Fallen Down
Beaver Nelson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hassled California-style, highway fuzz
Dark around the corner from the backdoor games
Bouncer let me in; he's the one to blame
You say "Hi"
I say "Hi"
How the mighty have fallen down
Baby needs a birthday present, something nice
Gambling with my grocery money, doubled twice
Thumb through Jeremiah at half past noon
Sunday coming early in our hotel room
You say "Why"
I say "Why'
How the mighty have fallen down
How the hungry hang around
I read about the judgement of wicked men
Asking you through tear drops if I'm one of them
Memphis in the morning when the dream cloud burst
Desert met us friendly as an injun's curse
Crossed the bridge in Pecos up that ancient ledge
Sand between our teeth standing on the edge
You say "Fly"
I say "Fly"
How the mighty have fallen down
How the hungry hang around
Beaver Nelson's song "Fallen Down" is a melancholic melody that captures the struggles of a person's life. The song begins by describing the singer's wandering in the downtown after drinking three beers. He is questioned California-style, implying a harsh interrogation. The darkness lurking around the corner of the alley adds to the suspenseful atmosphere. The bouncer allows him to "fall inside" the door. This phrase has a metaphorical meaning, and the door symbolizes the singer's spiral of addiction.
The chorus of the song, "How the mighty have fallen down, how the hungry hang around," is an allusion to the biblical story of David and Bathsheba. When King David commits adultery with her, the Almighty admonishes him, saying, "How the mighty have fallen." The phrase "how the hungry hang around" implies that the singer's lifestyle is attracting similar people as him.
The second verse of the song is even more foreboding. The singer's financial struggles are evident when he admits to gambling with grocery money. This mistake brings unplanned outcomes for his family, such as not being able to buy a present for his baby's birthday. The biblical allusion continues with the phrase "Thumb through Jeremiah," where the singer may be turning to the book to find some solace in its verses. However, the text's darker implications arise when mentioning that "Sunday comes early" in their hotel room.
The final verse, "I read about the judgment of wicked men, asking you through teardrops if I'm one of them," shows the singer's desperation in seeking redemption. However, the words seem dishonest, and it's unclear if he genuinely feels like a wicked man, considering his gambling habit and escapades. The singer's journey is then marked by the geographical descriptions of Memphis and Pecos. The line "Desert met us friendly as an injun's curse" adds to the song's somberness, and the singer's life is on a cliff's edge in the end, with sand between his teeth.
Line by Line Meaning
I used to wander downtown with a three-beer buzz
I used to walk around the city with a light sense of drunkenness from having three beers.
Hassled California-style, highway fuzz
I was stopped and questioned by police in a manner typical of California, with an annoyingly excessive attention to detail.
Dark around the corner from the backdoor games
The area around the corner was dimly lit where people played shady games behind closed doors.
Bouncer let me in; he's the one to blame
The bouncer allowed me entry to the area with the shady games, and he is responsible for whatever happens to me inside.
You say "Hi"
You greet me casually.
I say "Hi"
I respond casually.
How the mighty have fallen down
A statement of surprise and disappointment at the downfall of someone or something that was once strong or powerful.
How the hungry hang around
A statement regarding the persistence of those who are in a constant state of need or longing.
Baby needs a birthday present, something nice
I must get a good present for my infant child's birthday.
Gambling with my grocery money, doubled twice
I took the money intended for buying groceries and used it for gambling, and I won double the amount I put in.
Thumb through Jeremiah at half past noon
I read through the book of Jeremiah in the Bible at twelve thirty in the afternoon.
Sunday coming early in our hotel room
Sunday arrived early while we were still in our hotel room.
You say "Why"
You question me as to why something happened.
I say "Why"
I respond to your question with the same inquiry.
I read about the judgement of wicked men
I read in the Bible about the final punishment of those who are sinful.
Asking you through tear drops if I'm one of them
In a moment of emotional vulnerability, I ask you with tears in my eyes if I am one of the wicked who will be punished in the end.
Memphis in the morning when the dream cloud burst
In the morning in Memphis, my dreams were suddenly dispelled.
Desert met us friendly as an injun's curse
The desert seemed welcoming to us, but it was like a cursed place that Native Americans may have seen.
Crossed the bridge in Pecos up that ancient ledge
We went across a bridge in Pecos that was built on an old, elevated path.
Sand between our teeth standing on the edge
We were left with pieces of sand in our mouths while standing at the edge of something.
You say "Fly"
You encourage me to fly, to escape or to take off.
I say "Fly"
I respond to your encouragement with a willingness to make a change and leave my current situation behind.
Contributed by Maya R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.