The Year of The Record Break (1997)
Balanced on a Pin (1999)
Good Times Coming Back Again (2002)
Maintenance (2004)
Night Flares (2005)
The Sun Beats Down (2006)
Mr. Invitation (2010)
Disintegration Blues (2011)
www.gregmacpherson.com
Genuinely Frozen
Greg MacPherson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The first verse of "Genuinely Frozen" paints a bleak picture of the singer's current living situation. The broken sidewalk and impoverished appearance of the people make it clear that they live in a rough, distressed neighborhood. The tall fences allude to the sense of hopelessness that the inhabitants feel- they are trapped and confined, without many opportunities to escape their current situation.
The second verse indicates that the singer has attempted to distance himself from this environment by exploring other cities. However, this has only left him feeling exhausted and longing for something more. He yearns to leave behind the "broken dreams outside" that have defined his experience thus far.
The final verse introduces the singer's mother, who grew up on a farm where life was innocent and carefree. The imagery of a "golden car fueled by the mystery of the dark and the falling of the night" suggests that, in the past, there was a sense of wonder and romance associated with the idea of growing old. However, the present reality of the singer's situation appears to be in stark contrast. The fear of growing old that the singer references in the chorus is not just a fear of one's own mortality, but also of the unfulfilled dreams and aspirations that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
The sidewalk's cracked and the people don't look so good on my street.
The poor state of the street reflects the general fatigue and dissatisfaction of the people living there.
Our fences are so tall there's not much hope anymore left for the neighbourhood.
The high fences suggest a lack of trust and community, and a growing sense of despair in the area.
I've been away, I've seen other cities where the bus runs all night long.
Comparing his current situation to other cities, he longs for the convenience and excitement of a place that never sleeps.
I'm tired of walking, I want to get out from under the broken dreams outside.
He is exhausted from striving for something that seems unattainable and wants to escape the cycle of disappointment and disillusionment.
Somewhere out over the skyline and out past the city lights, over the bridge you can't look at the river from there's a broke down farm where my mother was born.
In contrast to the urban decay around him, he envisions a simpler and perhaps more idyllic past rooted in family history.
She said they were only ever young.
His mother recalls a time filled with hope and possibility where youth and innocence were the driving forces behind their actions.
With an open conscience and their whole lives ahead of them spelled out in the truth and a golden car fueled by the mystery of the dark and the falling of the night.
Their lives were guided by a sense of righteousness and purpose, symbolized by a car that represented freedom and adventure under the cover of night.
Genuinely frozen by the fear of growing older and picking out the colours of these broken dreams outside.
The fear of becoming like those around him who are stuck in a rut and settling for less is paralyzing, as is the realization that he must choose his own path in life and face its consequences.
Contributed by Ella D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.