We've got solid-state technology
Tapes on the floor
Some songs we can't afford to play

When we came here today
All I wanted to say
Is how much I miss you

Alcohol and cotton balls
And some drugs
We can afford on the way

When we came here today
We all felt something true
Now I'm red-eyed and blue

Overall Meaning

In Wilco's song Red-Eyed and Blue, the lyrics describe a group of musicians who are struggling to make ends meet but are still passionate about their music. The lines "We've got solid-state technology, tapes on the floor / Some songs we can't afford to play" suggest that they have some decent equipment, but they don't have the money to record or perform all of their songs. The mention of "alcohol and cotton balls" and "some drugs we can afford on the way" paints a picture of a group of people who are financially struggling and perhaps turning to substance use to cope.

The chorus, "When we came here today / All I wanted to say / Is how much I miss you / When we came here today / We all felt something true / Now I'm red-eyed and blue" suggests that despite their struggles, making music together gives them a sense of purpose and connection to each other. The singer misses someone, perhaps a lost love, but being together with this group makes him feel something true, even if it's tinged with sadness.

Line by Line Meaning

We've got solid-state technology
Our gear is top of the line

Tapes on the floor
We're constantly recording, creating, and experimenting

Some songs we can't afford to play
We have some emotional or personal songs that we don't want to share with the world or don't think will be successful

When we came here today
Referring to a specific moment in time when they entered the recording studio

All I wanted to say
The artist is feeling reflective and wants to express their emotions

Is how much I miss you
The artist is experiencing feelings of loneliness, sadness, or longing

Alcohol and cotton balls
The band is using alcohol to cope with the intense emotional experience of recording

And some drugs
The band is also using drugs to numb the pain or enhance the creative process

We can afford on the way
Despite the financial struggles of being a band, they can afford the necessary substances to get through the day

We all felt something true
The band had a collective moment of intense emotion or feeling during the recording process

Now I'm red-eyed and blue
After this intense process, the artist is feeling drained, exhausted, and emotionally raw

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