Indiana
AdriAnne Lenker Lyrics
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Said "you know you really don't need it, leave the fame for the road"
I remember when I was leaving, I was only six years old
Oh how my heart was beatin', about ready to explode
One shot honey collect it all, the dust inside the rusted souls
You should get a ride cause you can't control the hear that beats under the bone
Come on my combat chameleon give it up, you've got your life to attend to,
buttercup, you're entertaining the talk that is told through the teeth of the mouths of
Little do they know
Said the Mississippi river won't kill you, unless you stand too close my dear
Take you to Louisiana a long long way from here
And the war's been a long time coming, yes a long long war's gonna come
We're standing at the end of a story, at the foot of a palindrome
One shot honey collect it all, the dust inside the rusted souls
You should get a ride cause you can't control the hear that beats under the bone
Come on my combat chameleon give it up, you've got your life to attend to,
buttercup, you're entertaining the talk that is told through the teeth of the mouths of
the millions dyin' to meet ya—
Little do they know
The song "Indiana" by AdriAnne Lenker follows a narrative that involves the singer's father urging them to leave behind their hometown of Indiana and the fame they've earned there. The first verse sets the scene with the father warning the singer about the pitfalls of staying in Indiana, insisting that they leave the fame they've accumulated behind. The singer describes leaving Indiana as a child, their heart beating with excitement and fear as they embark on a new journey.
The chorus of the song repeats the line "one shot honey collect it all, the dust inside the rusted souls." This line suggests a sense of urgency to seize the moment and make the most out of life's opportunities. The singer encourages the listener to take risks and live life to its fullest, cautioning that it's impossible to control the heart that beats within us.
The second verse takes the listener on a journey down the Mississippi River, exploring Louisiana and contemplating the long-awaited war that looms on the horizon. The song ends with the chorus once again, urging the listener to make the most of their life before it's too late.
Overall, "Indiana" is a deeply introspective and contemplative song that explores themes of nostalgia, risk-taking, and mortality. It encourages the listener to seize the moments they have and take risks, but also warns that the future is uncertain and that we must always be prepared for the challenges that lie ahead.
Line by Line Meaning
Daddy wanted you to leave it, Indiana, Indiana in the cold
Her father wanted her to leave Indiana and the fame that comes with it, even if it meant facing the cold and uncertainty.
Said 'you know you really don't need it, leave the fame for the road'
Her father told her that she didn't need fame and to focus on her music instead.
I remember when I was leaving, I was only six years old
As a child, she left Indiana to pursue her dreams in music.
Oh how my heart was beatin', about ready to explode
She was nervous and frightened when she left Indiana, uncertain of what the future holds.
One shot honey collect it all, the dust inside the rusted souls
She must take every opportunity to succeed and collect all the inspiration from those who have lost their way.
You should get a ride cause you can't control the heart that beats under the bone
She can't control her emotions so someone else should drive her to her destination.
Come on my combat chameleon give it up, you've got your life to attend to, buttercup, you're entertaining the talk that is told through the teeth of the mouths of the millions dyin' to meet ya— Little do they know
People expect a lot from her and want to meet her, but they don't understand the hard work and sacrifices she has made to get to this point.
Said the Mississippi river won't kill you, unless you stand too close my dear
The Mississippi river isn't dangerous unless you get too close to it, which serves as a metaphor for taking risks that could ultimately harm you.
Take you to Louisiana a long long way from here
She's willing to go to new and distant places to pursue her dreams, as Louisiana is far from Indiana.
And the war's been a long time coming, yes a long long war's gonna come
She's been fighting for her success for a long time and she knows that there's still a long road ahead.
We're standing at the end of a story, at the foot of a palindrome
She's at a point in her life where she's reflecting on everything that's happened and where she needs to go next; the palindrome is symbolic of a turning point or a change in direction.
Come on my combat chameleon give it up, you've got your life to attend to, buttercup, you're entertaining the talk that is told through the teeth of the mouths of the millions dyin' to meet ya— Little do they know
This chorus repeats, emphasizing the pressure and expectations that come with fame and success, despite the reality of what it takes to achieve it.
