A Song for You
Gram Parsons Lyrics


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Oh, my land is like a wild goose
Wanders all around everywhere
Trembles and it shakes till every tree's loose
It rolls the meadows and it rolls the nails

So take me down to your dance floor
And I won't mind the people when they stare
Paint a different color on your front door
And tomorrow we will still be there

Jesus built a ship to sing a song to
It sails the rivers and it sails the tide
Some of my friends don't know who they belong to
Some can't get a single thing to work inside

So take me down to your dance floor
And I won't mind the people when they stare
Paint a different color on your front door
And tomorrow we will still be there

I loved you every day and now I'm leaving
And I can see the sorrow in your eyes
I hope you know a lot more than you're believing
Just so the sun don't hurt you when you cry

Oh, take me down to your dance floor
I won't mind the people when they stare
Paint a different color on your front door




And tomorrow we may still be there
And tomorrow we may still be there

Overall Meaning

Gram Parsons's song "A Song For You" is a poignant ballad about love, loss, and the power of music to connect people. The song begins with the metaphor of the singer's land being like a wild goose that wanders all around, shaking and trembling every tree in its path. The land is portrayed as restless and unpredictable, and these qualities are mirrored in the singer's own search for connection and meaning.


The chorus addresses a lover, inviting them to dance and challenging them to be themselves despite the scrutiny of others. The singer wants to be with them, to paint a different color on their front door, and to be there tomorrow, no matter what happens. It's a bold statement of commitment that touches on the core themes of the song.


The second verse shifts focus to Jesus and his ship, which sails the rivers and the tides. The singer's friends are portrayed as lost or unable to fix themselves, highlighting the struggle of the human condition. The chorus repeats, emphasizing the need for connection and love in the face of hardship. The song's final verse features the singer leaving and seeing the sorrow in their lover's eyes. The singer offers words of comfort, hoping that they know more than they believe and won't be hurt by the sun's rays when they cry.


Overall, "A Song For You" is a deeply moving song that explores themes of love, loss, and community. Through vivid imagery and intimate lyrics, Gram Parsons crafted a classic song that continues to resonate with audiences to this day.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh, my land is like a wild goose
My home is unpredictable and restless.


Wanders all around everywhere
It has no particular direction and can go anywhere.


Trembles and it shakes till every tree's loose
The instability is so unsettling that even the trees shake and quiver.


It rolls the meadows and it rolls the nails
It affects everything in its path, shaping and transforming both the natural and the man-made world.


So take me down to your dance floor
Bring me with you and let's enjoy ourselves.


And I won't mind the people when they stare
I don't care about their opinions, I just want to be with you.


Paint a different color on your front door
Let's change things up and do things differently than before.


And tomorrow we will still be there
Our connection will remain strong despite any changes that occur.


Jesus built a ship to sing a song to
A metaphorical ship was created to share a message or story.


It sails the rivers and it sails the tide
It reaches a wide and varied audience, flowing with the currents of life.


Some of my friends don't know who they belong to
Some people struggle with finding their place in the world.


Some can't get a single thing to work inside
Others face internal conflict and struggle to find meaning or happiness.


I loved you every day and now I'm leaving
I cherished our time together, but it's time for me to move on.


And I can see the sorrow in your eyes
I can tell that you're sad and will miss me.


I hope you know a lot more than you're believing
I hope you're more confident and capable than you think you are.


Just so the sun don't hurt you when you cry
I want to protect you and keep you safe from harm, even though I won't be around.


And tomorrow we may still be there
Our bond may continue, even if our physical proximity changes.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: GRAM PARSONS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@artgecko

That voice, that sorrowful guitar. It sends shivers down the spine.

@patrickrooney5452

This is probably one of the best songs written by Gram Parsons. He and Emmylou together sound so beautiful. I always get teared up when I hear this song.

@alesnovak5735

As I listened to this song, my wife came by and asked me, why I am crying. Because it's so beautiful...

@zamiadams4343

Robbed from us all at such a young age but this majestic gem will live on through the ages. We LOVE you Gram x.

@emmettdodge2613

I never feel robbed I feel blessed that I got to experience grams incredible lyricists and singing and guitar and piano playing he was a genius that's not being robbed that's being blessed two different things

@gloriacole4241

Beautiful tune!! Oh you could cry !! 💎 Forever young great loss still have his music that's amazing!!!⭐💎🎶

@avaloncbt5898

This song is wonderful , it's been a welcome guest in my head forr many moons now. Emmylou and Gram singing in beautiful harmony, the fiddle solo is sublime too,

@puri6546

Con Gram Parsons y The Flying Burrito Brothers uno podría morir de amor.💖🙏🎸🎙🎸🎸🎵🎙🎶💖

@chriscorman734

Much respect to this man who belongs in the Country Hall Of Fame .

@freedogbilly1947

The entire album is wonderful!!

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