Preacher's Daughter
Ben Grace Lyrics
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It passed from hand to hand
And worked its way on down the aisle
Your mother dear
One step ahead
Intervened and tore those tender words to shreds
And I wondered what the preacher′s daughter said
Then I wondered what the preacher's daughter said
After the dance
Your sweet sixteen
You grab my hand and dragged me out behind the cemetery
Your mouth was warm
Your cheeks were red
And then your daddy came a roarin and we fled
And I wondered what the preacher′s daughter said
Oo oo oo
And then I wondered what the preacher's daughter said
Years roll by
And I moved away
I heard that you got married and took on another name
You play the part
In Sunday best
And all the while your thoughts and longings unexpressed
I still wonder what the preacher's daughter said
Oo oo oo
I still wonder what the preacher′s daughter said
I′m still wondering what the preacher's daughter said
In Ben Grace's Preacher's Daughter, the singer reflects on his past interactions with the preacher's daughter, and the mystery that still surrounds her. The first verse describes how the singer received a note from the preacher's daughter during church service, only to have her mother intercept and destroy it. This hints at the idea that the preacher's daughter was not allowed to explore her own desires or have a voice in her own life; her mother's control extended even to her romantic interests.
The second verse describes a moment of rebellion where the singer and the preacher's daughter sneak off during her birthday party to be together, only to be caught and chased away by her father. This highlights the strict rules and expectations that the preacher's daughter was forced to live under, despite wanting more for herself.
In the final verse, the singer reflects on how the preacher's daughter has since gotten married and taken on a new life, but still wonders what she truly wanted and dreamed about. The repetition of the line "I still wonder what the preacher's daughter said" emphasizes the enduring mystery and ambiguity of the preacher's daughter's life and desires. Overall, the song presents a poignant critique of the ways in which societal expectations and familial control can limit a person's ability to express themselves and pursue their own dreams.
Line by Line Meaning
You wrote a note and caught my eye
You captured my attention with a message that you wrote
It passed from hand to hand
The message was shared and passed around among many people
And worked its way on down the aisle
The message traveled towards the front of a gathering of people
Your mother dear
Your mother
One step ahead
Your mother was aware of the situation and acted quickly in response
Intervened and tore those tender words to shreds
Your mother prevented the message from being delivered and destroyed it
And I wondered what the preacher's daughter said
I was left wondering what message you had written
After the dance
Following a dance event
Your sweet sixteen
On your sixteenth birthday
You grab my hand and dragged me out behind the cemetery
You took me by the hand and led me to a secluded area behind a nearby cemetery
Your mouth was warm
You were passionately kissing me
Your cheeks were red
Your face was flushed with lust
And then your daddy came a roarin and we fled
Your father showed up and we had to quickly leave the area
And I wondered what the preacher's daughter said
I couldn't help but wonder what was really on your mind
Years roll by
Time passed
And I moved away
I left the town and moved somewhere else
I heard that you got married and took on another name
I found out that you got married and changed your last name
You play the part
You act the role
In Sunday best
You dress up nicely on Sundays
And all the while your thoughts and longings unexpressed
I suspect that you have deep desires and feelings which you keep hidden inside
I still wonder what the preacher's daughter said
To this day I still ponder what kind of message you wrote and the true nature of your innermost thoughts and feelings
I'm still wondering what the preacher's daughter said
Even now, many years after we last saw each other, I am still consumed by thoughts of what you left unsaid.
Writer(s): Benjamin John Grace, Carla Godwin
Contributed by Alyssa L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.