Jim Guthrie is a Canadian singer-songwriter. He used to be in the band Roya… Read Full Bio ↴Jim Guthrie is a Canadian singer-songwriter. He used to be in the band Royal City until they disbanded in 2004. He also worked with Islands on Return to Sea. He was born and raised in Guelph, Ontario and currently lives in Toronto. Guthrie first made a name for himself by releasing a series of self-produced cassettes, and subsequently released albums on Three Gut Records. He was nominated for a Juno Award for his album Now, More Than Ever. His song "Hands in My Pocket" appeared in a television commercial for Capital One's Canadian branch in 2005.

All Gone
Jim Guthrie Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

A ringing phone
You can never go back home
The same goes for you
A drone to call your own
While laying around
Thinking of St. Henry
That's where I'd take her
'Cause one things for sure

A forest needs a fire
Like the fire needs the tree
It's so dear and personal to me

Can you make something
Out of nothing?

And if I ever get back home
Grey autumn blues
Whenever the first leaf falls
It falls for you

A sound unknown
Can see what isn't shown
So pluck out your eyes blue
So sight can't betray you
What offends your ear
To what do you hold dear
What's held has grown
Here's your home

'Cause a thief needs a diamond
Like the diamond needs a thief
It's so near and personal to me

Can you make something
Out of nothing?

And if I ever get back home
Grey autumn blues

Whenever the first leaf falls
It falls for you

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jim Guthrie's song "All Gone" are open to interpretation. However, a possible meaning of the song is that it deals with the idea of home, loss, and the creative process. The phrase "a ringing phone, you can never go back home" can be viewed as a metaphor for the fact that once something is lost or gone, there is no way to truly go back to how things used to be; the past cannot be recaptured. The mention of St. Henry may be a reference to a place that represents a comforting or happy memory for the singer, but that now seems out of reach. The line "a forest needs a fire, like the fire needs the tree" suggests a cycle of renewal and destruction that is perhaps needed for growth.

The chorus of the song asks the question "can you make something out of nothing?" which could refer to the creative process or finding meaning in life. The last stanza talks about seeing and hearing, and suggests that one's perception of the world can shape what they hold dear. The line "what's held has grown, here's your home" could mean that what one chooses to focus on, or what one holds dear, can create a sense of belonging or comfort, and that home is where the heart is.

Overall, the song seems to suggest that loss and change are inevitable, but that one can find solace or meaning in the creative process or by focusing on what one holds dear. It's a reflective and introspective song that encourages the listener to consider their own experiences and what they value.

Line by Line Meaning

A ringing phone
Something calling out for attention and communication

You can never go back home
The past can never be undone, and trying to return to it is impossible

The same goes for you
The same limitations apply to oneself

A drone to call your own
The desire for a sense of personal identity and ownership

While laying around
In a state of idleness and contemplation

Thinking of St. Henry
Reflecting on a specific place or time that holds personal significance

That's where I'd take her
A desire to share and revisit that personal significance with another person

'Cause one things for sure
A clear understanding or assertion of something

A forest needs a fire
Destruction is sometimes necessary for new growth and renewal

Like the fire needs the tree
A recognition of the interdependence and balance of nature

It's so dear and personal to me
The singer's fondness and attachment to this concept

Can you make something Out of nothing?
A rhetorical question about the creative process and ability to generate something significant from humble beginnings

And if I ever get back home
A hypothetical situation of returning to a familiar place

Grey autumn blues
A melancholy and nostalgic feeling associated with autumn

Whenever the first leaf falls It falls for you
A metaphorical representation of the singer's personal attachment to a moment or memory associated with autumn

A sound unknown
A sense of curiosity and wonder towards the unfamiliar

Can see what isn't shown
The ability to perceive beyond the tangible

So pluck out your eyes blue
A metaphorical directive to remove the limitations of a particular perspective

So sight can't betray you
To avoid being deceived or misled by appearances

What offends your ear
The recognition of personal preferences and sensitivities

To what do you hold dear
Questioning what is truly important and valuable

What's held has grown
The idea that nurturing and caring for something leads to its growth and development

Here's your home
A sense of belonging and familiarity based on personal growth and investment

'Cause a thief needs a diamond
A recognition of the relationship between desire and acquisition

Like the diamond needs a thief
The acknowledgement that value is based on the desire for something

It's so near and personal to me
The singer's close affinity and association with this idea

Can you make something Out of nothing?
A repetition of the earlier rhetorical question, emphasizing the theme of creativity and innovation

And if I ever get back home
Another restatement of the hypothetical situation of returning to a familiar place

Grey autumn blues
A reaffirmation of the melancholy and nostalgic feeling associated with autumn

Whenever the first leaf falls It falls for you
A final repetition of the metaphorical representation of the singer's personal attachment to a moment or memory associated with autumn

Lyrics © TUNECORE INC
Written by: James Guthrie

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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