If I Go I'm Goin
Gregory Alan Isakov Lyrics
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She's holding secrets
I got my change behind the bed
In a coffee can
Throw my nickels in
Just in case I have to leave
And I will go if you ask me to
I will stay if you dare
And if I go I'm goin' shameless
I'll let my hunger take me there
This house
She's quite the talker
She creeks and moans
She keeps me up
And the photographs
Know I'm a liar
They just laugh as I burn her down
And I will go if you ask me to
I will stay if you dare
And if I go I'm goin' on fire
Let my anger take me there
The shingles man they're shaking
Back door's burning through
This old house she's quite the keeper
Quite the keeper of you
I will go if you ask me to
I will stay if you dare
And if I go, I'm goin' crazy
Let my darlin' take me there
If I go, I'm goin' crazy
Let my darlin' take me there
The song If I Go I'm Goin by Gregory Alan Isakov is about leaving a home that is full of secrets and is causing the singer great discomfort. It is presumed that the singer is speaking to someone they care about, asking whether they should stay in this uncomfortable situation or leave. The coffee can filled with nickels symbolizes the singer's mindset of always being prepared to leave, as if they have been through this before.
The house mentioned in the song is personified as having a life of its own. It makes noises that keep the singer up at night, and the photographs call the singer out on their lies. The photographs seem to suggest that the singer has a dark past that they are trying to escape from. The line "I'll let my hunger take me there" suggests that the singer is willing to do whatever it takes, even if it means going without basic necessities, in order to leave.
As the song progresses, the house starts to physically fall apart. The shingles are shaking and the back door is burning through, ending on the line "Let my darlin' take me there." This line implies that there is someone that the singer cares about enough to leave their home behind for, even if it means leaving behind everything they know.
Overall, the song is a message of defiance and resilience in difficult situations. The singer is willing to fight against whatever life throws their way, even if it means starting from scratch.
Line by Line Meaning
This house
The house is personified as having secrets and being a talkative character.
She's holding secrets
The house has secrets that are being kept hidden.
I got my change behind the bed
The singer keeps their money hidden in a coffee can behind the bed.
In a coffee can
The artist keeps their nickels saved in a coffee can.
Throw my nickels in
The artist saves their small denomination coins.
Just in case I have to leave
The singer is preparing for the possibility of leaving quickly.
And I will go if you ask me to
The singer is willing to leave if they are asked to do so.
I will stay if you dare
The artist is willing to stay if the other person is brave enough to make them stay.
And if I go I'm goin' shameless
If the artist leaves, they will do so without hesitation or regret.
I'll let my hunger take me there
The artist's hunger (passion or drive) will be the reason for their departure.
And the photographs
The pictures in the house are being personified.
Know I'm a liar
The pictures have witnessed the artist telling lies.
They just laugh as I burn her down
The pictures seem to take pleasure in the destruction of the house.
And if I go I'm goin' on fire
If the singer leaves, they will do so in a destructive or chaotic manner.
Let my anger take me there
The singer's anger will be the reason for their destructive departure.
The shingles man they're shaking
The shingles on the roof of the house are moving.
Back door's burning through
The back door of the house is on fire.
This old house she's quite the keeper
The singer personifies the house as being responsible for keeping something, likely the other person.
I will go if you ask me to
The singer is still willing to leave if asked to do so.
I will stay if you dare
The other person must be brave if they want the artist to stay.
And if I go, I'm goin' crazy
The artist will mentally unravel if they have to leave the other person.
Let my darlin' take me there
The other person holds the power to either drive the artist sane or cause them to lose their mind.
Lyrics © THIRD SIDE MUSIC INC.
Written by: John Elliott, Gregory Alan Isakov, J Wagner, Ron Scott
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Mike Modelle
on Time Will Tell
A Kansas wheat farmer wonders and worries about the price he will get for his bushels as they pour into some commercial silo.