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
Not So Sure
Joe Pug Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I heard you
Callin' out my name
But these days
I'm not so sure
When the room went dark
And your voice was gone
But these days
I'm not so sure
I knew I could remember
Your bedroom and your touch
But these days
I'm not so sure
Definitely was the word I used
Far too much
'Cause these days
I'm not so sure
I bummed expensive cigarettes
I wrote John Steinbeck's books
I undressed someone's daughter
And then complained about her looks
Stealin' was so easy then
I wish that it still were
Now as I pick my own pocket
I know that these days
I'm not so sure
The church was my kitchen
The world was my church
But these days
I'm not so sure
The choirs I would listen
Through briers I would search
But these days
I'm not so sure
I sacrificed my sister
I prayed my own soul to keep
I told my dying father
That a man should never weep
Breathin' was so easy then
I wish that it still were
Now as the breeze just makes me colder
I know that these days
I'm not so sure
So if you see me trippin'
I've forgotten how to walk
And I spend my days
Wishin' after her
My steps are without rhythm
And her name is drawn in chalk
'Cause these days
I'm not so sure
I drank my wine for breakfast
Every mornin' I was born
In the black, electric winter
My back was always warm
Sleepin' was so easy then
I wish that it still were
Now in my sleepless bedroom
I know that these days
I'm not so sure
Joe Pug's song "Not So Sure" is a reflective piece that explores the uncertainties of life. The lyrics describe a time when he was sure about certain things, such as hearing someone call his name even in the dark or remembering the touch of a lover. However, he now finds himself unsure of these things. The singer reflects on the past, acknowledging the mistakes he made and the things he took for granted. He reflects on how he bummed expensive cigarettes, wrote John Steinbeck's books, and undressed someone's daughter. These actions were once easy, but he now realizes that his current state of uncertainty has made everything much harder.
The lyrics are introspective, as Pug seems to be exploring his own past mistakes and the consequences of his actions. He touches on themes like mortality, sacrifice, and love. He speaks of sacrificing his sister and praying for his own soul to be kept, and telling his dying father that a man should never weep. Pug is likely exploring the idea of how we often cling to certainty in order to avoid facing the reality of our own mortality. In the final verses of the song, he speaks of his struggles with sleeplessness and how he wishes he still knew how to sleep.
Overall, "Not So Sure" is a hauntingly beautiful song that speaks to the uncertainties we all face in life. It is a powerful reminder that we should cherish the certainties we have and never take them for granted.
Line by Line Meaning
There was a time
I remember a time when things were different
When I heard you
When I used to hear your voice
Callin' out my name
You used to call out my name
But these days
Nowadays things are different
I'm not so sure
I'm uncertain of things now
When the room went dark
When everything became uncertain
And your voice was gone
When I stopped hearing your voice
I heard you all the same
But I still heard you in my memory
I knew I could remember
I was confident I could recall
Your bedroom and your touch
How your room felt and the sensation of your touch
Definitely was the word I used
I used to be certain all the time
Far too much
I was overly confident often
I bummed expensive cigarettes
I used to take expensive cigarettes from others
I wrote John Steinbeck's books
I thought I was capable of writing great literature
I undressed someone's daughter
I felt entitled to take someone's daughter's clothing off
And then complained about her looks
But then criticized how she looked
Stealin' was so easy then
It used to be easy to take things that weren't mine
I wish that it still were
I sometimes wish things were still that easy
Now as I pick my own pocket
Now I struggle to support myself
The church was my kitchen
I used to find solace in religion
The world was my church
I found purpose in the world around me
The choirs I would listen
I used to find joy in music
Through briers I would search
Even through challenges, I remained hopeful
I sacrificed my sister
I did something hurtful to my own family member
I prayed my own soul to keep
I was focused on protecting myself
I told my dying father
I tried to be strong for my father in his final moments
That a man should never weep
I believed that men should be stoic and not appear weak
Breathin' was so easy then
Breathing used to come naturally
Now as the breeze just makes me colder
Now even the breeze causes discomfort
So if you see me trippin'
If you see me struggling
I've forgotten how to walk
I feel like I have lost my way
And I spend my days
I waste time
Wishin' after her
Thinking about someone who is no longer in my life
My steps are without rhythm
I feel like I don't have direction
And her name is drawn in chalk
Her memory is fading away
I drank my wine for breakfast
I engaged in self-destructive behavior
Every mornin' I was born
Every morning I started anew
In the black, electric winter
During a harsh, cold season
My back was always warm
I was able to find comfort in difficult times
Sleepin' was so easy then
Sleeping used to be effortless
Now in my sleepless bedroom
Now I often have trouble sleeping
I know that these days
I am aware that things are different now
I'm not so sure
I am uncertain about many things
Contributed by Levi A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.