Vigil
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings Lyrics
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With a handful of roses
And a red petal caught in her hair
She said some never know
When their last friend is gone
You look out and there's nobody there
30 days I've been driving
Sleeping rough in the back of my car
And the nights when I was drinking
I would sit by the phone
And lose all my courage at the bar
CHORUS
On the darkest highway
On the hardest road
On the weary vigil
We keep alone
So if I turn the whole thing over
One more time in my head
Will that memory fade over time
Jenny lying awake in the arms of a man
And her eyes looking straight into my mine
CHORUS
The opening verse of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings' song Vigil paints a vivid picture of a woman named Jenny running alongside the singer, who is driving with an undefined purpose. Jenny holds a handful of roses while a red petal is caught in her hair, which adds a touch of symbolic meaning to the scene. Jenny then delivers a poignant reflection on the fleeting nature of friendship, which is particularly powerful when you're feeling isolated and alone. The singer's next verse reveals that he's been on the road for a month, sleeping rough in the back of his car, with no destination in mind. His nights are spent drinking until his courage fades and he's left sitting by the phone, feeling more and more isolated.
The chorus then comes in, reiterating the metaphor of a difficult journey undertaken alone, which could be a metaphor for life itself. The idea of a "weary vigil" resonates deeply because it suggests a constant state of waiting and watching, where you never really get a break. The final verse is the most introspective, as the singer reflects on a specific memory of Jenny lying in the arms of another man, with her eyes locked onto his. He wonders if he replays the memory enough times, will it eventually fade away? It's an intriguing and bittersweet conclusion to the song, and it highlights the theme of isolation that runs throughout the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Jenny ran along beside me
Jenny ran with me while holding roses and having a red petal on her hair.
With a handful of roses
Jenny was holding several roses.
And a red petal caught in her hair
There was a red petal found on Jenny's hair.
She said some never know
Jenny uttered that some individuals might not realize that they already lost their last friend.
When their last friend is gone
This line refers to people who are unaware when they lose their closest friend.
You look out and there's nobody there
When you are in need, no one could be there to lend you a hand.
30 days I've been driving
The singer has been driving around for 30 days.
Never once going home
He has not gone back home even once.
Sleeping rough in the back of my car
The singer rests uncomfortably in his car's backseat.
And the nights when I was drinking
There were times when the singer is drinking at night.
I would sit by the phone
He would sit by the telephone waiting for calls.
And lose all my courage at the bar
He loses all of his confidence while at the bar.
On the darkest highway
The singer is on the darkest, most dangerous highway.
On the hardest road
Life is not easy for the singer.
On the weary vigil
The singer is so tired of being vigilant.
We keep alone
We must protect ourselves because nobody else will.
So if I turn the whole thing over
The singer is second-guessing everything.
One more time in my head
He thinks of everything one more time in his mind.
Will that memory fade over time
The singer wonders if he would forget about the memories he has.
Jenny lying awake in the arms of a man
The singer remembers Jenny sleeping while next to a man.
And her eyes looking straight into my mine
He recalls the moment when Jenny's gaze meets his.
On the darkest highway
The singer is still where he started, on the darkest highway of his life.
On the hardest road
Life is never easy for anyone, including the singer.
On the weary vigil
One must continue to persevere through trials and hardship.
We keep alone
We must keep an eye out for ourselves as we walk this world.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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