Raising Cain
Isakov Gregory Alan Lyrics
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Last night I dreamed I was brooklyn on my own
Lord I couldn't see the shadows all in me
I dreamed I was in brooklyn on my own
Now those demons had their face bright as gold
Those demons had their faces bright as gold
They came and shook my hand, fingers crossed behind their back
So i'm sittin' by my lonesome in the light
I'm sittin' by my lonesome in the light
I don't know what I see, that light plays tricks on me
I'm sittin' by my lonesome in the light
And I don't know what's ahead up comin' next
The wind shakes me feet, rattles my head
There's no tellin' home, just a sign up all alone
Sayin' oh, oh elizabeth
And that season came in quiet with the rain
And loving you was just like raising cain
It was strong and bound for glory, and cursed with a thousand stories
Oh that season came in quiet with the rain
So i'm pickin' up the pieces where I went wrong
Oh i'm pickin' up the pieces where I went wrong
And there's somethin' so familiar, like an old bedtime song
I'm pickin' up the pieces where I went wrong
The lyrics of Gregory Alan Isakov's "Raising Cain" is a dream-like narrative that speaks of inner turmoil and the struggle to face demons. The song starts with Isakov dreaming of being in Brooklyn alone and unable to see the darkness within himself, represented by the shadows. In Isakov's dream, he shakes hands with the demons that tempt him, and their faces are bright as gold but deceiving, with their fingers crossed behind their back.
Isakov then describes a scene where he is sitting by himself in the light and seeing things that might not be there. He is uncertain of what the future holds, and the wind is shaking his feet and rattling his head. He sees a sign all alone, calling out "Oh, Elizabeth," which might be a metaphor for a past love or a reference to an actual place.
The next verse is arguably the most poignant. Isakov sings about a love that was "strong and bound for glory" but "cursed with a thousand stories." He likens it to raising Cain, which means to cause trouble with unpredictable consequences. Isakov then concludes the song with the image of him trying to pick up the pieces where he went wrong, a task that is familiar to him, like an old bedtime song.
Overall, "Raising Cain" speaks to the human struggle with inner demons, uncertain futures, and the difficulty of love. The lyrics engage listeners to interpret the song personally, but there is an underlying message that speaks of hope despite life's complexities.
Line by Line Meaning
Last night I dreamed I was brooklyn on my own
I dreamed that I was alone in Brooklyn last night
Lord I couldn't see the shadows all in me
I was unable to see the flaws within myself
Those demons had their faces bright as gold
The things that haunt me appeared to be perfect and alluring
They came and shook my hand, fingers crossed behind their back
The things that haunt me acted friendly, but were deceitful and dishonest
I'm sittin' by my lonesome in the light
I'm alone and unsure of what I am seeing
I don't know what I see, that light plays tricks on me
I am unsure of what I am seeing and the light is confusing me
The wind shakes me feet, rattles my head
The wind is causing me to feel unsteady and uncertain
There's no tellin' home, just a sign up all alone, Sayin' oh, oh elizabeth
I don't know how to find my way home, and there is only a sign with the name Elizabeth on it
And loving you was just like raising cain
Loving you was intense and chaotic, like raising a wild child
It was strong and bound for glory, and cursed with a thousand stories
Our love was powerful and destined for greatness, but also complicated and full of challenges
Oh i'm pickin' up the pieces where I went wrong
I am trying to fix the mistakes I have made
And there's somethin' so familiar, like an old bedtime song
There is something about this process that feels familiar, like a comforting lullaby
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GREGORY ALAN ISAKOV
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind