Stubborn Beast
Jolie Holland Lyrics
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I have seen the campfires burning, I have heard the drunkards howl
I'm silent in my solitude, I'm quiet as a thief
I have stolen all these hours, I have gotten no relief
My crazy dreams and tragedies have taken me for a ride
But I can see strange glory on the other side
Oh, this has been my misery and the source of my pride
Why don't you take me when I'm willing?
Why don't you take me when I'm willing?
But like a stubborn beast when the barn is on fire
I might resist you when you try to save my life
I might resist you when you try to save my life
When the flames rise around us and I can't see the door
This is still my home and it has never burned before
Oh, this is where I've taken my solace and my peace
The walls are caving in but I am still a stubborn beast
Why don't you take me when I'm?
Why don't you take me when I'm willing?
The lyrics to Jolie Holland's song "Stubborn Beast" are full of contradictions and complexities. The singer begins by acknowledging the bleakness of their path, having encountered campfires and the sounds of drunkards. They are isolated and unable to find respite from their pain. Despite their misery, there is a sense of pride in their experiences, which have offered up "strange glory." However, these experiences also prompt the singer to question their journey and whether they have been deceived. The refrain "Why don't you take me when I'm willing?" repeated twice suggests a longing for someone to help them and perhaps even rescue them from themselves.
The title "Stubborn Beast" is fitting in describing the singer's behavior when they are in danger, akin to an animal that refuses to leave its comfort zone. When the barn is on fire, the singer may resist help even as their own safety becomes threatened. They remain convinced that they can endure and ultimately survive. Their home, despite the fires that may engulf it, provides a sense of solace and peace that are hard to come by elsewhere.
Overall, Holland's lyrics offer an unvarnished yet poetic look into the struggles of someone who is fighting their demons alone but remains fiercely independent. The song is poignant and thought-provoking, leaving the listener with much to ponder.
Line by Line Meaning
My sullen songs have taken me far down this darkened road
My melancholic music has led me deep into this gloomy path
I have seen the campfires burning, I have heard the drunkards howl
I have witnessed the flames of the bonfires and the voices of the intoxicated ones
I'm silent in my solitude, I'm quiet as a thief
I'm hushed in my aloneness, as still as a robber
I have stolen all these hours, I have gotten no relief
I have taken away all this time, yet I have not found any solace
My crazy dreams and tragedies have taken me for a ride
My erratic fantasies and misfortunes have taken me on a journey
But I can see strange glory on the other side
Yet I can envision an unusual splendor on the other side
Oh, this has been my misery and the source of my pride
Oh, this has been my hardship and the foundation of my dignity
But all along I'm thinking that I've been taken for a ride
But throughout, I'm thinking that I've been fooled
Why don't you take me when I'm willing?
Why don't you accept me when I'm agreeable?
But like a stubborn beast when the barn is on fire
However, similar to an obstinate animal during a barn blaze
I might resist you when you try to save my life
I might oppose you when you attempt to salvage me
When the flames rise around us and I can't see the door
When the inferno engulfs us and I can't locate the exit
This is still my home and it has never burned before
This is still my abode, and it has never been aflame previously
Oh, this is where I've taken my solace and my peace
Oh, this is where I have sought comfort and serenity
The walls are caving in but I am still a stubborn beast
The walls are collapsing, but I am still unyielding
Why don't you take me when I'm?
Why don't you accept me when I'm…?
Why don't you take me when I'm willing?
Why don't you accept me when I'm agreeable?
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JOLIE R HOLLAND
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind