Stolen Shoes & a Rifle
Blitzen Trapper Lyrics


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Weather is like feathers on fire
Ground's like a sound in my feet
I can’t stop my shaking I’ve been traveling so low
And the shoes I’ve been wearing, well they’re long and somewhat slow
And a giant waking bird shakes the trees above my head
Stolen shoes and a rifle I just can’t seem to stay dead
Oh the stones won’t be lonely here this year it's gone now
My lover she’s got brothers down in Natchez
They worship at the foot of the keep
My trails been cold for days but I hear them all the same
Scattered out like wildfire on the plain
And the giant waking bird shakes the trees above my head
Stolen shoes and a rifle I just can’t seem to stay dead




Oh the stones won’t be lonely here this year it's gone now
Weather is like feathers on fire

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Blitzen Trapper's song Stolen Shoes & a Rifle are open to interpretation, but on the surface, the song appears to be about a person on the run. The opening lines "Weather is like feathers on fire, Ground's like a sound in my feet" create a vivid and intense image of a person running through the elements, perhaps fleeing from something or someone. The next line "I can't stop my shaking, I've been traveling so low" implies that the person has been on the run for some time, and their body is beginning to break down under the strain.


The following lines "And the shoes I've been wearing, well they're long and somewhat slow, And a giant waking bird shakes the trees above my head" suggest that the person is ill-equipped for their journey and is struggling to keep up with the pace of their surroundings. The "giant waking bird" may be a metaphor for something ominous or threatening, such as the person's pursuers. The lines "Stolen shoes and a rifle, I just can't seem to stay dead" add to the sense of danger and uncertainty. The person is not only on the run but is also armed and potentially willing to use violence to defend themselves.


The lyrics continue with a reference to the person's lover and her brothers in Natchez. This could suggest that the person is running from something in that area or that they are seeking refuge with their lover's family. The line "My trails been cold for days but I hear them all the same, Scattered out like wildfire on the plain" implies that the person is still being pursued, even though they have not seen any sign of their pursuers in days.


Overall, the lyrics to Stolen Shoes & a Rifle paint a picture of a person on the run, struggling to survive, and constantly looking over their shoulder. The imagery and metaphors used in the song create a sense of imminent danger and uncertainty.


Line by Line Meaning

Weather is like feathers on fire
The weather is so intense that it feels like every element of nature is on fire


Ground's like a sound in my feet
The ground beneath my feet is making a loud noise as I walk


I can’t stop my shaking I’ve been traveling so low
I've been on a difficult and trying journey for so long that it's causing me to shake uncontrollably


And the shoes I’ve been wearing, well they’re long and somewhat slow
The shoes I have are old and worn out and they're slowing me down


And a giant waking bird shakes the trees above my head
A massive bird is causing the trees around me to shake as it flies overhead


Stolen shoes and a rifle I just can’t seem to stay dead
Despite having my shoes and rifle stolen, I'm still alive and fighting to survive


Oh the stones won’t be lonely here this year it's gone now
Whatever once made these stones lonely is now gone bringing a sense of relief


My lover she’s got brothers down in Natchez
My significant other has family members in Natchez


They worship at the foot of the keep
They practice a form of worship at a particular location or structure


My trails been cold for days but I hear them all the same
I haven't picked up any indications of my enemies for days, but I still feel like they're nearby


Scattered out like wildfire on the plain
My enemies are scattered far and wide like a wildfire that's out of control


And the giant waking bird shakes the trees above my head
That same massive bird is still shaking trees as it flies around above me


Stolen shoes and a rifle I just can’t seem to stay dead
Despite my hardships, I keep fighting and surviving with nothing more than stolen shoes and a rifle


Oh the stones won’t be lonely here this year it's gone now
Whatever caused loneliness among these stones is gone for good




Contributed by Peyton A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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