Wichita
Gary Jules Lyrics

Buffalo are out among the falling stars tonight
The singer observes buffalo grazing under the shining stars. A wistful imagery that highlights the transience of life.

Shadows cross the kitchen in the afternoon
This line denotes that the singer is in a melancholic mood as they notice the frustratingly transient nature of time, even in the small things like shadows moving across the kitchen.

Daylight break on the hemisphere
This line is a reference to the start of a new day, hope and new beginnings.

I jumped in the water
The artist is using diving-in as a metaphor for taking risks and diving into one's true self. It represents the artist seizing opportunities despite the unknown.

You left too soon
The artist mourns over the loss of someone who has passed away. The longing of the artist imposes a time lapse in their relationship and points out that the person left before the artist could be with them for longer.

Blood red sun, moon on the water
In this line of the song, the contrast of colors emphasizes the opposing nature of things, such as life and death, joy and sadness. The singer observes the sunset and the moon reflecting on the surface of the water, giving the visual of the perfect opposites in nature.

Everything is frozen north of Wichita
The line serves as a metaphor, implying that the heart of America is frozen and lost without meaning. Wichita represents the center of America, and the north could represent an effort to go forward, but progress has ceased and given way to a lack of meaning.

And the rails bear a dangerous cargo there
The rails signify the journey of life and how the cargo is the experiences one holds. The artist suggests that their journey was dangerous, and it has loaded them up with memories that might take time to sort out.

Through the latter days of dreamtime
Dreamtime represents the distant past, and the artist is pointing out that they are living in the 'latter days of dreamtime,' meaning they are in the present day, a time of lost innocence, and are reflecting on past memories.

And the screen door is busted
The screen door is a metaphor for the artist's access to the world, and its busted nature could mean that the world has let them down, and they struggle to move past their experiences adequately.

And the hours fall and wither away
This line could indicate the passage of time, and how our lives are consumed by the clock. This phrase shows that every moment of life that passes is bound to waste and fade away.

I'm standing in this truck stop in Coeur D' Alene
The artist is, metaphorically, caught or stuck between journeys, a limbo, and is seeking his meaning, even as he stands in Coeur D'Alene, awaiting his next journey forward.

Yeah I come from sad stories
In this line, the singer reveals that their past is full of sorrow and tragedy.

Yeah I come from lonely people too
The singer believes that they have inherited traits of loneliness from lineage. This line is a glimpse into the singer's past and personal experiences associated with loneliness.

Yeah I come from California
This line of the song indicates California, home to the glamour culture and the center of the music industry. The singer may suggest coming from a culture that glorifies beauty and artifice over genuine emotion and depth.

Where god is green and eyes are blue
The line may be a reference to a world where humans can create paradises like California. The phrase could suggest that the artist comes from a place where superficial values dominate over spiritual and artistic matters.

And the bird is flown already
This line could imply that the artist has lost someone or something valuable. It could be a metaphorical usage of the phrase' bird has flown by saying something— or someone has gone that canno t come back or can no longer be reached.

Like the guns are drawn already
This phrase could have two meanings, metaphorical or literal. If metaphorical, then the singer implies that some things in life are resolute and cannot be undone, while the other literal interpretation means that the singer might be in a dangerous location or might have encountered an ongoing battle.

I'm standing here just waiting on my judgment day
The singer here could be referring to the end of their life, where they are waiting for their final judgment. It could also be a reference to a moment when the singer will have to take responsibility for the consequences of their actions that will bring them to seek redemption finally.