you're wearin' is just your halo turned upside down / Where is the laughter we once shared back in the lost and found? / These broken wings are gonna leave me here to stand my ground / You can have this ticket for that lonely plane that's flyin' out / I don't want to be standin' here / And I don't want to be talkin' here / And I don't really care who's to blame / 'Cause if love won't fly on its own free will / It's gonna catch that outbound plane" -- Suzy Bogguss, "Outbound Plane"
"There ain't a four-lane road within twenty some miles from here / This town ain't got a Walmart and never ever will / There's a church and a fillin' station where you get your gas / Then there's Dixie Rose Deluxe's honky-tonk, feed store, gun shop, used car, beer, bait, BBQ, barber shop, laundromat" -- Trent Willmon, "Dixie Rose Deluxe's Honky-Tonk, Feed Store, Gun Shop, Used Car, Beer, Bait, BBQ, Barber Shop, Laundromat"
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matty005
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Post by matty005 on Oct 19, 2016 21:19:03 GMT -5
Agreed. I also like the line: "'Cause when you're fifteen and somebody tells you they love you, You're gonna believe them." It's so simple, yet rings so true. And, sad to say, it really is the same whether you're 15, or 22 or 35. Eh, while the line is very true, it rings a little generic. Still the songbas a whole is very well written. The reason why I said the line "I've found time can heal most anything" is because that line right their is very true and is especially true in my life. Time (4 years) has healed me and my best friend past and we are back to being friends again. Here's another lyric I love from Taylor Swift "And we walked down the block to my car and I almost brought him up, but you start to talk about the movies that your family watches". Taylor Swift "Begin Again" Well, the line about time healing any thing is pretty darn generic. It's not like Taylor came up with that on her own. That is basically an age old saying.
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Post by The Brazilian Guy 🇧🇷 on Oct 21, 2016 9:31:06 GMT -5
I was just listening to Wade Bowen's "Saturday Night" yesterday and realised how much I like this line...
"There's nothing quite as lonely as a crowd when you're all alone"
... that line really captures the melancholy of the song
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sabre14
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Post by sabre14 on Oct 28, 2016 23:39:30 GMT -5
"Shotgun shells and a tackle box On the floorboard of a truck Morning sun, burning fog off the lake
Teenage girl with her grandad He takes her fishin, but he feels bad Cause she can't take her eyes off that ol' Facebook page
Someday soon, who knows how long She'll look up from that phone, and he'll be gone
The trouble is, you think you have time You think tomorrow's always coming down the line Then one day, you wake up and you find...
The trouble is, you thought you had time"
Dean Brody - "Time"
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Ten Pound Hammer
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Post by Ten Pound Hammer on Oct 31, 2016 18:37:26 GMT -5
"It's Decoration Day And I knew the Hill Boys would put us away, But my Daddy wasn't afraid He said we'll fight till the last Lawson's last living day ... - Drive-By Truckers, "Decoration Day" I've always been a fan of this tune but became a much bigger fan of it after reading the lyrics and letting each word sink in. Isbell is easily one of today's most gifted songwriters. Why is it called "Decoration Day"? I've been puzzled by this whole song quite hard.
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.indulgecountry
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Best Country Poster 2011, 2017, & 2018
"You left a mark on my face // And brought a dozen red flags in a vase"
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Post by .indulgecountry on Oct 31, 2016 21:27:02 GMT -5
"It's Decoration Day And I knew the Hill Boys would put us away, But my Daddy wasn't afraid He said we'll fight till the last Lawson's last living day ... - Drive-By Truckers, "Decoration Day" I've always been a fan of this tune but became a much bigger fan of it after reading the lyrics and letting each word sink in. Isbell is easily one of today's most gifted songwriters. Why is it called "Decoration Day"? I've been puzzled by this whole song quite hard. It's another (original) name for Memorial Day. " Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces. The holiday, which is observed every year on the last Monday of May, originated as Decoration Day after the American Civil War in 1868, when the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union veterans founded in Decatur, Illinois, established it as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the Union war dead with flowers." www.google.com/search?q=Decoration+Day&rlz=1C1TSND_enUS472US472&oq=Decoration+Day&aqs=chrome..69i57&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
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Ten Pound Hammer
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Post by Ten Pound Hammer on Oct 31, 2016 21:43:36 GMT -5
Why is it called "Decoration Day"? I've been puzzled by this whole song quite hard. It's another (original) name for Memorial Day. " Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces. The holiday, which is observed every year on the last Monday of May, originated as Decoration Day after the American Civil War in 1868, when the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union veterans founded in Decatur, Illinois, established it as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the Union war dead with flowers." www.google.com/search?q=Decoration+Day&rlz=1C1TSND_enUS472US472&oq=Decoration+Day&aqs=chrome..69i57&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8What about the rest of the song? Nothing else seems to fit that concept at all.
