Carolina
Cary T. Brown Lyrics
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And I stopped in San 'Antone
I passed up the station for the bus
I was trying to find me something
But I wasn't sure just what
Man I ended up with pockets full of dust
So I went on to Cleveland and I ended up insane
I was spending money like the way it likes to rain
Man I ended up with pockets full of cane
Oh my sweet Carolina
What compels me to go?
Oh my sweet disposition
May you one day carry me home
I ain't never been to Vegas, but I gambled up my life
Building newsprint boats I race to sewer mains
Was trying to find me something but I wasn't sure just what
Funny how they say that some things never change
Oh my sweet Carolina
What compels me to go?
Oh my sweet disposition
May you one day carry me home
Up here in the city feels like things are closing in
The sunset's just my light bulb burning out
I miss Kentucky and I miss my family
All the sweetest winds they blow across the south
Oh my sweet Carolina
What compels me to go?
Oh my sweet disposition
May you one day carry me home
The lyrics to Cary T. Brown's Carolina tell the story of a man who is lost and searching for something in his life. He visits different cities and experiences various things, but at the end of the day, he still feels unfulfilled. The song begins with the singer going to Houston and San Antonio, hoping to find something but not sure what. He passes up a station for a bus, suggesting that he might be running away from something. He ends up with pockets full of dust, signaling that he didn't find what he was looking for.
From there, the singer goes to Cleveland, where he buys a borrowed suit and learns to dance. He is spending money like it's raining, indicating that he's trying to fill a void in his life. But despite his efforts, he ends up with pockets full of cane. The next verse mentions that the singer has never been to Vegas but has gambled up his life. He has been building newsprint boats and racing them to sewer mains, which suggests that he's engaging in risky behavior. He still hasn't found what he's looking for, and it's funny how some things never change.
In the final verse, the singer is in the city, feeling like things are closing in on him. He's missing his hometown of Kentucky and his family. The sweetest winds blow across the south, which might represent the comfort and familiarity of home. Throughout the song, the singer is drawn to Carolina, hoping that it will one day carry him home. The lyrics suggest that the singer is lost and searching for a sense of belonging and purpose, but he hasn't found it yet.
Line by Line Meaning
I went down to Houston
I traveled to Houston, Texas
And I stopped in San 'Antone
I also visited San Antonio, Texas
I passed up the station for the bus
I didn't take the train, I took the bus
I was trying to find me something
I was searching for something to fulfill me
But I wasn't sure just what
I didn't know exactly what I was looking for
Man I ended up with pockets full of dust
I didn't find what I was looking for and returned empty-handed
So I went on to Cleveland and I ended up insane
I continued my travels to Cleveland and eventually lost my mind
I bought a borrowed suit and learned to dance
I purchased a used suit and picked up some new moves
I was spending money like the way it likes to rain
I was spending my money recklessly and quickly
Man I ended up with pockets full of cane
I ended up with a lot of sugar cane, possibly due to poor financial decisions
Oh my sweet Carolina
Referring to the state of North Carolina with fondness
What compels me to go?
Asking a rhetorical question about why he feels the need to keep traveling
Oh my sweet disposition
Referring to his personality or temperament
May you one day carry me home
Asking for North Carolina to bring him back to a place of comfort and familiarity
I ain't never been to Vegas, but I gambled up my life
Even though he hasn't been to Las Vegas, he has taken many risks in his life
Building newsprint boats I race to sewer mains
He builds boats out of newspaper and races them in the sewer system, possibly as a pastime or hobby
Funny how they say that some things never change
Reflecting on the irony of how despite all his travels and experiences, some things stay the same
Up here in the city feels like things are closing in
The urban environment makes him feel suffocated or overwhelmed
The sunset's just my light bulb burning out
He compares the end of the day to a light bulb burning out, possibly a metaphor for how he feels about his life
I miss Kentucky and I miss my family
He is homesick for Kentucky and longs for the comfort of his family
All the sweetest winds they blow across the south
The southern United States holds many good memories for him and he misses it
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Ryan Adams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind