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What To Make
Carter Hulsey Lyrics
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I crawl into bed with awful things.
I tried so hard to sleep so well,
But something drags my mind to hell.
Doctor, doctor what this sickness in the soul?
That makes my friends grow so cold.
What kind of love is so easily sold?
And tin man you speak of vancancy,
But my friend you're so naive.
You got more love than you could ever believe.
And that's more than I can say for me.
Oh darling how deep is your wound?
Do you still belive that promises come true?
I know it feels like you won't make it though,
But you kinda got what abandoned you.
And oh Jesus why must I sing?
When I feel I've lost everything.
I swam so far, my body grew weak.
So I close my eyes, I close my eyes,
And I just sing.
The song "What To Make" by Carter Hulsey is a powerful ballad that explores the themes of fear, doubt, loneliness, and confusion. The lyrics begin with a reflection on the state of the singer's dreams, which seem plagued by terrible things that drag his mind to hell. He then addresses an unnamed doctor, asking for help with what he describes as a "sickness in the soul" that is causing his friends to grow distant from him. This sickness is the result of a kind of love that is easily sold and has finally taken its toll. In contrast to the tin man, who speaks of vacancy, the singer recognizes that he has more love than he realizes, but this awareness brings him little comfort.
The second verse shifts the focus to an unnamed darling who is struggling with deep emotional wounds. Despite the singer's empathy and encouragement, the darling's faith in promises seems fragile and uncertain. The chorus then returns, with the singer asking Jesus why he continues to sing when he feels he has lost everything. Despite his exhaustion and weakness, he closes his eyes and keeps singing, perhaps as a way to find solace and meaning in the midst of chaos and despair.
Overall, the song is a poignant meditation on the struggle to find hope and meaning in a world that can seem overwhelming and cruel. It captures the common human experience of grappling with fear and doubt, and the impulse to keep singing in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Mama what to make of my dreams?
I am confused about what my dreams mean and what I should do about them. I often lay in bed with troubling thoughts.
I crawl into bed with awful things.
I have troubling and negative thoughts that often keep me from sleeping peacefully.
I tried so hard to sleep so well,
I have put in efforts to sleep well and feel better, but my mind keeps creating problems.
But something drags my mind to hell.
Something keeps dragging me down and makes me feel hopeless and helpless.
Doctor, doctor what this sickness in the soul?
I am trying to understand what is causing this deep sadness and sorrow in my heart.
That makes my friends grow so cold.
This feeling is causing my friends to distance themselves from me, and they are not as supportive as they used to be.
What kind of love is so easily sold?
I wonder how people can easily give up on the love they claim to have and walk away from it.
I think it's finally taken it's toll.
The weight of all these emotions is finally catching up to me, and I feel drained and exhausted.
And tin man you speak of vancancy,
You talk about feeling empty, but you don't understand how much love and support you have around you.
But my friend you're so naive.
I don't think you truly understand how much people care about you and want to be there for you.
You got more love than you could ever believe.
You have more love and support than you realize, and it's important to acknowledge and embrace that.
And that's more than I can say for me.
I wish I could say that I have that same level of love and support, but I feel like I'm falling short in that area.
Oh darling how deep is your wound?
I wonder just how hurt and broken you feel and how much pain you're carrying inside.
Do you still belive that promises come true?
Despite all the pain you've been through, do you still hold on to hope that things will get better and promises will be fulfilled?
I know it feels like you won't make it through,
I understand that it may seem impossible to overcome the pain and struggles you're facing right now.
But you kinda got what abandoned you.
You may have lost certain things or people in your life, but you still have yourself and the strength within you to keep going and make it through.
And oh Jesus why must I sing?
Despite all the pain and struggles I am facing, I feel the need to sing and express myself through music and art.
When I feel I've lost everything.
Even in moments when I feel like I've lost everything, music is still my outlet and my way of coping.
I swam so far, my body grew weak.
I have been through so much and tried so hard to keep going, but it has taken a toll on me physically and emotionally.
So I close my eyes, I close my eyes,
To find solace and peace, I close my eyes and focus on the music that speaks to me.
And I just sing.
Through singing, I am able to find comfort and express myself in a way that words cannot do justice.
Contributed by Lauren J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.