Maryland Bridge
John K. Samson Lyrics
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To whimper and to whine
To hear myself through spit and crackle
Of a poor long distance line
Twelve clever ways to say I love you
With words that always fail
Hang up and light a cigarette
Sit waiting for the mail
A, another get rich plan
A bill or two, some shampoo and a note from Ed McMahon
Although you'll always be the one in which I will confide
Sometimes you're the razor on my private water slide
By the way, I got your letter yesterday
It said there's no need to be sad
It said that some things would never ever change
But that some already had
And I'd heard it from the corner of my ear
How that voice makes things right
And I'm sure there's something more than memory
Across the Maryland bridge tonight
How ominous these undercurrents
They crowd me now it seems
And every time I meet you in the darkness of my dreams
It's likely that I'll turn around and parody myself
Imagine we're in different places
Pretend we're someone else
I can be J. Edgar Hoover
You be JFK
As power hungry egocentrics
We'll paper fight the nights away
sometimes you're my nemesis
When I am paranoid
Sometimes I have doubts and worries
Too strong to avoid
By the way, I got your letter yesterday
It said there's no need to be sad
It said that some things would never ever change
But that some already had
And I'd heard it from the corner of my ear
How that voice makes things right
And I'm sure there's something more than memory
Across the Maryland bridge tonight
... Maryland bridge tonight
The lyrics to John K. Samson's song, "Maryland Bridge," tell the story of a relationship that is plagued with doubts, worries, and undercurrents of tension. The song opens with the singer waking up his partner at four in the morning, desperately seeking reassurance and affirmation. Even as he struggles to find the right words to express his love, he is haunted by a sense of inadequacy and fear of rejection. As he hangs up the phone and sits waiting for the mail, he is confronted with the banalities and disappointments of everyday life, a stark contrast to the intimacy and intensity of his emotions.
Line by Line Meaning
I woke you up at four this morning
I called you early this morning while I was feeling weak and vulnerable
To whimper and to whine
To express my emotions, no matter how pathetic they may seem
To hear myself through spit and crackle
To listen to my own voice over a bad connection, seeking comfort
Of a poor long distance line
From a distant location, far from you
Twelve clever ways to say I love you
I struggle to express my feelings effectively
With words that always fail
My attempts to articulate my love never succeed
Hang up and light a cigarette
I end the call with you and smoke a cigarette, calming myself down
Sit waiting for the mail
I am anxious and tense as I wait for your letter to arrive
Some flyers from department stores
I receive advertisements in the mail
A, another get rich plan
A scam promising wealth and success
A bill or two, some shampoo and a note from Ed McMahon
I receive bills, a mundane product and a letter from a television host
Although you'll always be the one in which I will confide
You are the only one I trust with my deepest feelings
Sometimes you're the razor on my private water slide
Sometimes you cause me pain and discomfort, even though I love you
By the way, I got your letter yesterday
I received your letter recently
It said there's no need to be sad
You told me not to feel upset
It said that some things would never ever change
You reassured me that some things would always stay the same
But that some already had
But other things have changed
And I'd heard it from the corner of my ear
I heard a faint whisper or hint of something from your words
How that voice makes things right
Your voice has a calming effect on me
And I'm sure there's something more than memory
There is more than just my recollection of you
Across the Maryland bridge tonight
I feel a connection to you even from a far distance
How ominous these undercurrents
These hidden forces lurking beneath the surface seem foreboding
They crowd me now it seems
These undercurrents are suffocating me at the moment
And every time I meet you in the darkness of my dreams
In my dreams, I confront my deepest fears and desires regarding you
It's likely that I'll turn around and parody myself
I may satirize or mock myself in an attempt to cope
Imagine we're in different places
I try to distance myself from reality through imagination
Pretend we're someone else
I envision us as different people in different lives
I can be J. Edgar Hoover
I identify with the power-driven and corrupt FBI director
You be JFK
You personify the charismatic and tragic President
As power hungry egocentrics
We are both selfish and obsessed with control
We'll paper fight the nights away
We will engage in petty arguments that last through the night
Sometimes you're my nemesis
At times, you are my rival and enemy
When I am paranoid
My irrational fears cause me to view you negatively
Sometimes I have doubts and worries
I struggle with uncertainty about our relationship
Too strong to avoid
My doubts and worries cannot be ignored or suppressed
Contributed by Hudson T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Damon Dauser
one of my favorite songs
Hank S
Strange that this album is not on Spotify. I would love to add it to many mixtapes.
Giácomo Tasso
totally agree
Snodge Kat
Holy crud. I have this CD. It's STUNNING
cb dreamer
No doubt. Beautiful