His 2015 album "Joel Plaskett and the Park Avenue Sobriety Test" touches on his solo acoustic side, his guitar rock work with Joel Plaskett Emergency, his happy-go-lucky rhyming talents, carefree memories of growing up in Nova Scotia, and a little bit of anger at the forces that make life tougher these days. There are references to his salad days, like “On A Dime,” which starts with a blast of downhome Celtic fiddle from Cape Breton great J.P. Cormier. Then there’s Plaskett riffing on memories of playing road hockey in the liquor store parking lot, and later, traveling to Memphis with his band Thrush Hermit to make their first album. The album. also refers to the cast of characters that helped make the album, with Joel Plaskett Emergency appearing on more than half the tracks. It’s more like the Emergency-Plus, as lots of familiar faces from previous Plaskett discs are aboard. Longtime Emergency cohorts Dave Marsh – drums and Chris Pennell – bass anchor the rhythm section. Previous group members Tim Brennan and Peter Elkas play on several songs. From Plaskett’s former band Thrush Hermit is old pal Ian McGettigan. Then there are guests, friends and neighbours, such as Cormier, Halifax singer-songwriter Mo Kenney, singer Erin Costelo, and pedal steel player Dale Murray (Christina Martin, Cuff the Duke).
He released the album Solidarity, a collaboration with his father Bill, in 2017.
Pine Pine Pine
Joel Plaskett Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Open up the church to see what they had
Pine, pine all of the time
That's the story of our lives
There's the steeple, but where's the catch?
It's underneath the highway overpass
Pine, pine, pine all the time
You meet, you cheat, and you lay down a beat
You reap what you sow and you are what you eat
And you go where you go on your own two feet
You go where you go on your own two feet
People do wrong, people do right
I've done both in the same damn night
Pine, pine, pine all the time
I'm tired of hearin' it myself
You can go left or you can go right
You can get dim or you can get bright
Decide, decide, it's decision time
So make up your mind and move along
You meet, you cheat, and you might drop the beat
You reap what you sow and you are what you eat
And you go where you go on your own two feet
You go where you go on your own two feet
You can make hay or you can make a mess
You can make hell on earth I guess
Misery, misery, company store
I owe my soul and more
Footloose and fancy free
Don't come callin' 'cause you can't catch me
I go where I go on my own two feet
I go where I go on my own two feet
The lyrics of Joel Plaskett's "Pine Pine Pine" are a reflection on the variety of experiences that people have in life, and how they can either lead to growth or decay. The opening lines acknowledge the duality of human nature, that people can do good or bad, and that sometimes looking to religion or spirituality can help uncover the truth behind their actions. However, the tone shifts to a more cynical one as the song continues, with the repeated phrase "pine, pine all the time" becoming a kind of mantra for the mundanity of life.
The lyrics suggest that there is a certain pattern to life, that people often find themselves stuck in, unable or unwilling to break free from it. The image of the church and the highway overpass are both examples of structures that are built to help people navigate the world around them, but they can also serve to restrict and constrain them. The line "you can go left or you can go right" implies that there are choices to be made, but ultimately the decision is up to the individual.
Overall, the lyrics of "Pine Pine Pine" are about the struggle to break free from the monotony of life and find one's true path. It acknowledges the complexity of human nature and the pitfalls that can come with it, but ultimately encourages the listener to make a choice and move forward.
Line by Line Meaning
People do good, people do bad
People can be morally good or bad
Open up the church to see what they had
Investigate to find out what people are really like
Pine, pine all of the time
Always wanting something more, never satisfied
That's the story of our lives
This is a common theme in human behavior
There's the steeple, but where's the catch?
Something seems too good to be true, and there must be a problem with it
It's underneath the highway overpass
The catch is hidden or not obvious
That's the special of the day
This is what's available and what people should expect
You meet, you cheat, and you lay down a beat
People do what they need to do to get ahead
You reap what you sow and you are what you eat
What you put in is what you get out
And you go where you go on your own two feet
You are in control of your own life
People do wrong, people do right
People have the capacity for both good and bad behavior
I've done both in the same damn night
Sometimes people make mistakes or do things they regret
I'm tired of hearin' it myself
Even the singer is tired of hearing about wanting more
You can go left or you can go right
You have choices in life
You can get dim or you can get bright
You can be positive or negative
Decide, decide, it's decision time
It's time to make a choice
So make up your mind and move along
Choose and don't hesitate to take action
You might drop the beat
Sometimes things may not go as planned
You can make hay or you can make a mess
You can either work hard or make things worse
You can make hell on earth I guess
You have the power to create chaos or negativity
Misery, misery, company store
If you're in a bad situation, others may be in it too
I owe my soul and more
The artist may be in a difficult or indebted situation
Footloose and fancy free
Not tied down, able to do what you want
Don't come callin' 'cause you can't catch me
The artist is not easily controlled or caught
I go where I go on my own two feet
The singer is in control of their own path
Contributed by Jonathan L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.