Kathleen
Kill Creek Lyrics
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Take comfort when I fail her. 'Cause I'm not the kind to
Try to teach The Fella's Word. Last week I mailed some
Cards I guess you couldn't read. But the truth is I could
Use this pressure... Entertaining kids shooting up at
Clubs is no way to spend the night I turn twenty-nine. So
Far we've made a whole lotta graves. And I don't have the
Strength to dig all those holes. But the truth is I could
Use that pressure. Jenny, make sure he's keeping up his
Vows; that way he'll have something when he falls apart.
I never seem to catch the three of you at once from those
Pay phones I can't hear shit on anyway. But the truth is
He could use some pressure... And the lamb lies with the
Lion I've learned for sure. But the lion lies to the lamb
Every time.
The song "Kathleen" by Kill Creek is a haunting and introspective piece that speaks about the singer's failures and the pressure that he feels to be better. The song appears to be directed towards Jenny, who is asked to raise Kathleen "in the eyes of God", suggesting that the singer doesn't feel capable of doing so himself. He admits to not being the kind of person who is able to teach about religion, and feels like he may fail Kathleen in this way.
The lyrics then take a turn towards a discussion about the pressure that the singer feels. He speaks about entertaining kids who shoot up at clubs, and how that is not how he wants to spend his nights. He describes how he feels like so far they have made a lot of graves, but he doesn't have the strength to dig them all. Here, the imagery of graves suggests that the singer may have played a role in the deaths of those buried there, either literally or metaphorically.
The last two stanzas then speak to Jenny, asking her to make sure that "he" - presumably Kathleen's father or husband - is keeping up his vows. The singer then admits that he never seems to catch the three of them at once, and that he can't hear anything on the pay phones anyway. The lyrics end with the statement "the lamb lies with the lion I've learned for sure. But the lion lies to the lamb every time", suggesting that things are not always as they seem, and that people often hide their true selves from others.
Overall, "Kathleen" is a deeply introspective and melancholic song that speaks to the pressures of life and the ways in which we try and fail to cope with them.
Line by Line Meaning
Jenny, raise Kathleen in the eyes of God; that way you'll
Take comfort when I fail her.
Jenny, bring up our child with a religious foundation, so you can feel better about my shortcomings as a father.
'Cause I'm not the kind to
Try to teach The Fella's Word.
I'm not the type to preach religious doctrine.
Last week I mailed some
Cards I guess you couldn't read. But the truth is I could
Use this pressure...
I sent letters you may not have understood, but in reality, I needed a way to cope with the stress in my life.
Entertaining kids shooting up at
Clubs is no way to spend the night I turn twenty-nine.
I don't want to spend my 29th birthday partying with drug-using teens.
So
Far we've made a whole lotta graves. And I don't have the
Strength to dig all those holes. But the truth is I could
Use that pressure.
We have dealt with a lot of death, and I can't handle the burden of digging graves alone, but it may also bring me comfort and relief.
Jenny, make sure he's keeping up his
Vows; that way he'll have something when he falls apart.
Jenny, ensure that your husband (me) stays committed to his promises, so that he has something to cling to when he inevitably struggles.
I never seem to catch the three of you at once from those
Pay phones I can't hear shit on anyway. But the truth is
He could use some pressure...
I can't seem to communicate with my wife and child at the same time due to poor phone connections, but I also recognize that my family may benefit from me being more assertive.
And the lamb lies with the
Lion I've learned for sure. But the lion lies to the lamb
Every time.
Peaceful coexistence between the weak (lamb) and the strong (lion) is possible, but ultimately, the strong will always have the power to deceive and abuse the weak.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: WILLIE NELSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Daniel Gibson
that little bit of feedback at 00:54 always gets me.
Enoch O'Coileain
Backstory: Jen and I asked Scott to be Kathleen's godfather. He and I were touring with different bands and I take it when he called Jen and Kathleen, I was never there. Kathleen is now 24. Jen and I are still married. And Scott and I very rarely speak. Life is a grind and there are casualties.
Phil Nicolas
So beautiful
unbridledenthusiasm
Very true. Thanks for sharing
Carrie Parcel
yeah me too