Stranger
David Baerwald Lyrics
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You ain't feeling any pain
And you're staring out the window
And it looks like rain
And you're a veteran and you know
About monkeys on the brain
You watched every dream you've had
Lie broken in the drain
All different all the same
Three hundred thousand men
All different all the same
Piled up like driftwood
In a pouring rain
Hey stranger
Ain't there nothing I can say
Can you think of any way
That you can make it through the day
Hey stranger
Ain't there nothing I can do
You lost it all for me
There must be something I can do for you
A quarter of the country
Is one paycheck from the street
A tenth of the country
Has never had enough to eat
And one one hundredth of the country
Is strangling all the rest
And every policeman on the street
Is wearing a bulletproof vest
Three hundred thousand men
All different all the same
Three hundred thousand men
All different all the same
Piled up like driftwood
In a pouring rain
Hey stranger
Ain't there nothing I can say
Can you think of any way
That you can make it through the day
Hey stranger
Ain't there nothing I can do
You lost it all for me
There must be something I can do for you
The song "Stranger" by David Baerwald evokes a sense of despair for the everyday person who faces the struggle of life. The main message of the song is the idea that individuals who serve the country, particularly veterans, do not receive recognition or empathy for what they have sacrificed. The lyrics describe a veteran, who, despite being numb from the trauma, is aware of what plagues him. He has seen all of his dreams go down the drain, which means he’s aware of all he’s lost, making it hard for him to move on. The song also touches on the fact that even on the street, law enforcement officers must wear bulletproof vests, emphasizing that no one is safe in today's world.
Baerwald also talks about the disparity gap, where a quarter of the country is one paycheck away from the street, a tenth of the country has never had enough to eat, and one one-hundredth of the country is strangling all the rest. He suggests that it is the people who make sacrifices, such as veterans, who bear the brunt and make the struggle easier for everyone. In the end, Baerwald offers support by asking the stranger, “Ain't there nothing I can do? You lost it all for me. There must be something I can do for you.” He offers his hope that someone will step up and support the veterans and people struggling in society.
Overall, the song is a poignant reminder of the struggles everyday people face, often without receiving proper recognition or understanding from the people around them.
Line by Line Meaning
Brother at this moment
Addressing someone in a specific moment in time.
You ain't feeling any pain
Assuming the person is not feeling pain at the moment.
And you're staring out the window
Describing the person's behavior, looking out the window.
And it looks like rain
Describing the weather outside.
And you're a veteran and you know
Acknowledging that the person is a veteran and has experiences related to that.
About monkeys on the brain
Alluding to PTSD and the impact of war on the person's mind.
You watched every dream you've had
Reflecting on past experiences and lost opportunities.
Lie broken in the drain
Metaphorically referencing hopes and dreams being lost and destroyed.
Three hundred thousand men
Literal number of people who have fought in a particular conflict.
All different all the same
Highlighting the common bond of being a veteran while acknowledging individual differences.
Piled up like driftwood
Visual description of the mass of soldiers.
In a pouring rain
Metaphor for the difficulties and challenges that veterans face.
Hey stranger
Opening up the dialogue with the person.
Ain't there nothing I can say
Acknowledging the limitations of words in a difficult situation.
Can you think of any way
Asking for suggestions on how to help.
That you can make it through the day
Expressing concern for the person's well-being in the moment.
You lost it all for me
Acknowledging the sacrifices that the person has made.
There must be something I can do for you
Expressing a willingness to help if possible.
A quarter of the country
Statistic about the financial insecurity of many Americans.
Is one paycheck from the street
Describing how close some people are to being homeless.
A tenth of the country
Another statistic about poverty.
Has never had enough to eat
Highlighting the issue of hunger and food insecurity.
And one one hundredth of the country
Specifics in American wealth inequality.
Is strangling all the rest
Commenting on problems stemming from wealth concentration in the hands of a few.
And every policeman on the street
Observation about police in America.
Is wearing a bulletproof vest
Reflection on danger and violence in society.
Contributed by Charlotte H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.