Cherry
Josh Woodward Lyrics


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Sweet little Cherry got her hands in her pockets
and she's waiting for a downtown train

High heel boots with the straps hung low
And her head hanging down in shame

The wolves all dress up just like sheep
and the go and hit the town
Cherry never sees 'em
But they're hanging all around

Sweet little Cherry got a switchblade Jimmy
Come and take her down to 4th and Main

Her mind in a haze of the better days
Before her body was an ad campaign

But now the filthy crooks and pocketbooks
Are all that Cherry sees
The dashboard dogs and backseat hogs and
Down onto her knees

I am tempted, I am weak
I'm too weak to try to speak
I am tempted, I'm ashamed
Yeah, I'm ashamed and I'm to blame

You'll see
Yeah I'm tempted by the cherry tree
You'll see
Yeah I'm tempted by the cherry tree

Sweet little Cherry took the last bus home
In the middle of the pouring rain

She saw the bad boys sleeping and the good girls weeping
Through the fog on the window panes

And Cherry wants to make it right
But she never has a prayer




Cuz as long as there are bad boys
They'll be penny millionaires

Overall Meaning

The song “Cherry” by Josh Woodward is a heartbreaking account of a young woman named Cherry who is struggling with the vicissitudes of life. The song starts with Cherry waiting for a train while having her hands in her pockets. It is apparent that she is in a dark place because she is wearing high heel boots with the straps hung low, and her head is hanging down in shame. Cherry tries to keep herself hidden, but the wolves, who dress up like sheep, still find her. They go into town and hang around her, but Cherry does not see them. The song tells us how bad men, the filthy crooks, pocketbooks, dashboard dogs, and backseat hogs, convince Cherry to do things she is not proud of, and how all this breaks her heart.


The song continues with the chorus telling us how Cherry is tempted by the cherry tree, representing the various vices and bad influences in her life. She is too weak to try to speak, and the shame and blame she feels weigh heavily on her. Cherry took the last bus home in the pouring rain and saw that the bad boys were sleeping while the good girls were weeping. She wants to make things right but never has a prayer because, as long as there are bad boys, they will always be penny millionaires.


The song is a poignant depiction of a young woman’s struggle and how the perverse influences of society can lead people down the wrong path. It tells of how the pressures of life can take a toll on a person, and how small choices can have long-lasting consequences. The song is touching and speaks to the pain of people everywhere, giving a voice to those who feel alone and abandoned.


Line by Line Meaning

Sweet little Cherry got her hands in her pockets and she's waiting for a downtown train
Cherry is waiting for a train with her hands in her pockets.


High heel boots with the straps hung low And her head hanging down in shame
Cherry is wearing high heel boots and her head is hanging down in shame.


The wolves all dress up just like sheep and they go and hit the town Cherry never sees 'em But they're hanging all around
Bad people dress up as good people and Cherry is unaware of their presence in the town.


Sweet little Cherry got a switchblade Jimmy Come and take her down to 4th and Main Her mind in a haze of the better days Before her body was an ad campaign
Cherry meets a person named Jimmy, and he takes her to a place called 4th and Main. She remembers the good old days before she became a model.


But now the filthy crooks and pocketbooks Are all that Cherry sees The dashboard dogs and backseat hogs and Down onto her knees
Cherry now only sees the filthy people and their money who force her to bow down.


I am tempted, I am weak I'm too weak to try to speak I am tempted, I'm ashamed Yeah, I'm ashamed and I'm to blame You'll see Yeah, I'm tempted by the cherry tree You'll see Yeah, I'm tempted by the cherry tree
Cherry is ashamed and feels guilty about being weak and tempted by something that is too difficult for her to explain, represented by the cherry tree metaphor.


Sweet little Cherry took the last bus home In the middle of the pouring rain She saw the bad boys sleeping and the good girls weeping Through the fog on the window panes
Cherry takes the last bus home in the pouring rain, and sees the bad people sleeping while the good people are crying through the fog on the window panes.


And Cherry wants to make it right But she never has a prayer Cuz as long as there are bad boys They'll be penny millionaires
Cherry wants to make things right, but it seems impossible for her because as long as there are bad people, they will be rewarded with money.




Contributed by Ella J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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