oats we sow
Gregory and the Hawk Lyrics
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And bury the letters left unsent
'Cause it's bad to do what's easy
Just 'cause it's easy
And I wanna do what pleases me but I can't
The road, she'd roll round the side of the mountain
With nowhere to go
But the heart, we know
When it's needin', it's careenin' toward bein' alone
Someday I'll find the mind to mend it
And make dry these eyes I've gotten wet
'Cause it's bad to do what's easy just 'cause it's easy
I wanna do what pleases me but I can't
The crow, he'd mow half the grass on the knoll
With nowhere to go
But the heart, we know
When it's lovin', it's leanin' toward bein' alone
The oats we sow
They could seed on forever with nowhere to grow
But the heart, we know
When it's askin' its exact twin, it will not be alone
In Gregory and the Hawk's song "Oats We Sow", we find the singer in a state of contemplation. She reflects on the possibility of getting rid of all the mementos given to her by a lover and the letters she never sent to him. However, she acknowledges that taking the easy way out by simply letting go of everything won't fix the problem. Instead, she laments that she desires to do what pleases her, but she can't.
The imagery of a winding road, making its way around the mountain, is used to symbolize the path of the heart. The singer recognizes that it's easy for her heart to careen towards being alone without anyone to share it with. She admits that someday she'll find the strength to mend her broken heart, and dry her eyes, which are filled with tears. Giving in to the old habits of doing what's easy would only lead to more sadness. She acknowledges that her heart is in charge; when it's leanin' toward lovin', it's also heading toward being alone.
The refrain of "the oats we sow" refers to the figurative and literal act of planting oats, which could appear to be pointless because the oats might never sprout. However, the heart knows that it's planting seeds that will eventually grow and bear fruit. No matter how long those seeds take to germinate, or where they eventually take root, the heart is content knowing that it's asking for its twin, and therefore, it will not be alone.
Line by Line Meaning
Someday I'll toss all your presents
At some point in the future, I will discard all the gifts you've given me
And bury the letters left unsent
I will also dispose of the letters I never sent to you
'Cause it's bad to do what's easy
I recognize that taking the easy way out is not always the best option
Just 'cause it's easy
I don't want to do something just because it's convenient or requires little effort
And I wanna do what pleases me but I can't
However, I also feel restricted in doing what I truly want
The road, she'd roll round the side of the mountain
The path appears to wind along the mountain's slope
With nowhere to go
But there is no destination in sight
But the heart, we know
Our emotions can guide us even when logic fails
When it's needin', it's careenin' toward bein' alone
When the heart is longing for something, it tends to push us towards isolation
Someday I'll find the mind to mend it
One day I hope to have the mental clarity to heal from past hurts
And make dry these eyes I've gotten wet
I long to stop crying and move on from the pain
'Cause it's bad to do what's easy just 'cause it's easy
I am aware that taking the path of least resistance isn't always the best approach
I wanna do what pleases me but I can't
Yet, despite knowing this, I still feel trapped and unable to pursue what truly makes me happy
The crow, he'd mow half the grass on the knoll
The image of a crow tending to the grass on a hill is presented
With nowhere to go
But the bird has no clear destination
When it's lovin', it's leanin' toward bein' alone
Just as with the previous stanza, the song reminds us that love can lead to loneliness
The oats we sow
A metaphor for the actions we take and the energy we put into the world
They could seed on forever with nowhere to grow
Sometimes our efforts may seem futile or without result, but we must trust that our actions will have an impact
When it's askin' its exact twin, it will not be alone
Ultimately, the heart seeks connection and belonging, and when it finds its match, it will no longer be alone
Contributed by Logan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.