KEVIN
Joseph Maxwell Lyrics
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Waiting in line at the BMV
Faded travel posters
Of all the places he would rather be
Drive-thru window keepsakes
Sorrow sweepstakes, she is on his mind
Double Jacks and milkshakes
On an island far away
Kevin is somewhere else
Sitting alone at the hotel bar
Drinking to untie
The knots that bind him to his ugly parts
Early aughts October
He is older than he thought he'd be
Two days clean and sober
Starting over his recovery
At the park on Saturday
Kevin is in his head
Sleeping it off in the ICU
Carnival incantations
Jubilations of another youth
She looks at him so sweetly
He'd be happy to be her best friend
Someone else completely
But even then he feels the same again
He will never be okay
The song "Kevin" by Joseph Maxwell is a poignant and introspective reflection on the struggles of the titular character. Throughout the song, we are shown Kevin in various locations, physically present but mentally absent. In the first verse, we see him waiting in line at the BMV, surrounded by faded travel posters that taunt him with the promise of escape to far-off places. He distracts himself with fast food and thoughts of a woman who has broken his heart, telling himself that he will be fine.
In the second verse, Kevin is alone at a hotel bar, trying to drink away his troubles. He reflects on how his life has not turned out the way he expected it to, and how he is struggling to stay sober. He is weighed down by the memories of his past, and the mistakes that he has made.
The final verse shows Kevin in the ICU, recovering from some unknown injury or ailment. He is visited by a woman who he wishes he could be friends with, but even that seems beyond his grasp. The song ends on a somber note, with the repeated refrain that Kevin will never be okay.
The lyrics of "Kevin" are open to interpretation, but they seem to be exploring themes of isolation, regret, and the difficulties of finding meaning in life. The character of Kevin is presented with empathy and sensitivity, and the song as a whole is a moving and effective depiction of someone struggling with their inner demons.
Line by Line Meaning
Kevin is not himself
Kevin is feeling off and not like his usual self
Waiting in line at the BMV
Kevin is waiting in line at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles
Faded travel posters
The travel posters in the BMV have faded with time
Of all the places he would rather be
Kevin would rather be anywhere but waiting in line at the BMV
Drive-thru window keepsakes
Kevin collects mementos from drive-thru windows
Sorrow sweepstakes, she is on his mind
Kevin is thinking about a woman who brings him sadness
Double Jacks and milkshakes
Kevin drinks Jack Daniels and milkshakes to cope with his emotions
When his heart breaks he will be just fine
Despite heartbreak, Kevin will be okay in the end
On an island far away
Kevin dreams of being on a remote island
Kevin is somewhere else
Kevin is mentally somewhere else
Sitting alone at the hotel bar
Kevin is alone at a hotel bar
Drinking to untie
Kevin drinks to loosen the emotional knots in his life
The knots that bind him to his ugly parts
Kevin is held back by the negative aspects of his personality
Early aughts October
The time frame is in early 2000s October
He is older than he thought he'd be
Kevin is surprised at how old he has become
Two days clean and sober
Kevin is two days sober from alcohol/narcotics
Starting over his recovery
Kevin is beginning his journey towards recovery
At the park on Saturday
Kevin is at the park on a Saturday
Kevin is in his head
Kevin is preoccupied with his thoughts
Sleeping it off in the ICU
Kevin is in the Intensive Care Unit, asleep to recover from something
Carnival incantations
Kevin recalls the enchantment of a carnival
Jubilations of another youth
Kevin reminisces on the joys of his younger years
She looks at him so sweetly
A woman looks at Kevin with tenderness
He'd be happy to be her best friend
Kevin desires a close friendship with her
Someone else completely
However, Kevin knows he will still be himself and not someone else
But even then he feels the same again
Despite his efforts, Kevin still has the same feelings for the woman
He will never be okay
Kevin comes to the realization that he will never truly be okay
Lyrics © DistroKid
Written by: Joseph Maxwell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind