Today's the fourth of July
Another June has gone by
And when they light up our town I just think
What a waste of gunpowder and sky

I'm certain I am alone
In harboring thoughts of our home
It's one of my faults that I can't quell my past
I ought to have gotten it gone
I ought to have gotten it

Oh, baby, I wonder if when you are older
Someday
You'll wake up
And say, 'My God, I should have told her
What would it take
But, now here I am and the world's gotten colder
And she's got the river down which I sold her'

So that's today's memory lane
With all the pathos and pain
Another chapter in a book where the chapters are endless
And they're always the same
A verse, and a verse, and refrain

Oh, baby, I wonder if when you are older
Someday
You'll wake up
And say, 'My God, I should have told her
What would it take
But, now here I am and the world's gotten colder
And she's got the river down which I sold her
And she's got the river down which I sold her

Overall Meaning

The song "4th of July" by Aimee Mann is a melancholic reflection on love and regret. The first verse depicts the singer's disillusionment with the Fourth of July celebrations in their town. They see the fireworks as a waste of resources and are unable to see the beauty in them. The second verse reveals the singer's personal struggle. They feel alone in their inability to let go of their past and move forward. The third verse is a contemplation of how one's priorities and values might shift as they age, and a sobering recognition of missed opportunities.

The chorus is a heart-wrenching plea to a lover or ex-lover. The singer wonders if, in the future, the person will realize they missed out on something meaningful and regret not expressing their emotions more fully. The final line, "And she's got the river down which I sold her," could be interpreted as the singer acknowledging that they hurt and lost the one they loved by not prioritizing the relationship.

Overall, the song is about the emotional pain that comes from dwelling on the past and regretting missed opportunities. It showcases Aimee Mann's ability to capture complex emotions and deliver them with a haunting beauty.

Line by Line Meaning

Today's the fourth of July
It's the 4th of July today

Another June has gone by
The month of June is over and another year has passed

And when they light up our town I just think What a waste of gunpowder and sky
The fireworks display is a waste of resources

I'm certain I am alone In harboring thoughts of our home
The singer feels alone in her thoughts of her past home

It's one of my faults that I can't quell my past I ought to have gotten it gone I ought to have gotten it
The singer regrets not being able to move on from her past

Oh, baby, I wonder if when you are older Someday You'll wake up And say, 'My God, I should have told her What would it take But, now here I am and the world's gotten colder And she's got the river down which I sold her'
The singer wonders if her partner will regret not being honest with her in the future

So that's today's memory lane With all the pathos and pain Another chapter in a book where the chapters are endless And they're always the same A verse, and a verse, and refrain
The singer reflects on her past with pain and longing, feeling stuck in a repeating cycle

And she's got the river down which I sold her
The singer's partner has moved on without her

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