Corrido por Buddy
Jolie Holland Lyrics
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About someone I barely knew at all
He was a friend of my friends and they told me about him
How he had nothing to break his fall
He had that bad religion in his blood
The kind that brings you down and can never lift you up
He was a ghost faced junkie on the streets of New Orleans
I could barely recognize him when I saw him
He had to look me in the face and say my name before I knew it was him
Oh buddy, I wish I'd been a better friend
What if they only gave you love when you lied?
It's bound to really rip you up inside
Pressures a person into that horrible mouth that leaves a bloody aftermath
Everything minus one is everything
He treated me with what I considered kindness
When I crawled off to sleep in my car he was worried about me
When we payed our respects to the moon on the outskirts of Austin
I'm sorry to say I was too shy to stay in touch with him
Oh buddy, I wish I'd been a better friend
And I wonder what it takes just to save one little life
Icarus almost made it back to the shore
When I was really down, there were three little words
From a couple of good people that kept me holding on
Oh buddy, I'll never get a chance again
Oh buddy, I wish I'd been a better friend
Oh buddy, I'll never get a chance again
Oh buddy, I wish I'd been a better friend
The lyrics of Jolie Holland’s song “Corrido Por Buddy” tells the tale of lost friendship and regret. The singer speaks directly to her friends, telling a story about a guy named Buddy whom she barely knew, who was a friend of her own friends. Buddy was troubled and struggling with addiction, with “that bad religion” in his blood that brought him down, but no one could do anything to lift him up. The song speaks to the struggles of addiction, the societal pressures that make people feel like they have nothing left but to succumb to it, and the pain of losing someone to it.
The singer reminisces about the times she spent with Buddy, how she saw him beautiful young man on the streets of Austin and a ghost-faced junkie on the streets of New Orleans. She regrets not having been a better friend, not having stayed in touch with him, not having gotten a chance to possibly help him save his life. She wonders what it takes to save just one life and how everything but one is still everything. The song ends on a mournful note, with the singer lamenting that she will never get a chance to be a better friend to Buddy, now that he is most likely lost to his addiction.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, listen my dear friends and I'll tell you a story
The singer is introducing a story that she wants to share with her friends.
About someone I barely knew at all
The story is about a person the singer didn't know very well.
He was a friend of my friends and they told me about him
The singer learned about this person from mutual acquaintances.
How he had nothing to break his fall
The person had no support system or safety net.
He had that bad religion in his blood
The person struggled with addiction that consumed him.
The kind that brings you down and can never lift you up
The addiction was a vicious cycle of pain and self-destruction.
He was a beautiful young man on the streets of Austin
The person was once vibrant and attractive.
He was a ghost faced junkie on the streets of New Orleans
The addiction turned the person into a shadow of his former self.
I could barely recognize him when I saw him
The person's appearance had changed drastically.
He had to look me in the face and say my name before I knew it was him
The person was unrecognizable and had to identify himself to the singer.
Oh buddy, I wish I'd been a better friend
The singer expresses regret for not being there for this person.
What if they only gave you love when you lied?
The singer wonders how hard it is to be truthful if love is only given as a reward for lying.
It's bound to really rip you up inside
Being forced to lie for love can cause immense emotional pain.
Pressures a person into that horrible mouth that leaves a bloody aftermath
Being forced to lie can lead a person into harmful situations with dire consequences.
Everything minus one is everything
Losing one important thing can make everything else seem meaningless.
He treated me with what I considered kindness
The person was kind to the singer in a way she appreciated.
When I crawled off to sleep in my car he was worried about me
The person showed concern for the singer's well-being.
When we payed our respects to the moon on the outskirts of Austin
The two shared a meaningful moment under the moonlight.
I'm sorry to say I was too shy to stay in touch with him
The singer failed to maintain meaningful contact with the person.
And I wonder what it takes just to save one little life
The singer contemplates the effort required to help someone in need.
Icarus almost made it back to the shore
A reference to a Greek myth about a character who attempted to fly too close to the sun and fell to his death. The singer likely thinks of the person's struggle with addiction in a similar way.
When I was really down, there were three little words
Someone showed the singer love and support when she was struggling.
From a couple of good people that kept me holding on
Those three little words helped the singer stay strong.
Oh buddy, I'll never get a chance again
The singer mourns the fact that she will never be able to make things right with the person.
Oh buddy, I wish I'd been a better friend
The singer expresses regret again for not being a better friend.
Oh buddy, I'll never get a chance again
The singer repeats her sadness about never being able to repair the relationship with the person.
Oh buddy, I wish I'd been a better friend
The song ends with a final expression of regret for not being there for this person.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOLIE R HOLLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind