The Pilgrim
Jools Holland Lyrics

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See him wasted on the sidewalk in his jacket and his jeans,
Wearin' yesterday's misfortunes like a smile--
Once he had a future full of money, love, and dreams,
Which he spent like they was goin' outta style--
And he keeps right on a'changin' for the better or the worse,
Searchin' for a shrine he's never found--
Never knowin' if believin' is a blessin' or a curse,
Or if the goin' up was worth the comin' down--

He's a poet, he's a picker--
He's a prophet, he's a pusher--
He's a pilgrim and a preacher, and a problem when he's stoned--
He's a walkin' contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction,
Takin' ev'ry wrong direction on his lonely way back home.

He has tasted good and evil in your bedrooms and your bars,
And he's traded in tomorrow for today--
Runnin' from his devils, lord, and reachin' for the stars,
And losin' all he's loved along the way--
But if this world keeps right on turnin' for the better or the worse,
And all he ever gets is older and around--
>from the rockin' of the cradle to the rollin' of the hearse,
The goin' up was worth the comin' down--

He's a poet, he's a picker--
He's a prophet, he's a pusher--
He's a pilgrim and a preacher, and a problem when he's stoned--
He's a walkin' contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction,

Takin' ev'ry wrong direction on his lonely way back home.
There's a lotta wrong directions on that lonely way back home.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jools Holland & Bob Geldof's song "The Pilgrim" paint the picture of a man who is lost and wandering through life, struggling to find his place in the world. He is a person who has lived through both good and bad experiences and is constantly changing as a result. The first verse describes his current state, with him being wasted on the sidewalk in his jacket and jeans, wearing the misfortunes of his past as a smile. He had a future before, full of love, money, and dreams, which he spent as if they were going out of style. The song then delves into his inner thoughts, wondering if his belief system is a blessing or a curse and if the life he lived was worth the consequences.

The second verse highlights the contradictions within the man's character. He is a poet, a picker, a prophet, and a pusher. He's a pilgrim, a preacher, and a problem when he's stoned. He's a walking contradiction, partly true, and partly fictional, taking every wrong direction on his lonely way back home. The chorus reminds the listener that there are many wrong directions on the road to finding oneself.

Overall, "The Pilgrim" is a song about self-discovery, and the struggles one finds on the path to finding oneself. It portrays a person with a complex character, facing inner demons, and struggling to find meaning in life, but with hope that the journey is worth it.

Line by Line Meaning

See him wasted on the sidewalk in his jacket and his jeans, Wearin' yesterday's misfortunes like a smile--
He is visibly struggling while wearing a smile that masks his inner pain and past failures.

Once he had a future full of money, love, and dreams, Which he spent like they was goin' outta style--
He had a bright future with plenty of money, love, and dreams that he quickly squandered away.

And he keeps right on a'changin' for the better or the worse, Searchin' for a shrine he's never found--
He constantly changes, unsure if it's for the better or worse, in search of something he's never found.

Never knowin' if believin' is a blessin' or a curse, Or if the goin' up was worth the comin' down--
He's constantly questioning if his beliefs are helping or harming him and if the highs were worth the lows he's experienced.

He's a poet, he's a picker-- He's a prophet, he's a pusher-- He's a pilgrim and a preacher, and a problem when he's stoned-- He's a walkin' contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction, Takin' ev'ry wrong direction on his lonely way back home.
He's a complex individual with many contradictions, having connections to religion and substance abuse, and always seems to choose the wrong path in his journey home.

He has tasted good and evil in your bedrooms and your bars, And he's traded in tomorrow for today-- Runnin' from his devils, lord, and reachin' for the stars, And losin' all he's loved along the way--
He's experienced both the good and bad sides of life, making impulsive decisions, often to escape his demons, but losing everything he values in the process.

But if this world keeps right on turnin' for the better or the worse, And all he ever gets is older and around-- >from the rockin' of the cradle to the rollin' of the hearse, The goin' up was worth the comin' down--
Regardless of how the world turns and his aging, he believes the highs were worth the lows and journey towards them.

There's a lotta wrong directions on that lonely way back home.
There are many paths to take, but most of them are wrong when it comes to finding his way back home.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: KRIS KRISTOFFERSON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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