HAMMER AND NAIL
Indigo Girls Lyrics

Clearing webs from the hovel
Starting to take control of their life, beginning to clean up the mess that they have created for themselves.

A blistered hand on the handle of a shovel
Their hands are already worn and tired from hard work, a physical manifestation of the effort they have put in to getting to this point.

I've been digging too deep, I always do
They have a habit of taking things too far, digging themselves into a hole.

I see my fate on the surface
They have finally realized the path they need to take in life and can see it clearly.

I look a lot like Narcissus
They have spent too much time lost in their own thoughts and reflections, unable to take meaningful action.

A dark abyss of an emptiness
They have been struggling with feelings of loneliness and despair.

Standing on the edge of a drowning blue
They feel like they are on the brink of falling apart, like they are teetering on the edge of a deep and all-consuming depression.

I look behind my ears for the green
They are searching for signs of hope and new beginnings, hoping that they will find growth and happiness in the future.

And even my sweat smells clean
They are trying to make a fresh start, leaving behind their past mistakes and failures in order to create something new and beautiful.

Glare off the white hurts my eyes
They are having trouble adjusting to the light, having spent so much time in the darkness of their own doubts and fears.

I gotta get out of bed and get a hammer and a nail
They realize that they need to take action and start building something new in their life, rather than just lying in bed worrying about it.

Learn how to use my hands, not just my head
They are realizing that they need to be more practical and learn how to do things for themselves, rather than relying on their intelligence to get by.

I think myself into jail
They have been trapped in their own mind, overthinking everything and not taking enough action in the real world.

Now I know a refuge never grows
They have learned that they can't just hide away from the world, expecting things to get better on their own.

From a chin in a hand in a thoughtful pose
Sitting around, lost in thought, will never lead to actual change or growth.

Gotta tend the earth if you want a rose
If you want something to grow and flourish, you need to put in the effort and attention to make it happen.

My life is part of the global life
They are starting to see themselves as a small part of a larger community and world, rather than just an individual struggling on their own.

I'd found myself becoming more immobile
They had been getting stuck in the same old habits and routines, feeling trapped and unable to move forward.

When I'd think a little girl in the world can't do anything
They realized that they had been holding themselves back, using societal expectations and stereotypes to limit what they thought was possible for themselves.

A distant nation my community
They are realizing that everyone in the world is connected, and that they have a responsibility to care not just for themselves, but for people all over the world.

A street person my responsibility
They are starting to see that they have a social responsibility to help others, rather than just focusing on their own needs and desires.

If I have a care in the world I have a gift to bring
They are realizing that even small acts of kindness or compassion can make a huge difference in the world, and that they have the power to bring positive change with them wherever they go.