True Blue
Gary Louris Lyrics
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bent to make a fence,
rows and rows of houses,
cold and still,
until tomorrow.
Rustling waters,
coloured by the stones
kick the sand,
stir up the powder.
Chorus:
Strip it down
to what you can believe in,
pass it on
what is right
and true blue,
true blue...
Today is the day,
my branches bear their fruit,
and all my labour will be rewarded,
then I awake,
it's like starting over.
Riches and their thorns,
rumble where they lay,
revealing sparkling secrets,
to hold you bring happiness,
your absence sorrow.
Chorus:
Strip it down
to what you can rescue,
pass it on
what is right
and true blue,
true blue...
Shifting stages and shapes,
giving up ground now,
taking another's place,
holding one's own,
as if you were just born.
Find a way,
feel without a trace,
feel fulfillment in this small corner,
with no possesions
to create sorrow.
Chorus
Gary Louris's song True Blue offers up insightful poetry that is deep and meaningful. In the first verse, he talks about the mundanity of life, like rusty wire bent to make a fence, and rows and rows of cold and still houses. However, there is a glimmer of hope for a better tomorrow. The second verse refers to the fragility and beauty of life, like rustling waters that are coloured by the stones. The metaphorical language suggests that even the smallest things can have significance, but they can be easily disturbed.
The chorus calls for people to strip away all the superficial and materialistic things in life and to focus on what they truly believe in. The repetition of the phrase "true blue" emphasizes the importance of sincerity and genuineness. In the final verse, Louris talks about the different stages of life, how we give up ground and take other's place, but we can always find a way to feel fulfilled in the present moment without worrying about possessions. The song emphasizes the importance of finding what is true and right in life and passing it on to others.
Line by Line Meaning
Rusty wire,
The wire is old and battered, resembling a fence that has seen better days.
bent to make a fence,
The wire has been repurposed to create a barrier around something, indicating a shortage of resources.
rows and rows of houses,
The neighborhood is densely populated, with seemingly identical houses lined up in rows.
cold and still,
The area seems lifeless and quiet, perhaps devoid of human activity.
until tomorrow.
This stillness will only last until the morning comes and life resumes.
Rustling waters,
The sound of water moving is heard.
coloured by the stones
The water's color is affected by the stones it passes over.
some ungrateful morning,
Morning has come, but with an unpleasant feeling or atmosphere.
kick the sand,
Someone is deliberately disturbing the sandy area.
stir up the powder.
Their actions create a cloud of dust that obscures everything in the area.
Strip it down
The singer suggests simplifying things by taking away any excess or superficial elements.
to what you can believe in,
Reducing things to what you truly believe in allows you to focus on the most important things in life.
pass it on
Sharing what you believe in with others can help spread positivity and kindness.
what is right
The singer encourages passing on what's morally and ethically correct.
and true blue,
This phrase references being loyal, trustworthy, and honest which all contribute to a better society.
Today is the day,
The artist emphasizes the importance of the present moment.
my branches bear their fruit,
The artist's hard work is finally yielding positive results.
and all my labour will be rewarded,
The singer will be celebrated for the effort they put in.
then I awake,
However, this is just a dream and the singer must return to reality.
it's like starting over.
The artist must start anew, despite the progress made in the dream.
Riches and their thorns,
Wealth can bring difficulties and problems that may not be immediately obvious.
rumble where they lay,
These problems manifest where the riches are kept.
revealing sparkling secrets,
However, there may be glittering aspects of wealth that remain hidden until they are uncovered.
to hold you bring happiness,
Possessions can bring joy, but it is fleeting and comes at a cost.
your absence sorrow.
The loss of possessions can create sadness and grief.
Strip it down
The singer continues to encourage focusing on the essentials.
to what you can rescue,
Rescuing here relates to salvaging or saving something that is valuable.
pass it on
Continue to share the good things you discover with others.
what is right
Emphasizes the importance of ethical and moral correctness.
and true blue,
Encourages people to remain honest and trustworthy in all situations.
Shifting stages and shapes,
Life is always changing, and we must adapt to these changes.
giving up ground now,
This phrase could refer to losing physical space or giving up something you value.
taking another's place,
Someone else will fill the space you've given up. Life moves on.
holding one's own,
Despite these changes, we must maintain our values and keep our heads up.
as if you were just born.
Continuing with the metaphor, we must start anew and maintain the wonder and innocence of a newborn.
Find a way,
This phrase encourages perseverance, even in difficult situations.
feel without a trace,
You should allow yourself to feel emotions without letting them leave a negative mark on your life or those around you.
feel fulfillment in this small corner,
You should be able to find happiness and satisfaction in the present moment, even if it's a small corner of your life.
with no possesions
The singer suggests that we should focus on building relationships and memories instead of material possessions.
to create sorrow.
Having fewer material possessions means there will be fewer things to lose, leading to less sorrow and hardship.
Contributed by Caroline R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.