Berkeley is a New Jersey native, but in the past decade, he's lived in Brooklyn, Atlanta, Berkeley and Corsica. Santa Fe is now home, where he lives with this wife and two young sons. Within months of arriving and still overwhelmed by the palette of reds and browns, the endless open sky, and the frightening lack of water in his new high desert surroundings, Berkeley wrote and recorded his most haunting and personal songs to date. Berkeley's doleful baritone and vulnerable falsetto, called "lustrous and melancholy" by the New York Times, is up front in the mix, showcasing his profoundly elegiac lyrics. Indeed, Berkeley cites Yeats and Melville among his greatest influences. For his unique way with words, the San Francisco Chronicle dubbed Berkeley "a musical poet."
Berkeley's gift as a songwriter and storyteller is that he sees both the tragedy and comedy in life, managing to both reveal the sorrow at the heart of the human condition and the blazing joy and beauty in the same. It's a duality that audiences experience at all of Berkeley's shows as he tells uproarious stories between heartbreaking songs. It's why his fans respond so deeply to his music and why so many look to him to express what they are often unable to articulate. It's also why his voice and lyrics have cross-genre appeal. Berkeley's songs are at once hard and hopeful.
Little Fists
David Berkeley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's Christmas
And your county calls for you
What would Jesus do?
Reads the billboards driving south from Baltimore
Think we'd gone to war
The army trucks are are in the passing lane
We're asking the rules to change
We're asking the rules to change
Oh, in a field of grain
Liberty stands with an open hand
Outside of Birmingham
Blues man on the corner shares the news
Sings, "we cannot lose!"
The beggars on the street, they disagree
They're asking the man to change
They're asking the man to change
They're asking the man to change
Well,
Painter's hands are chained
Poets tongue is tied
The wizards all have died
You must choose your side
Politicians pick the pleasure and the pain
In the pouring rain
You clench your
Little fists against the world
You're screaming
You're asking the leaves to change
You're asking the leaves to change
You're asking the leaves to change
In David Berkeley's song "Little Fists," the artist touches on themes of social and political unrest, offering a thoughtful commentary on the struggles of daily life in the face of power and societal change. The song opens with a call to action, as listeners are reminded that "it's closing time, it's Christmas" and that "your county calls for you." These lines set the tone for the song's explorations of societal pressure and the feeling of being pulled in different directions.
The first verse mentions billboards driving south from Baltimore, suggesting a sense of movement and change. The army trucks in the passing lane reinforce the idea of societal upheaval, as individuals look for ways to challenge old rules and create new ones. The second verse shifts the focus to Birmingham, where a blues man on the corner sings that "we cannot lose" while beggars on the street ask for change. At this point, the song takes on an even more urgent tone, as the chorus repeats the lines "we're asking the rules to change" and "you're asking the leaves to change."
Overall, "Little Fists" is a powerful commentary on the struggles of everyday people to find their place in a world that's constantly in flux. The song's themes of social and political unrest are approached with a thoughtful, nuanced perspective, and the artist's expressive vocals help to capture the emotional depth of the lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, well it's closing time
The day is coming to an end
It's Christmas
It's a special occasion or a time for giving
And your county calls for you
Your town or community needs your help or support
What would Jesus do?
How would a religious figure or someone with good morals handle this situation?
Reads the billboards driving south from Baltimore
Advertisements on display on the route from the location of Baltimore
Think we'd gone to war
It looks like there is a fight or a conflict happening nearby
The army trucks are in the passing lane
Military vehicles are driving aggressively in the faster lane of the road
We're asking the rules to change
We want the policies or regulations to be different
Oh, in a field of grain
In the middle of an agricultural plant
Liberty stands with an open hand
The statue of Liberty is for freedom and open to newcomers
Outside of Birmingham
In a location not located within the city of Birmingham
Blues man on the corner shares the news
A musician in a street corner is spreading messages through his art
Sings, 'we cannot lose!'
The artist expresses confidence or strength about a particular situation
The beggars on the street, they disagree
Homeless individuals express a different opinion or sentiment about this topic
They're asking the man to change
They want someone in power to modify their behavior or policies
Well, Painter's hands are chained
An artist's work is blocked or suppressed
Poets tongue is tied
A writer's freedom of speech or creativity is restricted
The wizards all have died
Those who held the knowledge or wisdom are no longer present
You must choose your side
You need to make a decision or pick a stance
Politicians pick the pleasure and the pain
Elected government officials cherry-pick the favorable and unfavorable aspects for their agenda
In the pouring rain
During a difficult time or situation
You clench your little fists against the world
You feel strongly against the world or a particular issue beyond your control
You're screaming
You're expressing your emotions loudly or powerfully
You're asking the leaves to change
You're wishful for nature or the environment to behave differently
Contributed by Lucas D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.