There is more than one artist named Bellwether
1) an American pop-punk a… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one artist named Bellwether
1) an American pop-punk artist from New York active in 2011
2) an American indie alt-country band from Minneapolis active from 1999-2006

1) Bellwether is an American pop-punk artist from Long Island, NY, whose first EP was released in July 2011. www.bellwetherli.bandcamp.com

2) Bellwether was an American indie alt-country band from Minneapolis that featured Eric Luoma, Jimmy Peterson and John Crist (later replaced by Mick Wirtz). They released four albums:
Turnstiles (1999)
Bellwether (2000)
Home Late (2001)
Seven and Six (2005)
www.myspace.com/bellwether1

Baltimore
Bellwether Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Dont ask why I have made up my mind
I dont need to go If it don't work
Just way too much of the same old stuff can kill you
Faster than your worth
And on this note I've been driving this boat ever since
I could reach it's bell
I've worked the docks the dams & locks
Now I’m empty as this hull

I will leave this town just the way it was found
Blood red pile of ore
I will leave whats left to my drinkin friends
Cause Im goin to Baltimore

I've watched that door
So many times before
Waiting for a lady to come in
Just another ol' salt

With his tongue hangin' out
Lookin for a glass to fall in.

Overall Meaning

The song begins with the singer declaring that they have made up their mind and do not need to go anywhere if something does not work out. This suggests that this person has had enough of the same old routine and the mundane aspects of their life. The singer admits that doing the same thing over and over again can get to you and have a severe impact on your worth. This creates an impression that this person may have felt undervalued for a long time, and the repetition in their life has caused them to devalue themselves.

The singer then reflects on their life, stating that they have been driving their boat for as long as they could reach its bell. They’ve worked on the docks, dams, and locks – all symbols of labor and hard work – but now they feel empty, akin to an empty hull. The singer appears to have held the same job for a long time and may have worked hard for little recognition, leaving them feeling unsatisfied and unfulfilled. The idea of leaving things the way they were found, and not taking anything with them, suggests that they have nothing to look back on in this place, indicating that they may be moving away permanently. The song ends with the singer leaving to go to Baltimore, perhaps to start anew.

Line by Line Meaning

Dont ask why I have made up my mind
I have made a decision and don't require an explanation

I dont need to go If it don't work
If something doesn't work for me, it's pointless to continue doing it

Just way too much of the same old stuff can kill you
Repetitive experiences can harm you more than you realize

Faster than your worth
It can happen more quickly than you think and can rob you of your value

And on this note I've been driving this boat ever since
I've been in control of my life for quite some time

I could reach it's bell
For as long as I can remember

I've worked the docks the dams & locks
I've had many jobs and experiences

Now I’m empty as this hull
I feel depleted and unfulfilled

I will leave this town just the way it was found
I'll depart without changing anything

Blood red pile of ore
A representation of the town's industry and environment

I will leave whats left to my drinkin friends
I'll give what little I have left to my close companions