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.indulgecountry
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Best Country Poster 2011, 2017, & 2018
"You left a mark on my face // And brought a dozen red flags in a vase"
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Post by .indulgecountry on Oct 31, 2016 21:54:01 GMT -5
It's another (original) name for Memorial Day. " Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces. The holiday, which is observed every year on the last Monday of May, originated as Decoration Day after the American Civil War in 1868, when the Grand Army of the Republic, an organization of Union veterans founded in Decatur, Illinois, established it as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the Union war dead with flowers." www.google.com/search?q=Decoration+Day&rlz=1C1TSND_enUS472US472&oq=Decoration+Day&aqs=chrome..69i57&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8What about the rest of the song? Nothing else seems to fit that concept at all. I've never even listened to this song before but just from looking at the lyrics right now, all of the lyrics seem pretty straightforward to be about Memorial Day.
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Oct 31, 2016 22:09:30 GMT -5
It seems to me to be more of a family feud context than a Civil War context. But still, they're visiting their father's grave and reminiscing about the feud. It seems like there might be some bad blood between the main character and his father though, because he is thinking about rolling a stone on the grave, and spitting on the grave, and saying "they ain't give us trouble no more that we ain't brought down on ourselves."
Although if the Grand Army of the Republic was an organization of Union veterans who founded Decoration Day as a time to decorate the graves of fallen Union soldiers, there is some very interesting familial and/or historical commentary going on in the song. Like, there is definitely some disloyalty going on between the main character and his father. He seems to sympathize with the Hills, only pretending to want them dead to keep up his appearances when his family is around, and then feeling guilty for what his father made them do to Hollis Hill's favorite son. So maybe there is some commentary going on about Union soldiers who are not completely loyal to the Union's actions in the Civil War? Like they agree with the overall cause, but not with the means that were used to win it? It is very possible some soldiers may have fought alongside their brothers but felt guilty about what they all did, and therefore unsure of how to properly "honor" their brothers' graves after they died in battle...
Anyway, what do I know. I got a degree in Literature, so I tend to like critical thinking. But this song is definitely tricky. Not so much in its use of the term "Decoration Day", but in the way the lyrics seem to portray the family feud, and the main character's relationship with his father.
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Andy
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Post by Andy on Dec 11, 2016 18:30:10 GMT -5
"I don't cry and carry on Still you call me the jealous type but darlin' that's not true I'm not jealous of them, I'm embarrassed for you" -Sam Outlaw, "I'm Not Jealous"
Very good cheating song.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Dec 11, 2016 19:49:43 GMT -5
"If you ever felt one breaking you'd never want a heart"
Miranda Lambert Tin Man (aka the song that needs to be a single asap along with "To Learn Her")
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Andy
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Post by Andy on Dec 13, 2016 21:22:41 GMT -5
"A hundred words mean nothing but what a thousand others say they might." -Robbie Fulks, "Alabama at Night"
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Ten Pound Hammer
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Post by Ten Pound Hammer on Dec 13, 2016 21:43:20 GMT -5
It seems to me to be more of a family feud context than a Civil War context. But still, they're visiting their father's grave and reminiscing about the feud. It seems like there might be some bad blood between the main character and his father though, because he is thinking about rolling a stone on the grave, and spitting on the grave, and saying "they ain't give us trouble no more that we ain't brought down on ourselves." And what does ANY of that have to do with Memorial Day? Memorial Day remembers soldiers, does it not? Although if the Grand Army of the Republic was an organization of Union veterans who founded Decoration Day as a time to decorate the graves of fallen Union soldiers, there is some very interesting familial and/or historical commentary going on in the song. Like, there is definitely some disloyalty going on between the main character and his father. He seems to sympathize with the Hills, only pretending to want them dead to keep up his appearances when his family is around, and then feeling guilty for what his father made them do to Hollis Hill's favorite son. So maybe there is some commentary going on about Union soldiers who are not completely loyal to the Union's actions in the Civil War? Like they agree with the overall cause, but not with the means that were used to win it? It is very possible some soldiers may have fought alongside their brothers but felt guilty about what they all did, and therefore unsure of how to properly "honor" their brothers' graves after they died in battle... Anyway, what do I know. I got a degree in Literature, so I tend to like critical thinking. But this song is definitely tricky. Not so much in its use of the term "Decoration Day", but in the way the lyrics seem to portray the family feud, and the main character's relationship with his father. Huh?
