Little Colored Balloons
John Murry Lyrics

Up above the moon
The singer is in an elevated, surreal state of mind.

And underneath the gun
Despite being in this altered state, the singer is still vulnerable and in danger.

Far away from Mississippi
The singer is physically distant from their home state of Mississippi, but also mentally distant from their past or sense of identity.

All the buttons come undone
The artist is losing control and becoming unhinged.

A hornet's nest inside my brain
The artist's mind is chaotic and disturbing.

Rattlin' like a submachine
The singer is overwhelmed with noise and agitation.

Saran wrap and little coloured balloons
The singer is using drugs to cope with their mental and emotional turmoil.

A black nickel, a needle and a spoon
The artist is using heroin to numb their pain.

You say this is ain't what I am
Someone is questioning the artist's behavior and identity.

This is what I do to warn your ghost away
The artist is using drugs to forget someone or something that haunts them.

I know you don't believe in magic
The person the singer is addressing doesn't understand or accept their coping mechanism.

Well, nobody does, anymore
The artist feels alone and misunderstood in their drug use.

This uniform is stiflin'
The singer is uncomfortable in their current situation or surroundings.

It's hotter than the heat
The discomfort is intense and overwhelming.

That's smotherin' my shoulders
The discomfort is suffocating and oppressive.

And burnin' up my feet
The discomfort is even affecting the artist's physical sensations.

Every word under review
The artist is being judged and criticized for their behavior and words.

But the jury's guilty, too
Even those who are judging the singer are flawed and imperfect.

I watch the waves roll in
The singer is looking for solace or distraction in nature.

And roll out just the same
Despite the artist's struggles, the world keeps moving forward.

Like a song and dance
The world's movement is rhythmic and predictable.

It's the oldest of his games
The world's movement is also a metaphor for life's patterns and cycles.

I shut my eyes, but through these tears
The singer is trying to avoid reality, but they still feel intense emotions.

A mean old world reappears
The artist can't escape the harshness of the world around them.

Why try and tell you
The singer is addressing someone who refuses to understand their struggle.

When you don't give a fuck?
The person the singer is addressing is apathetic and unsympathetic.

There is no right, there is no wrong
The singer is questioning the nature of morality and questioning the point of their struggle.

Same damn chorus, same damn song
The artist is stuck in a cycle of pain and repetition.

I held my hands out
The artist is displaying their vulnerabilities and need for help.

Blood-stained and I got my doubts
The singer has been through trauma and is uncertain about their future.

I tried to wash it off
The singer is trying to cleanse themselves of their past pain.

Yeah, I tried to wash it off
Despite their efforts, the pain still lingers.

Red as southern clay
The artist's blood is symbolic of their southern roots and identity.

Blood-red as Mississippi clay
The artist's blood is connected to their Mississippi roots and the history of violence there.

And yes, it still remains
The past pain and trauma still affect the singer's present.

Where is Pilate's water?
The artist is seeking absolution or a fresh start.

Tell me, where is Pilate's water?
The singer is asking for help or guidance.

Nightmares in daylight
The singer's trauma and pain are affecting their waking life.

I'm stealin' the birthright
The singer is trying to take control of their own fate.

Off 16th and Mission
The artist is in a specific location, possibly associated with their past trauma.

I took an ambulance ride
The artist has experienced severe physical or mental distress.

They said I should've died
The singer's condition was life-threatening.

Right there on 16th and Mission
The location of the singer's trauma is significant and haunting.

I still miss you so much
The artist is grieving a lost relationship or connection.

I still miss you so, so goddamn much
The artist's grief and emotional pain are intense and overwhelming.

On 16th and Mission
The location of the artist's pain and trauma still affects them deeply.

I'm right here on
The singer is in a specific place, but their struggles go beyond physical location.

Sing it
The artist is urging the listener to understand and empathize with their pain.

They called us from the hospital in Jackson
The singer is recounting a significant event or memory from their past.

And told us that you'd arrived there
The singer is referring to the birth of a child.

And we popped in our car and we were so excited
The singer is remembering a happy and joyful moment.

And happy and drove to Jackson
The artist is emphasizing the happiness and anticipation surrounding the birth.

And your father, that normally follows on the road
The artist is remembering the specific details of the trip.

Parked in handicapped parking place
A specific detail of the memory that may represent something deeper about the singer or their family.

We went into the hospital, we got into the nursery
The singer is describing the events surrounding the birth and first few days of the child's life.

The nurses were all lined up, looking us over, making sure that we were okay
The artist is emphasizing the care and attention given to the child and family.

That we were gonna take good care of you, because they took good care of you
The artist is acknowledging the responsibility of caring for a child and the trust given by the hospital staff.

For five days, five days
The artist remembers a specific time frame, possibly an important milestone or turning point.

So, my mother had met us in Jackson and she was going back to Tupelo with us
The singer describes the details of the trip and who was involved.

And you were her first grandchild, so she was just excited anyway
The artist is emphasizing the enthusiasm and happiness surrounding the birth of the child.

And on the way home, I sat in the backseat with you
The singer is establishing a personal connection and bond with the child.

To get you comfortable, so I just spread her clothes there on the seat
The singer is focused on making sure the child is comfortable and cared for.

And put you down there, and you took a good nap on the way home
The singer is recounting a happy memory of the child sleeping peacefully in the car.

And we got home and that night, you cried in the night
The artist is emphasizing the ups and downs of parenthood and the unpredictability of a newborn.

And all three of us, my mother and your father and I got up
The artist is remembering the shared responsibility and concern for the child.

And met each other in the doorway, we couldn't get through the doorway, so
The singer is emphasizing the moment of shared concern and love for the child.

We all had to take turns going in to check on you
The singer is showing the shared care and attention given to the child.

We were, we were so excited to have you there, our son
The artist is emphasizing the love and connection to the child, and how important they are to the family.