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.
Massachusetts
Arlo Guthrie Lyrics
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As the snow settles white
There's a fire burning bright
In Massachusetts
And there's a house upon a hill
That keeps us from the chill
And by the grace of God
You can tell me about the times you spent
In the Rockies and on the plains
Please don't think that I'm the last to say
That there ain't lots of other places
In this world that still remain
Beautiful and unchanged
But they're just not the same
The sun comes up to meet the dawn
And there's a day that must go on
There's another night that's gone
In Massachusetts
And I could spend all of my days
And remain each day amazed
At the way each day is phrased
In Massachusetts
You can tell me about the times you spent
In the Rockies and on the plains
Please don't think that I'm the last to say
That there ain't lots of other places
In this world that still remain
Beautiful and unchanged
But they're just not the same
Now if you could only see
I know you would agree
There ain't nowhere else to be
Like Massachusetts
And there's a house upon a hill
That keeps us from the chill
And by the grace of God
We will be in Massachusetts
Come on tell me about the time you spent
In the Rockies and on the plains
And please don't think that I'm the last to say
That there ain't lots of other places
In this world that still remain
Beautiful and unchanged
But they're just not the same as Massachusetts
The song "Massachusetts" by Arlo Guthrie is an exercise in nostalgia for the eponymous state, where the artist has a house that he calls his "home." The song is full of images that suggest peace, comfort, and hominess, like the snow settling white, the fire burning bright, and the house upon a hill. In this sense, the song is a celebration of the simplicities of life: the way each day is phrased in Massachusetts, the grace of God, and the way each night is gone. The song suggests that while there may be many other beautiful and unchanged places in this world, they're just not the same as Massachusetts.
Beyond its idyllic portrayal, the song is also a representation of the concept of "home." The house on the hill that Guthrie calls home is an image of safety and security, and the state of Massachusetts is a representation of the familiarities one encounters in their hometown. The song suggests that while there may be lots of other places in this world, home is where the heart is, and Massachusetts is the true home for Guthrie.
In conclusion, "Massachusetts" is a poignant song that uses vivid imagery and a nostalgic tone to romanticize the familiar comforts of the state Guthrie calls home.
Line by Line Meaning
Like a dream in the night
Massachusetts is like a dream in the darkness, like something unreal yet beautiful.
As the snow settles white
The state of Massachusetts is white, calm, and tranquil like fresh snowy landscape.
There's a fire burning bright
There's warmth and alluring energy in Massachusetts, similar to that of a welcoming fire.
In Massachusetts
This line is repeated frequently, emphasizing that the song is about Massachusetts and all that it represents.
And there's a house upon a hill
There's a specific place that represents comfort and safety in Massachusetts, which is like a home atop a hill.
That keeps us from the chill
This house protects the people from the harshness and bitterness of the surroundings.
And by the grace of God
The chances of being in Massachusetts are looked at as having divine intervention.
We will be in Massachusetts
The idea of being in Massachusetts, a place of hope and peace, is highly desirable.
You can tell me about the times you spent
The artist invites others to talk about the other places they visited, but he is highly attached to Massachusetts.
In the Rockies and on the plains
The artist mentions two different terrains, urging others to share stories about the different experiences they've had.
Please don't think that I'm the last to say
The singer does not deny the beauty of other places, but he underlines how unique and special Massachusetts is to him.
That there ain't lots of other places
There are many other beautiful places in the world, but the artist is convinced that Massachusetts has a special aura.
In this world that still remain
Despite increasing globalization and homogeneity, there still exist natural beauties that remain relatively unchanged and pristine.
Beautiful and unchanged
Those places mentioned earlier are still beautiful and not yet polluted or destroyed by human activity.
But they're just not the same
The singer recognizes that other places are unique in their own ways, but nothing compares to the beauty and comfort of Massachusetts.
The sun comes up to meet the dawn
A new day greets Massachusetts with warmth and hope.
And there's a day that must go on
Life keeps moving, but Massachusetts continues to be a bright spot in it.
There's another night that's gone
Time flies, but being in Massachusetts is still highly desirable and valuable to the singer.
And I could spend all of my days
The singer desires to spend all his life in Massachusetts.
And remain each day amazed
The artist will always be in awe of the beauty of Massachusetts and continue to find it fascinating.
At the way each day is phrased
Every day brings something unique and picturesque in Massachusetts.
Now if you could only see
The artist believes that if his audience could see, they would fully understand the exceptional beauty of Massachusetts.
I know you would agree
The singer is so convinced of Massachusetts's beauty that he is sure others will agree with him once they see it.
There ain't nowhere else to be
There's no better place to be than Massachusetts.
Like Massachusetts
This line, similar to the many repetitions of 'In Massachusetts,' reinforces the idea that Massachusetts is the ultimate destination, a beautiful and desirable state.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: ARLO GUTHRIE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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