Contributed by Daniel D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@tororor
Daddy wanted me to leave it, Indiana, Indiana in the cold
Said "you know you really don't need it, leave the fame for the road"
I remember when I was leaving, I was only six years old
Oh how my heart was beatin', about ready to explode
One shot honey collect it all, the dust inside the rusted souls
You should get a ride cause you can't control the heart that beats under the bone
Come on my combat chameleon give it up, you've got your life to attend to,
Buttercup, you're entertaining the talk that is told through the teeth of the mouths of
The millions dyin' to meet ya—
Little do they know
Said the Mississippi river won't kill you, unless you stand too close my dear
Take you to Louisiana a long long way from here
And the war's been a long time coming, yes a long long war's gonna come
We're standing at the end of a story, at the foot of a palindrome
One shot honey collect it all, the dust inside the rusted souls
You should get a ride cause you can't control the hear that beats under the bone
Come on my combat chameleon give it up, you've got your life to attend to,
Buttercup, you're entertaining the talk that is told through the teeth of the mouths of
The millions dyin' to meet ya—
Little do they know
@Chris505
One of my favourite songs of all time, yet hardly a soul knows it. We are the lucky ones.
@garyives1218
I, like I imagine most of my 50ish year old peers kinda gave up on music before the new millennium. I began searching for new stuff about 7 years ago. NPR Tiny Desk and KEXP turned me on to IMHO some exceptional stuff. I probably discovered Big Thief through one of those and now they're one one my favorites and I have all the widely available albums......even James' recently released one. I think Adrianne is on par with any singer songwriter I've ever listened to, and I'm really really not getting tired of listening to Buck's album. I love that too. It really grows on ya.
@duglepine
Shhh!!
@ssalloom11
Me too man. One of my favorites and I listen to loads of music and am getting pretty old. I have listened to every version available. It is solid gold, it is one of the most magic, it is in the realm of the best songs on Astral Weeks and Neil Young’s On The Beach. It’s like Helpless or Campaigner. I hope this song never gets lost because it would be like losing a piece of the Golden Age— solid gold song.
@tororor
Daddy wanted me to leave it, Indiana, Indiana in the cold
Said "you know you really don't need it, leave the fame for the road"
I remember when I was leaving, I was only six years old
Oh how my heart was beatin', about ready to explode
One shot honey collect it all, the dust inside the rusted souls
You should get a ride cause you can't control the heart that beats under the bone
Come on my combat chameleon give it up, you've got your life to attend to,
Buttercup, you're entertaining the talk that is told through the teeth of the mouths of
The millions dyin' to meet ya—
Little do they know
Said the Mississippi river won't kill you, unless you stand too close my dear
Take you to Louisiana a long long way from here
And the war's been a long time coming, yes a long long war's gonna come
We're standing at the end of a story, at the foot of a palindrome
One shot honey collect it all, the dust inside the rusted souls
You should get a ride cause you can't control the hear that beats under the bone
Come on my combat chameleon give it up, you've got your life to attend to,
Buttercup, you're entertaining the talk that is told through the teeth of the mouths of
The millions dyin' to meet ya—
Little do they know
@adriftofwords
I was supposed to see Jenny Lewis at the Bluebird in Bloomington, IN about 4 or 5 years ago. Well, I missed her but I got to see Big Thief perform instead. I had never heard of them but I was completely awed by their performances. Especially Adrianne's. It is always inspiring to see a female with that much passion when she sings and plays the guitar. In fact, all of the members seemed pretty passionate during their performances. I fell in love with this song when they played it. I was front row and center, as I love to be at any show I attend. Definitely pulled my heart strings and I will never forget it!
@mauricelangley5033
I would've Loved to be there for that. I like Big Thief too.
@honkytears
Wow. This is top shelf songwriting. Blessings.
@mattnumber
There should be comments here. This is a wonderful song
@s0ulvibes_
This made me cry just now, what a beautiful song. 💙