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.indulgecountry
Diamond Member
Best Country Poster 2011, 2017, & 2018
"You left a mark on my face // And brought a dozen red flags in a vase"
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Post by .indulgecountry on Dec 13, 2016 22:50:32 GMT -5
It seems to me to be more of a family feud context than a Civil War context. But still, they're visiting their father's grave and reminiscing about the feud. It seems like there might be some bad blood between the main character and his father though, because he is thinking about rolling a stone on the grave, and spitting on the grave, and saying "they ain't give us trouble no more that we ain't brought down on ourselves." And what does ANY of that have to do with Memorial Day? Memorial Day remembers soldiers, does it not? Although if the Grand Army of the Republic was an organization of Union veterans who founded Decoration Day as a time to decorate the graves of fallen Union soldiers, there is some very interesting familial and/or historical commentary going on in the song. Like, there is definitely some disloyalty going on between the main character and his father. He seems to sympathize with the Hills, only pretending to want them dead to keep up his appearances when his family is around, and then feeling guilty for what his father made them do to Hollis Hill's favorite son. So maybe there is some commentary going on about Union soldiers who are not completely loyal to the Union's actions in the Civil War? Like they agree with the overall cause, but not with the means that were used to win it? It is very possible some soldiers may have fought alongside their brothers but felt guilty about what they all did, and therefore unsure of how to properly "honor" their brothers' graves after they died in battle... Anyway, what do I know. I got a degree in Literature, so I tend to like critical thinking. But this song is definitely tricky. Not so much in its use of the term "Decoration Day", but in the way the lyrics seem to portray the family feud, and the main character's relationship with his father. Huh? Well at least you can say you tried, bboat11. Fwiw, I thought that was a lovely and well-thought out analysis of the song lyrics.
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bboat11
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Post by bboat11 on Dec 13, 2016 22:56:53 GMT -5
It seems to me to be more of a family feud context than a Civil War context. But still, they're visiting their father's grave and reminiscing about the feud. It seems like there might be some bad blood between the main character and his father though, because he is thinking about rolling a stone on the grave, and spitting on the grave, and saying "they ain't give us trouble no more that we ain't brought down on ourselves." And what does ANY of that have to do with Memorial Day? Memorial Day remembers soldiers, does it not? Although if the Grand Army of the Republic was an organization of Union veterans who founded Decoration Day as a time to decorate the graves of fallen Union soldiers, there is some very interesting familial and/or historical commentary going on in the song. Like, there is definitely some disloyalty going on between the main character and his father. He seems to sympathize with the Hills, only pretending to want them dead to keep up his appearances when his family is around, and then feeling guilty for what his father made them do to Hollis Hill's favorite son. So maybe there is some commentary going on about Union soldiers who are not completely loyal to the Union's actions in the Civil War? Like they agree with the overall cause, but not with the means that were used to win it? It is very possible some soldiers may have fought alongside their brothers but felt guilty about what they all did, and therefore unsure of how to properly "honor" their brothers' graves after they died in battle... Anyway, what do I know. I got a degree in Literature, so I tend to like critical thinking. But this song is definitely tricky. Not so much in its use of the term "Decoration Day", but in the way the lyrics seem to portray the family feud, and the main character's relationship with his father. Huh? All that I said is that this song may not literally be about Memorial Day. Kinda like "Independence Day" is a statement against domestic violence, with the victim taking action to free herself and her daughter from her abusive husband, and NOT actually about the 4th of July. "Decoration Day" seems to me to be about one son remembering his dead father, who fought for a certain cause (even if he wasn't literally a soldier), and has a bunch of mixed feelings about his father's actions. NOT actually about Memorial Day. The rest of my post is me actually putting in an effort to analyze the lyrics and figure out what the song may mean. Which is what I tend to do when I do not understand a song, rather than complaining about not understanding it. (And then continuing to complain about not understanding it despite people trying to explain it to me.) The "too long/didn't read" version? This song contains a hell of a lot of symbolism. It is an absolute treasure trove for critical thinking and literary analysis. I tried to use my above thoughts to draw comparisons between the lyrics in the song and Civil War soldiers, since that is the context surrounding the founding of Decoration Day, but that is only one of many perspectives through which this song can be analyzed.
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