His most famous work is Alice's Restaurant, a talking blues song that lasts eighteen minutes and twenty seconds (in its original recorded version; Guthrie has been known to spin the story out to forty-five minutes in concert). The song, a bitingly satirical protest against the Vietnam War draft, is based on a true incident. In the song, Guthrie was called up for a draft examination, and rejected as unfit for military service as a result of a criminal record consisting in its entirety of a single arrest, court appearance, fine and clean-up order for littering. In reality, Guthrie, though a carrier of the genetically inherited disease Huntington's chorea, was classified as fit (1A); however, his draft-lottery number did not come up.
Cooper's Lament
Arlo Guthrie Lyrics
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It ain't that I had to fall
Wasn't no one's fault last night
When I looked up and felt the light
Here's hoping you'll understand
I want to fell like a natural man
Get up early in the morning to do what I can
If you can't with your hands
And you got to be there brothers, yes you do
If the world is turning under you
Ain't no good to sit around
And bring it up or down
You got to be there brothers, yes you do
Hey brothers, now and then
There's something that oughta move you
More than a pen
You don't need no school or knowledge
You've got something else to lend
And all the people in the world
Can make it better again
And it ain't easy, yes I know
It's a hard and rugged road
Don't be swindled, don't be fooled
Just be honest and stay cool
'Cause you got to be there brothers, yes you do
If the world is turning under you
Ain't no good to sit around
And bring it up or down
You got to be there brothers, yes you do
The lyrics to Arlo Guthrie's song Cooper's Lament are a call to action and a reminder of the importance of being present and engaged in the world. The singer is reaching out to his fellow brothers (presumably men) to urge them to participate in making the world a better place. He acknowledges that sometimes people fall and make mistakes, but there is no one to blame for it. There is also a sense of spiritual awakening as he talks about feeling a divine presence ("felt the light") and a desire to live naturally.
The second verse takes on a more activist tone, encouraging people to find inspiration and motivation to make a positive impact in the world, without necessarily needing formal education or expertise. He suggests that everyone has something to contribute and that collectively, people can make the world a better place. However, the singer also cautions against being fooled or misled, emphasizing the importance of staying true to oneself and acting honestly. The chorus reinforces the message of being present and active in the world, urging brothers to not sit idly by but to engage and make a difference.
Overall, the lyrics to Cooper's Lament convey a message of hope and empowerment, urging people to take action to make positive changes. The singer emphasizes individual agency and the importance of engaging with the world in a meaningful way, rather than simply sitting back and hoping for things to get better.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey brothers, hear me call
Listen up, everyone
It ain't that I had to fall
I didn't choose to fall down
Wasn't no one's fault last night
Nobody was to blame for what happened last night
When I looked up and felt the light
When I saw the light and felt something powerful
Here's hoping you'll understand
I hope you all can relate to this
I want to fell like a natural man
I want to feel comfortable being myself
Get up early in the morning to do what I can
Start my day early to be productive
You can't help no one with money
Money can't always solve people's problems
If you can't with your hands
You have to offer something more than just money
And you got to be there brothers, yes you do
You have to be present and involved, everyone
If the world is turning under you
If you're feeling overwhelmed by life
Ain't no good to sit around
Sitting around won't make things better
And bring it up or down
Complaining or dwelling won't help either
Hey brothers, now and then
Every so often, guys
There's something that oughta move you
Something should inspire you
More than a pen
Something more than just words on paper
You don't need no school or knowledge
You don't need formal education or intellect
You've got something else to lend
You have other talents or skills that are valuable
And all the people in the world
Every single person on Earth
Can make it better again
Can work together to improve things
And it ain't easy, yes I know
It's not going to be simple, I realize
It's a hard and rugged road
The path will be tough
Don't be swindled, don't be fooled
Don't get scammed or tricked
Just be honest and stay cool
Stay truthful and level-headed
'Cause you got to be there brothers, yes you do
You really have to be present and involved, everyone
If the world is turning under you
If you're feeling overwhelmed by life
Ain't no good to sit around
Sitting around won't make things better
And bring it up or down
Complaining or dwelling won't help either
You got to be there brothers, yes you do
It's essential to be present and involved
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: ARLO GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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