John Denver covered his most famous and perhaps finest song, "Molly", and David Bowie covered "Fill Your Heart". Recently he has lived in the New Orleans area.
Annie
Biff Rose Lyrics
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Sweet reflection of the good side of me
Little boy I always wanted to be; when Annie
Annie
Lemme tell you what the world's done to me
Since we prayed together over honey tea
Sweet Annie
I got a letter today from some new folks
and I haven't found my home yet
But I got an invitation for a home-cook meal
But I don't think I'll go
But I'd like to leave it open...
And the swanee river has it's burning memories
Weee'ze gonna live forever:
Annie
I'm concentrating hard to try to find the line—
to let you know everything is fine.
And I'm gettin' mine.
Biff Rose's song "Annie" is a poignant reflection on the power of childhood innocence and the ways in which it can be lost as one grows older. The opening lines of the song introduce the titular character as a "sweet reflection of the good side" of the singer. Annie represents the pure, unadulterated goodness that the singer has always longed to embody but has perhaps been unable to fully achieve amidst the pressures and complexities of adult life. Throughout the song, the singer reminisces about his past interactions with Annie, reflecting on the fact that when they prayed together over honey tea, everything felt simple and uncomplicated.
As the song progresses, the singer speaks about the challenges he has faced since his childhood days with Annie. He reveals that he received a letter from some new folks but that he has not yet found his true home. Despite receiving an invitation for a home-cooked meal, he is unsure whether or not he will accept it. The references to the "sweet Dixie melodies" and the "swanee river" suggest that the singer is perhaps a Southern boy at heart but that he is struggling to reconcile his past with his uncertain present.
Despite these challenges, the singer assures Annie that everything is fine and that he is "gettin' mine." The song's final lines suggest a sense of optimism and determination: "Weee'ze gonna live forever:/ Annie / I'm concentrating hard to try to find the line— / to let you know everything is fine." In these lyrics, the singer seems to be affirming his commitment to holding onto the goodness he associates with Annie, even as he faces the uncertainties of his adult life.
Line by Line Meaning
Annie
Addressing the person named Annie
Sweet reflection of the good side of me
Annie reflects the positive and kind aspects of the singer
Little boy I always wanted to be; when Annie
Being with Annie makes the singer feel young and carefree, like the boy he always wished to be
Annie
Addressing the person named Annie again
Lemme tell you what the world's done to me
The singer wants to share how the world has affected him with Annie
Since we prayed together over honey tea
The singer is referring to a past moment shared with Annie in which they prayed together over honey tea
Sweet Annie
Addressing Annie with a compliment
I got a letter today from some new folks
The singer received a letter from new people recently
But you know you can only live for a short time on the sweet Dixie melodies
The singer acknowledges that the sweet melodies of Dixie aren't enough to sustain a happy life
and I haven't found my home yet
The singer hasn't found a place to call home yet
But I got an invitation for a home-cook meal
The singer received an invitation for a homemade meal
But I don't think I'll go
The singer is hesitant to attend the meal
But I'd like to leave it open...
The singer wants to keep the possibility open, just in case
And the swanee river has it's burning memories
The swanee river brings back memories, some that may be difficult
Weee'ze gonna live forever:
A playful moment where the singer imagines living forever
Annie
Addressing the person named Annie again
I'm concentrating hard to try to find the line—
The singer is focusing hard to try to find balance or clarity in his life
to let you know everything is fine.
The singer wants Annie to know that he's doing alright
And I'm gettin' mine.
The singer is working towards achieving his own success and happiness
Contributed by Joshua F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.