He has toured extensively since 2008 and has opened for alt-country pioneer Steve Earle, singer-songwriter Josh Ritter and folk rocker M. Ward among others. Pug released his first full-length album, Messenger, in February 2010. In 2010 he also went to the United Kingdom and played the main-stage of the Cambridge Folk Festival. Since that time, he has released two further full-length albums: 'The Great Despiser' in April 2012, and 'Windfall' in March 2015.
Pug released The Flood in Color in July 2019.
www.joepugmusic.com
Black Eyed Susan
Joe Pug Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I ain't gonna look your way no more
Oh black eyed Susan
I ain't gonna look your way no more
Ain't no need to ask about it baby
I know what I was lookin' for
Well your blue blood runs
I said your blue blood runs
Like it's got some important place to be
You say I'm important baby
Why your blood always runnin' from me?
When you look right through me
I wonder who's behind my back
Oh when you look right through me
I wonder who's behind my back
He sure don't say too much
Honey why you lookin' at someone like that?
Oh you got a miracle master
He is so naked and wise
I heard you got a miracle master
He is so naked and wise
Don't you feel so new
With your old time religion in disguise?
Oh' I'm in love, I'm in love
And I don't know what it is I should do
Should I take my chance
And become another one of your fools?
Oh they call you the scene of the crime
Now they're collectin' their clues
They don't wanna love you baby
They'd rather make a riddle out of you
Well the good Lord gave me peaches
And the good Lord gave me bread
I said the good Lord gave me peaches
And the good Lord gave me bread
The day he gave me you Susan
I wish he would have rested instead
The lyrics of Joe Pug's "Black Eyed Susan" describe a man who is no longer interested in pursuing his relationship with the titular character. In the first stanza, he states that he will no longer look her way, as he knows what he was looking for and does not need to ask any questions. He goes on to describe how her "blue blood," or high social status, seems to be more important than him, despite her claims that he is important to her. He feels invisible when he is around her and wonders who she is looking at when she looks through him. He also notes that she has a "miracle master" who is "naked and wise," and questions her religious beliefs.
The chorus reveals his conflicted feelings about Susan, as he proclaims that he is in love but does not know what to do. He wonders if he should take a chance and become one of her "fools," but acknowledges that Susan is known as the "scene of the crime," with others collecting clues and making riddles out of her. The final stanza compares Susan to a gift from God, but suggests that the singer would have preferred if God had rested instead of creating her.
The song is a commentary on the complexity of relationships and the difficulties of navigating social hierarchies. The singer is attracted to Susan, but feels inferior to her due to her high status and apparent detachment. He questions her motives and beliefs, and ultimately decides that he no longer wants to be involved with her. The lyrics are enhanced by Joe Pug's distinct voice and sparse instrumentation, which create a haunting and introspective mood.
Line by Line Meaning
Black eyed Susan
Addressing the person he is singing to
I ain't gonna look your way no more
Will not be giving her attention anymore
Oh black eyed Susan
Continued address to add emphasis
Ain't no need to ask about it baby
He knows what he was looking for and it wasn't her
I know what I was lookin' for
Confident in his choice to move on
Well your blue blood runs
Referring to her upper-class background
Like it's got some important place to be
Her actions and mannerisms suggest she feels above others
You say I'm important baby
Ironically, she claims to value him despite her behavior
Why your blood always runnin' from me?
Questioning why she can't connect with him despite her claim
When you look right through me
Feeling ignored despite her attention
I wonder who's behind my back
Wondering who else she's paying attention to
He sure don't say too much
Referring to someone she's looking at instead of him
Honey why you lookin' at someone like that?
Questioning her motives and intentions
Oh you got a miracle master
Referring to her spiritual leader or guru
He is so naked and wise
Describing her guru and his influence over her
I heard you got a miracle master
Referring to other people's talk of her guru
Don't you feel so new
Claiming her conversion to a new religion gives her a sense of enlightenment
With your old time religion in disguise?
Implicitly questioning the legitimacy of her new beliefs
Oh' I'm in love, I'm in love
Describing his own emotions towards someone else
And I don't know what it is I should do
Feeling unsure about how to proceed with his feelings
Should I take my chance
Considering whether or not to pursue his feelings
And become another one of your fools?
Implying that others have fallen for her before and been hurt
Oh they call you the scene of the crime
Wordplay on the phrase 'crime scene' to imply danger in loving her
Now they're collectin' their clues
Others are recognizing the danger of falling for her and are avoiding it
They don't wanna love you baby
Others have learned from the pain of loving her and are avoiding it
They'd rather make a riddle out of you
Others prefer to keep her at arm's length and unattainable
Well the good Lord gave me peaches
Thanking God for his blessings
And the good Lord gave me bread
Continued thankfulness
The day he gave me you Susan
Regretting the day he met her
I wish he would have rested instead
Imagining a different reality in which he never met her
Contributed by Sarah M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.