Nerve
Cash Brothers Lyrics
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She got up once then she got let down
Where lies spit up and then they lie back down
She sits up and you come to her with moistened lips
Your face is dry but your fingers drip
You got a lot of nerve coming around here
For a host of brokers who can't believe their eyes
She nails dirt under their fingers with her eyes
They they charge out through the door
And through the night
Baptising what they think is right
And washing down the dirt with all their might
There don't seem to be any room
There don't seem to be a way
That the flowers on the ground
Won't get pushed out of the way
She has lit a junk house fire into the sky
You wanna ask but you really know why
And you think you can live while she dies
The Cash Brother’s song “Nerve” tells the story of a woman named Janey who is living in the “cheating part of town”. The first verse describes how Janey has been let down by someone she trusted, and now she sits up waiting for someone else to come along. When this person arrives, they are described as having “moistened lips” and “fingers drip”, suggesting they are not to be trusted either. The chorus then warns this person that they “got a lot of nerve coming around here” because Janey has been hurt before and doesn’t want to be hurt again.
In the second verse, we learn about Janey’s mother who does pirouettes for brokers who are amazed by her. However, she “nails dirt under their fingers with her eyes”, which suggests that she is not to be trusted either. The brokers leave the house believing they are right but are really just washing down the dirt with all their might. The final lines of the verse suggest that there is no room or way for the flowers on the ground to survive in this world.
The final verse describes how Janey has started a fire in a junk house that has reached into the sky. It is suggested that the person the song is addressed to already knows why she has started the fire, but they think they can continue living while Janey dies. Overall, the song paints a picture of a world where trust is hard to come by and where those who think they can live while others suffer are being called out for their nerve.
Line by Line Meaning
Janey rides through the cheating part of town
Janey is traveling through a part of town known for infidelity and betrayal
She got up once then she got let down
Janey tried to succeed but was disappointed
Where lies spit up and then they lie back down
In this area, dishonesty is commonplace and often goes unpunished
She sits up and you come to her with moistened lips
Janey is approached by someone eager to speak with her
Your face is dry but your fingers drip
The person approaching Janey appears calm but is actually nervous
You got a lot of nerve coming around here
Janey is surprised and annoyed that the person came to speak with her in this area
Janey's momma does pirouettes inside
Janey's mother is gleeful and dancing inside
For a host of brokers who can't believe their eyes
Her mother is entertaining wealthy businessmen who are amazed by her dancing
She nails dirt under their fingers with her eyes
Her mother uses her gaze to convey disapproval to the businessmen's unethical behavior
They charge out through the door
The businessmen leave in a hurry
And through the night
They depart while it is dark outside
Baptising what they think is right
The businessmen justify their actions as being morally superior
And washing down the dirt with all their might
They try to cleanse themselves of guilt associated with their behavior
There don't seem to be any room
There is no place for honesty or integrity in this part of town
There don't seem to be a way
It is difficult to imagine how to bring positive change to this area
That the flowers on the ground
Even the small, vulnerable things in this area
Won't get pushed out of the way
Are in danger of being trampled and destroyed
She has lit a junk house fire into the sky
Janey has started a rebellion against the dishonesty and corruption of this area
You wanna ask but you really know why
Although the person wants to know what motivates Janey's rebellion, they already know the answer
And you think you can live while she dies
The person believes that they can continue to survive in this problematic area, while Janey risks her life to fight against it
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: ANDREW JOHN CASH, PETER CASH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind