The News About William
Calexico Lyrics

4 in the morning the sidewalk's asleep
It is the early morning hours and the street is deserted and quiet

Dogs on the porch, Spiders on the leaf
The only beings around are a few dogs resting on their owners' porches and some spiders resting on the leaves of nearby plants

Shipwrecked by night sailing through days
The person being referred to is struggling through their life like they are lost at sea, without direction or goals

Nobody noticed the slipping away
Nobody paid attention to the person's slow descent into despair or grief

Connecting the dots with thorns in his side
The person suffers from physical or emotional pain that makes it difficult to make sense of past events and experiences

Boarded up the Windows with pain and with pride
The person has retreated into themselves, away from others, and often reflects on their past pain and achievements

The music box broken that once was his soul
A once lively and joyous person has become emotionally shut down, and their spirit for life has been broken due to their life experiences

Its sad little song spinning out of control
The person's emotional turmoil has become more and more difficult to control

Then came the storm that washed the roads out
A life-altering event occurred, resetting everything that the person thought they knew and believed

Closed both his eyes and pointed straight south
The person is attempting to escape their current situation and start anew, regardless of the consequences involved

Second line drums marched into the sea
The drums of war are heard in the distance as the person's attempts to escape are met with difficulty

While the clouds overhead cried 'mutiny'
The person's situation is changing and not in their favor, as their options become limited and the consequences of their actions become more dangerous

They parted for Cathy and her bitter news
Those around them have tried to help, but the news being conveyed to them is bitter and unwelcome

As her words fail and the sky grew dim
The person is so emotional that they can no longer hear or respond to the help and advice being given to them

Recalled how close to that exit I've been
The person remembers the lowest moments of their life and fears they will return to that state again

Ours not to reply, ours not to reason why
It is not our place or responsibility to understand the person's actions or help them in a meaningful way

The news about William
The events and struggles that William has faced or causing him stress and conflict

The lifeline retreats
The person feels alone and isolated, without the support they need to overcome their struggles

Desire for release
The desire to be free from their emotional pain and difficult situation is increasing

The thorns in his side
The physical or emotional pain that the person is undertaking is causing them significant distress and conflict