Chris Smithers song "Love you like a man" from Smithers first album has been famously covered by Bonnie Raitt who has made it a signature song of hers under the title "Love me like a man" (published on her second Album "Give it up")- she has openly expressed admiration for Chris Smithers songwriting and guitarplaying. Later Raitt's version of the song has been covered by The Dixie Chicks and Diana Krall.
The protagonist of Linda Barnes's series of "Carlotta Carlyle" mysteries is a fan of Smither's music and several of her books mention it.
Confirmation
Chris Smither Lyrics
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help me get my poor life back in line.
If I tell you what the hell I'm up to,
maybe you can tell what's on my mind.
Cuz I don't pick no cotton,
I never pick my nose,
I couldn't pick a pocket in a pile of dirty clothes,
I pick the locks that used to keep me in.
I pick 'em up. I put 'em down,
that's how I get around, but it's wearin' thin.
I don't drive no bargain, I never drive a car,
couldn't drive a wagon if you hitched it to a star,
but I'll drive you crazy,
make you wonder who you are,
drive nails in your coffin,
but I don't often let it get that far.
Help me get these pieces back together,
make it so the seams don't seem to show.
I had it patched with bits of glue and leather,
how it fell apart I'll never know.
Cuz I don't look for trouble,
but it finds me all the same.
If you hear me shout, just lookout,
cuz it's callin' me by name.
It's lookin' still, it always will,
if looks could kill I'd be six feet under ground.
I never was good lookin',
but now I'm too old to let that get me down.
Yes, I never was good lookin',
but now I'm too old to let that get me down.
I never was good lookin',
but now I'm too old to let that get me down.
The lyrics of Chris Smither's song "Confirmation" convey a sense of confusion and seeking guidance. The singer seems lost and unsure of their role in life, expressing a need for confirmation of their duties. They seek someone to help them put their life back in order and understand what's going on in their mind. The singer acknowledges that they may not be good at some things, such as picking cotton or driving cars, but they have their own unique talents that they use to get by. However, these talents seem to have worn thin, and the singer is looking for a way to patch things up and make them work again.
The singer also shares their experiences of being troubled, often by circumstances beyond their control. They claim that they never look for trouble, but it always seems to find them. They are aware of their limitations and are willing to accept them as they are too old to worry about their looks or other such things that do not matter at this stage in life. Overall, the song seems to reflect on the struggles and challenges of life, and the importance of seeking help and guidance when things seem to fall apart.
Line by Line Meaning
I need confirmation of my duties,
I require assistance in aligning myself with my responsibilities.
help me get my poor life back in line.
I beg of you to lend a hand in setting my disoriented life on the right path.
If I tell you what the hell I'm up to,
If I disclose my current state to you,
maybe you can tell what's on my mind.
perhaps you can read into my thoughts.
Cuz I don't pick no cotton,
I do not engage in the popular labor of cotton-picking,
I never pick my nose,
I have never extracted nasal debris with my fingers,
I couldn't pick a pocket in a pile of dirty clothes,
I am not skilled in the act of pickpocketing, even if it were made easy for me,
but I pick 'em, I chose 'em,
however, I am capable of selecting my own endeavors,
I pick the locks that used to keep me in.
I am able to manipulate the locks that were once barriers in my life.
I pick 'em up. I put 'em down,
I pick up my pace, and keep moving forward,
that's how I get around, but it's wearin' thin.
although it has been my go-to tactic, it is becoming less effective.
I don't drive no bargain,
I do not negotiate deals,
I never drive a car,
I have never operated a vehicle,
couldn't drive a wagon if you hitched it to a star,
I would not be able to steer a carriage even if given the impossible scenario of hitching it to a star,
but I'll drive you crazy,
however, I am capable of driving someone to the point of madness,
make you wonder who you are,
causing them to question their own identity,
drive nails in your coffin,
pushing them deeper into their grave,
but I don't often let it get that far.
however, I rarely take it that far.
Help me get these pieces back together,
Assist me in rebuilding my broken self,
make it so the seams don't seem to show.
make it so the repairs are not overtly noticeable.
I had it patched with bits of glue and leather,
I had used scraps of adhesive and leather to attempt to fix it,
how it fell apart I'll never know.
I am unsure why it fell apart again.
Cuz I don't look for trouble,
I do not intentionally seek conflict,
but it finds me all the same.
yet trouble seems to gravitate toward me regardless.
If you hear me shout, just lookout,
If you hear me cry out, be on guard,
cuz it's callin' me by name.
as it seems like it is specifically targeting me.
It's lookin' still, it always will,
It is lurking, and it will continue to do so,
if looks could kill I'd be six feet under ground.
If hostile glares cause demise, I would already be dead.
I never was good lookin',
I was never physically attractive,
but now I'm too old to let that get me down.
however, I am now too old to let it bother me.
Yes, I never was good lookin',
Indeed, I was never aesthetically pleasing,
but now I'm too old to let that get me down.
yet, I am beyond the point of letting that affect my life.
I never was good lookin',
I was never good-looking,
but now I'm too old to let that get me down.
but now I am too old to let it bring me down.
Writer(s): Chris Smither Copyright: Homunculus Music
Contributed by Emily A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.