Everybody
Kieran Kane & Kevin Welch Lyrics
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No shadow did he cast
Clock on the wall
No hands at all
No present, no future, no past
[Chorus]
You can't save everybody
You can't save everybody
Everybody don't want to be saved
Old headstones, old buried bones
Just laying 'round cemetery deep
I'm burning matches
For the sake of making ashes
Just trying to get some sleep
[Chorus]
Poetry pages filled through the ages
With words that don't make no sense
Quart of beer in a brown paper sack
Two dollars away from the rent
[Chorus]
The lyrics of Kieran Kane and Kevin Welch's song "Everybody" speak of the harsh truth that no matter how much we try, we cannot save everyone. The opening lines paint a picture of an old, dirty dog walking down the street without casting any shadow, symbolizing the absence of any significant impact on the world. The clock on the wall has no hands, representing the absence of time or any sense of direction.
The chorus is a powerful reminder that despite our best intentions, we cannot save everyone. No matter what actions we take, no matter how much we praise or uplift someone, it does not guarantee that they want to be saved. It is a bitter pill to swallow but an essential lesson to learn. The verse on old headstones, buried bones, and the cemetery deep speaks of the inevitability of death and how even in death, we cannot save everyone.
The final verse uses the imagery of poetry pages filled through the ages with words that don't make sense, symbolizing the futility of trying to make sense of life. The reference to a quart of beer in a brown paper sack and being two dollars away from rent highlights the struggles many people face in their daily lives, where survival is the priority.
Overall, the lyrics highlight the reality that saving everyone is impossible, no matter how much we try. We each have our own journey and choices to make, and interfering with someone else's journey is not always the answer.
Line by Line Meaning
Old dirty dog walking down the street
An uncared-for creature moving along the road
No shadow did he cast
The creature doesn't deserve any attention
Clock on the wall
The object that usually indicate time
No hands at all
Life has stopped, and it's pointless to seek direction
No present, no future, no past
Meaningless existence with no value in the past or the future
You can't save everybody
It's impossible to rescue every person from his self-destructive behavior
No word, no deed, no praise
Nothing one says or does will change the outcome
Everybody don't want to be saved
Some don't see or care about the consequences of their actions
Old headstones, old buried bones
Metaphor about death and the remains being neglected
Just laying 'round cemetery deep
The subject is surrounded by death
I'm burning matches
Attempt to create light in the darkness
For the sake of making ashes
Without any productive reason to do so
Just trying to get some sleep
To find rest in a world where everything seems pointless
Poetry pages filled through the ages
Generations have written the verses
With words that don't make no sense
The content of the poetry is incomprehensible and illogical
Quart of beer in a brown paper sack
Concealing alcohol in a cheap container
Two dollars away from the rent
One missed payment could lead to eviction
Lyrics © DEMI MUSIC CORP. D/B/A LICHELLE MUSIC COMPANY
Written by: KIERAN KANE, SEAN LOCKE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind