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
West St. James
Greg MacPherson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She was a picture of frustration standing all alone in an empty bus station. Another summer gone. After a 7 hour delay in Saskatoon yesterday. I'm looking out at the clouds and we're flying over a storm and a dozen little farms. There's a fire station at the top of her street and three rinks where... (simpler down there) One leaves for something else to say. One looks around and walks away. One hour from now I'll be looking down at the rocky mountains. (simpler down there)
The song "West St. James" by Greg MacPherson tells a story of a chance encounter between the singer and a man from West St. James while they are both on a plane. They discuss the explosion at Orest's barber shop and St. James high school in their hometown. The man from West St. James offers a philosophical question, asking if the singer has something worth going back to or if they are leaving something not worth coming back to. The man reminds the singer that they are all just a collection of thoughts and accidents, no matter where they are. The singer then reflects on seeing a frustrated woman in a bus station, the passing of another summer, and the anticipation of looking down at the Rocky Mountains in an hour.
The lyrics paint a picture of nostalgia and the complexities of leaving behind something or someone familiar for something new. The conversation between the singer and the man from West St. James highlights the universal concept of finding value in one's experiences and relationships. The frustration of the woman waiting in the bus station represents the uncertainty and dissatisfaction that can come with change. The song captures a moment in time and the emotions that come with it, leaving the listener with a sense of contemplation.
Line by Line Meaning
I was already on the plane.
The singer is on the plane already.
I met a man from west St. James.
The singer meets a man from West St. James.
We talked about the exposion at Orest's barber shop and St. James highschool.
The singer and the man talked about the explosion that happened at Orest's Barber Shop and St. James High School.
I looked down at Saskatchewan like a yello green tile floor we were standing on..
The artist looked down at Saskatchewan in a way that made it look like a yellow-green tiled floor.
"did you know the west coast is gonna fall into the ocean someday?" (simpler down there)
The man asked the artist if they knew that the west coast will fall into the ocean someday.
He said, " My friend I hope you don't mind but I have to ask you, are you leaving behind something that's not worth coming back to? We're the same collection of thoughts and accidents no matter where we are." (simpler down there)
The man asked the singer if they are leaving something behind that isn't worth returning to and told them that we are all just a collection of thoughts and accidents, no matter where we are.
She was a picture of frustration standing all alone in an empty bus station.
The singer saw a frustrated woman standing alone in an empty bus station.
Another summer gone.
Another summer has ended.
After a 7 hour delay in Saskatoon yesterday.
The artist experienced a 7-hour delay in Saskatoon the previous day.
I'm looking out at the clouds and we're flying over a storm and a dozen little farms.
The artist is looking out at the clouds and sees a storm and a dozen small farms.
There's a fire station at the top of her street and three rinks where... (simpler down there)
There is a fire station at the top of her street and three rinks in her town.
One leaves for something else to say. One looks around and walks away.
One person leaves for something else to say, while another person looks around and walks away.
One hour from now I'll be looking down at the rocky mountains. (simpler down there)
In one hour, the singer will be looking down at the Rocky Mountains.
Contributed by Reagan M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
cal drader
such a great song
My Lil Family
Why can’t I find this album anywhere !!! It’s so amazing, I need it
jeffen77
Great song, well shot - thanks Brody.
zetsyuk
old school! loved this growing up.
MrLee
@kenley1983 Technically the first album by Greg was the 1998 cassette "The Year of the Record Break". Not sure if that was ever released on CD or digital download.