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
The Sharpest Crown
Joe Pug Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They say she wore the sharpest crown
Beautiful as diamond tile
Never took her picture 'cause she never learned to smile
It's not surprisin'
There's nothin' excitin'
Late at night you'll hear the sound
She felt a darkness deep inside
She went and asked her mama why
She got no answer just because
Her mama was a sleepin' or pretendin' that she was
It's not surprisin'
There's nothin' excitin'
I hope that she'll turn around
They say she wore the sharpest crown
Oh I loved her, don't ask how
Musta had some reasons that I can't remember now
Some folks say I let her down
But the same folks say she wore the sharpest
Dangerous, it tore the darkness
That held here like a ten ton harness
As I ran off for the farthest town
They say she wore the sharpest crown
The song “The Sharpest Crown” by Joe Pug tells the story of a girl from the singer’s hometown who was admired for her beauty, but who also carried a deep, dark sadness within her. The girl was said to wear a “sharpest crown,” which could represent the burden of her pain or the beauty that masked her inner turmoil. The singer, who may have had a romantic connection to the girl, acknowledges that he loved her but cannot remember why. Some people say he let her down, but he also mentions that those same people also recognized the weight of the crown she wore.
Despite the mystery surrounding the girl’s situation, the lyrics suggest that she suffered from a mental health issue, possibly depression. She sought answers from her mother, but received no response, as her mother was either asleep or choosing to ignore her daughter’s pain. The darkness inside the girl is likened to a “ten ton harness,” a vivid metaphor that conveys the heavy weight of her emotional state. The song ends on an ambiguous note, with the singer having left his hometown and the girl behind. The hope that she will “turn around” suggests that he wishes for her healing and happiness, but it’s unclear if that hope will be fulfilled.
Line by Line Meaning
There was a girl in my hometown
The story begins with the singer introducing a girl who once lived in his hometown.
They say she wore the sharpest crown
Rumor has it that she wore a crown, which was sharp and dangerous.
Beautiful as diamond tile
She was stunningly beautiful, like a shiny diamond.
Never took her picture 'cause she never learned to smile
She was so unhappy that she never smiled, and therefore, no one ever took her picture.
It's not surprisin',
There's nothin' excitin'
The artist hints that there's nothing special or interesting to the story so far.
Late at night you'll hear the sound
They say she wore the sharpest crown
At night, some people can still hear the rumors and claims about her wearing a dangerous and sharp crown.
She felt a darkness deep inside
The girl had a sense of sadness and pain that was deep within her.
She went and asked her mama why
She confided in her mother and asked her for the reason behind her feelings, looking for guidance and support.
She got no answer just because
Her mama was a sleepin' or pretendin' that she was
She received no response from her mother, as she was either sleeping or not willing to respond to her daughter's query.
I hope that she'll turn around
The artist expresses his hope that things will turn out well for the girl.
Oh I loved her, don't ask how
The singer confesses that he had feelings for the girl at one point.
Musta had some reasons that I can't remember now
He cannot recall what drew him to her and what made him love her.
Some folks say I let her down
There were claims or rumors that the singer let the girl down in some way, failing to fulfill a promise or expectation perhaps.
But the same folks say she wore the sharpest
The same people who accuse him of failing her also claim that she was the one with the dangerous and sharp crown.
Dangerous, it tore the darkness
That held here like a ten ton harness
The sharp crown was so dangerous that it could break even the strongest bonds and break free the girl from the darkness that enveloped her.
As I ran off for the farthest town
They say she wore the sharpest crown
As the artist left the town, the rumors and claims about the girl wearing a sharp crown remained.
Contributed by Nolan S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.