Poison In The Well
10000 Maniacs Lyrics
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I tilt my head there, under the faucet, but when I turn it on -- dry as paper.
Call the neighbors.
Who's to blame for what's going on?
In the dark without a clue I'm just the same as you.
O, they tell us there's poison in the well,
that someone's been a bit untidy and there's been a small spill.
But there you are mistaken, you know you are.
I wonder just how long they knew our well was poisoned but they let us just drink on.
O, they tell us there's poison in the well,
that someone's been a bit untidy and there's been a small spill.
All that it amounts to is a tear in a salted sea.
Someone's been a bit untidy, they'll have it cleaned up in a week.
But the week is over and now it's grown into years since I was told that I should be calm, there's nothing to fear here.
But I drank that water for years, my wife and my children.
Tell me, where to now, if your fight for a bearable life can be fought and lost in you backyard?
O, don't tell us there's poison in the well,
that someone's been a bit untidy, that there's been a small spill.
All that it amounts to is a tear in a salted sea.
Someone's been a bit untidy, they'll have it cleaned up in a week.
The lyrics of "Poison in the Well" by 10,000 Maniacs speak about the uncertainty and fear that arise when we feel betrayed by those in charge of taking care of us. The singer tilts their head under the faucet, hoping for water, and instead finds dryness. They call the neighbors and wonder who is to blame for the situation they find themselves in. They feel lost, just like everybody else in the darkness without a clue. They are questioning an authority that allowed their well to be poisoned and how long they knew about it. The well being poisoned symbolizes someone's betrayal of trust, and the accountability they face.
The chorus, repeated thrice, talks about the "poison in the well," and how someone "has been a bit untidy." The phrase "poison in the well" typically suggests a fatal flaw in one's understanding or reasoning that threatens their very survival, and "someone's been a bit untidy" refers to those who have been careless, leading to the well's contamination. The singer notes how the situation is often presented as a small issue, downplaying the significance of the poison as "just a tear in a salted sea." The authorities promise to clean up their mess, but years have passed, and nothing has been done. The singer recognizes how something as intimate as their family's drinking water has become a symbol of larger issues.
In conclusion, the song "Poison in the Well" by 10,000 Maniacs is a commentary on the singer's fear and uncertainty in response to the authorities' negligence. Furthermore, it speaks to a larger human failing that allows betrayal and harm to come to communities, often through the simplest forms of neglect.
Line by Line Meaning
Tell me what's gone wrong.
Asking for an explanation of the current situation.
I tilt my head there, under the faucet, but when I turn it on -- dry as paper.
Trying to figure out the reason behind the lack of water in the faucet.
Call the neighbors.
Requesting for help from others in the community.
Who's to blame for what's going on?
Taking accountability and finding the cause for the problem.
In the dark without a clue I'm just the same as you.
Acknowledging that everyone is equally clueless about the situation.
O, they tell us there's poison in the well,
Referring to rumors and hearsay about the condition of the well.
that someone's been a bit untidy and there's been a small spill.
Speculating that the situation might be caused by someone's negligence.
Not a lot, no, just a drop.
Claiming that the problem is minor, but still significant.
But there you are mistaken, you know you are.
Asserting that the issue is more severe than others realize.
I wonder just how long they knew our well was poisoned but they let us just drink on.
Questioning authorities for their lack of action despite knowledge of the contaminated water.
All that it amounts to is a tear in a salted sea.
Minimizing the situation as a minor problem in a larger issue.
Someone's been a bit untidy, they'll have it cleaned up in a week.
Maintaining a false sense of hope or optimism that the problem will soon be fixed.
But the week is over and now it's grown into years since I was told that I should be calm, there's nothing to fear here.
Realizing that the issue has been neglected for a significant amount of time and authorities have failed to take appropriate action.
But I drank that water for years, my wife and my children.
Recognizing the long-term effects of consuming the contaminated water.
Tell me, where to now, if your fight for a bearable life can be fought and lost in your backyard?
Questioning the worth of fighting for a good quality of life if it can easily be destroyed by local issues.
O, don't tell us there's poison in the well,
Expressing disappointment and disbelief at the true condition of the well.
Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
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