How Good You Are
Joe Pug Lyrics


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I was born into a circus
But I ran off to join a home
Oh, they said that I was worthless
That my family died unknown

So it gets and so it goes
That’s what you get I suppose
For wantin' somethin' more
Than a life of walkin' rows

All the Christians left behind
At the crossroads of your town
Oh they're playin' truth or dare
Beneath the sanctuary now

Some wish they had the truth
Some wish they had to go
But there ain't no sense in
Leavin' from the only game you know

Oh, I know
How good you are
How hard it is
How good you are

There's a butler in your hallway
He is troublesome and old
He repeats the word "alive"
To describe your family gold

You ask him please to go
But there's one thing you don't know
He carved April 7th, '65
Into the side of your piano

Oh, I know
How good you are
How hard it is
How good you are

Everything that you were meant for
Everything that you were born to do
Does not need you to do it
Someone else was born to do it too

Now like a half-grown man
You barely learned how to stand
If you shut up with what you’ve chosen
You’ll hear somethin' choosin' you

Oh, I know
How good you are




How hard it is
How good you are

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Joe Pug's song "How Good You Are" speak of the struggles of a person who was born into a circus and left it to join a home. The person was told that they were worthless and that their family died unknown. Despite this, the person wanted something more than a life of walking rows. The chorus of the song acknowledges the person's goodness and the hardships that come with it.


The second verse talks about Christians who were left behind at the crossroads of town. They are playing truth or dare beneath the sanctuary. Some wish they had the truth and some wish they had to go, but there is no sense in leaving from the only game you know. This can be interpreted as people feeling stuck in their beliefs and not having the courage to seek further.


The third verse tells the story of a troublesome and old butler in the hallway who repeats the word "alive" to describe the family gold. The person asks him to leave, but there is one thing they don't know - he carved April 7th, '65 into the side of the piano. This can be interpreted as a reminder of the past that cannot be erased.


The final verse acknowledges that everything that we were meant for, everything that we were born to do, does not need us to do it. Someone else was born to do it too. The person is like a half-grown man who barely learned how to stand. If they shut up with what they've chosen, they'll hear something choosing them. This can be interpreted as an encouragement to embrace change and discover one's life purpose.


Overall, the song speaks of the struggles that come with finding one's place in the world and the importance of embracing change and self-discovery.


Line by Line Meaning

I was born into a circus
I was born into a life full of chaos and unpredictability.


But I ran off to join a home
I left that life behind to find somewhere peaceful and stable.


Oh, they said that I was worthless
People told me that I had no value or potential.


That my family died unknown
My family was not recognized or remembered as anything special.


So it gets and so it goes
Life can be mundane and repetitive.


That’s what you get I suppose
That's just the way things are, I guess.


For wantin' somethin' more
For desiring something beyond the ordinary.


Than a life of walkin' rows
Than a life of following the same path as everyone else.


All the Christians left behind
The devout believers who were left out of mainstream society.


At the crossroads of your town
Their presence is relegated to the outskirts of town.


Oh they're playin' truth or dare
They're engaging in risky behavior to feel alive.


Beneath the sanctuary now
Their behavior is happening behind closed doors, away from public view.


Some wish they had the truth
Some people desperately crave knowledge or understanding.


Some wish they had to go
Others wish they had somewhere else to be.


But there ain't no sense in
But there's no logical reason for doing so.


Leavin' from the only game you know
Walking away from the familiar, even if it's not ideal or fulfilling.


Oh, I know
I understand and empathize.


How good you are
How talented and capable you are.


How hard it is
How difficult it can be to utilize those talents.


There's a butler in your hallway
Someone who serves you and your family.


He is troublesome and old
He's difficult to deal with and past his prime.


He repeats the word "alive"
He fixates on a certain concept that's important to him.


To describe your family gold
To describe the wealth and status of your family.


You ask him please to go
You politely request that he leave you alone.


But there's one thing you don't know
There's a secret that he's kept from you.


He carved April 7th, '65
He left a mark, a memorial of sorts.


Into the side of your piano
On something valuable and cherished that you own.


Everything that you were meant for
Your destiny, purpose, and potential.


Everything that you were born to do
The tasks and goals that come naturally and effortlessly to you.


Does not need you to do it
The world will carry on without your specific contribution.


Someone else was born to do it too
Others share your abilities and ambitions.


Now like a half-grown man
Someone who's still learning and developing.


You barely learned how to stand
You're still getting used to being on your own two feet.


If you shut up with what you’ve chosen
If you stop speaking and stop doing what you think is your path.


You’ll hear somethin' choosin' you
You'll sense a pull or a calling towards a different direction.


Oh, I know
I understand.


How good you are
How talented and capable you are.


How hard it is
How difficult it can be to utilize those talents.


How good you are
How talented and capable you are.




Contributed by Aubrey G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

FenderBender

@Andrea Robert ok 6 hole blow 2 times,then suck at 6( with a little bend),then blow 5 and 6 after, then 5 blow then 5 suck (with bend) then blow at 5, then suck(with little bend) on 4 then two blows at 4,

its probably easier to think of this as the first part

then the "second" part is suck (with bend) on 4 then blow at 4 and blow at 5 
then 4 suck (with bend) 4 blow and then a longer 4 suck(with bending)



hope this wasnt to confusing



All comments from YouTube:

Tom Behnke

Classic Pug right here.....
Breaks my heart.
"Everything you meant for....everything you were born to do.....does not need you to do it....someone else was born to do it, too"
Damn if that ain't the hard truth.

Auggie Trisha

I find that thought liberating. I felt actual relief the first time I heard it. It's my favorite part of one of my favorite songs.

Pierce LaMacchia

I'm feeling the emotion you're communicating. All I can say is... thank you.

Jonathan Holleb

One of the best songwriters around today...

jaksspring97

I just discovered this guy today. I need to hear more!

Casper Håland

This is just otherworldy beautiful! Fantastic version!

Michael Talamini

This guy is just crazy good! Every damn song!

Joe Arndt

I nominate this guy for a music grammy award. I love his songs.

Savannah Prezioso

Joe Pug, I’m a lesbian, and I’ve been in love with you since I heard you on some obscure college radio in Boston. You’re a star. I knew it right away. Keep shining baby! My soul feels yours 💚

85peat

a true song writer and a great live show

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