Periphery Waltz
Jolie Holland Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tell us to get down on our knees
And beg for salvation from some divinity
Is it any wonder there are people
Begging on the street for salvation from poverty?
Well, it's no surprise to me
I left my home in the church
I left my home in the suburbs to wander
I did it all for my dreams and the star
That I followed fell from the periphery
The street lights slipping down
My windshield fell like falling stars
Down a dark country road
I first left my home when I was seventeen
And I paid my respects to my fellow rejects
But I tended to wander alone like I was listening
To the words of a song, whispered soft and low
It's kind of like dancing
It's kind of like losing your mind
And I've often considered
The impractibility of my life
The moon behind the clouds is ill-defined
I got lost so many times but I could not
Be consigned to a fate of obsolescence
And decline, so I'll take the chance again
And the Mockingbird is my friend when he sings
A song in the warm midnight wind, I'll follow
My old tune and I'll wish you good morning
The song "Periphery Waltz" by Jolie Holland is a powerful commentary on the way society and culture shapes our perceptions and beliefs. Holland opens the song by questioning the authority of those who instruct us to submit to a higher power, and in doing so draws a connection between this type of submission and the poverty and desperation we see on the streets. The message here is that blindly following authority often leads to suffering and marginalization.
The rest of the song tells Holland's personal story of leaving behind her suburban home and its societal expectations in search of her dreams. She describes the feeling of being lost at times, but ultimately finding her own unique path. There's a sense of isolation and contemplation throughout the song, and Holland's lyrics and imagery create a vivid picture of someone who's willing to struggle and suffer in order to stay true to herself.
Overall, "Periphery Waltz" is a song about the search for meaning and identity in a world that often tries to force us into certain roles and belief systems. Holland questions authority and emphasizes the importance of following one's own inner voice, even when it leads us down unexpected and difficult paths.
Line by Line Meaning
When the supreme authorities of our culture
When those in power tell us what to do
Tell us to get down on our knees
Command us to submit or pray
And beg for salvation from some divinity
And plead for help or redemption from a higher power
Is it any wonder there are people
Is it surprising that there are those
Begging on the street for salvation from poverty?
Asking for help to escape from being poor?
Well, it's no surprise to me
That fact is not unexpected to me
I left my home in the church
I departed from a religious community
I left my home in the suburbs to wander
I left my comfortable home to travel aimlessly
I did it all for my dreams and the star
I took such action for my aspirations and a symbol
That I followed fell from the periphery
That I pursued was on the outer edge or fringes
The street lights slipping down
The lights on the road moving past me
My windshield fell like falling stars
The glass in front of me seemed like shooting stars
Down a dark country road
On a path without much light or direction
I first left my home when I was seventeen
I first departed when I was young
And I paid my respects to my fellow rejects
Showed my admiration to other outcasts
But I tended to wander alone like I was listening
However, I preferred to travel solo and attuned to something
To the words of a song, whispered soft and low
Under the lyrics of a gentle and quiet tune
It's kind of like dancing
It's somewhat similar to dancing
It's kind of like losing your mind
It's a bit like going crazy
And I've often considered
I've thought about this many times
The impractibility of my life
The unworkable nature of my existence
The moon behind the clouds is ill-defined
The obscured moon is hard to clearly see
I got lost so many times but I could not
I've been confused frequently, but I could not
Be consigned to a fate of obsolescence
Be resigned to becoming outmoded or forgotten
And decline, so I'll take the chance again
To diminish, so I'll try again
And the Mockingbird is my friend when he sings
And the mockingbird is my confidante when it sings
A song in the warm midnight wind, I'll follow
A melody in the balmy night air, I'll pursue
My old tune and I'll wish you good morning
My previous music and hope you feel good upon waking
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Written by: JOLIE R HOLLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind