1) Madelin… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two artists performing under this name
1) Madeline Adams has been performing simply as Madeline for the last decade. As a teenager she relocated from her hometown of Athens, Georgia to Bloomington, Indiana to work with the punk label Plan-It-X Records (Japanther, Against Me, Defiance, Ohio). After a few years and many punk tours Madeline moved back home to work with Orange Twin Records releasing several albums in collaboration with Phosphorescent, the Athens-based Elephant 6 Collective (Neutral Milk Hotel, Olivia Tremor Control, Nana Grizol), Phil Elverum (Mt. Eerie) and Karl Blau (The Microphones).
2) Madeline also refers to an Australian artist, who released 'I Think I Love You' in 2007
Dumpster Dive Mother
Madeline Lyrics
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The gravel and the dust have gone from boots to bones
I bought these pants, I bought these pants from an army officer
One hand and six children.
Time has gone, time has gone with me
The autumn leaves will fall from trees from here to Kentucky
Born in North Carolina but I don't see how that matters
Soon as he learned to walk well, he learned to wander
Son of a roadside diner and a dumpster dive mother
I ain't got much, I ain't got much but my thumb
It's carried me from sea to sea, Lord knows it's just begun
Charity, charity garbage cans, the police have forbidden me
They think I'm less than man
And oh, they're right, no, I am not like them
The land's my law, these handcuffed paws only raise to defend
Born in North Carolina but I don't see how that matters
Son of a road side diner and a dumpster dive mother
Soon as he learned to walk well, he learned to wander
Son of a roadside diner and a dumpster dive mother
I fell in love, I fell in love with the setting sun
I'll spend my life chasing my wife from New York to the Grand Canyon
Maybe then, maybe then I'll settle down
I've seen defeat in comfort's reach, I'm off to press holy ground
Born in North Carolina but I don't see how that matters
Son of a road side diner and a dumpster dive mother
Soon as he learned to walk well, he learned to wander
Son of a roadside diner and a dumpster dive mother
The song “Dumpster Dive Mother” by Madeline is a poignant narrative about a man who was born into poverty and raised by a mother who resorted to diving into dumpsters for a living. The lyrics describe the man’s journey from childhood to adulthood, as he travels the country hitchhiking and picking through trash cans to make ends meet. The opening lines, “I’ve been down, I’ve been down a road / The gravel and the dust have gone from boots to bones” create an image of a life so hard that it has taken a physical toll on the singer.
The singer reflects on his upbringing, acknowledging that he was born in North Carolina but doesn’t feel that it matters. He is the son of a roadside diner owner and a mother who was forced to dumpster dive to provide for him. The lyrics describe how he learned to wander from a young age, and how he has relied on his thumb to carry him across the country. The singer acknowledges that society sees him as less than a man, but he refuses to be defined by their expectations. He describes the land as his law, and his handcuffed paws only raise to defend.
The song ends on a note of hope, as the singer falls in love with the setting sun and decides to chase his wife across the country. He dreams of settling down and finding holy ground. Overall, “Dumpster Dive Mother” is a powerful song that speaks to the struggles and resilience of those born into poverty and overlooked by society.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been down, I've been down a road
I have experienced difficulties and challenges in my life, much like traveling down a rough road.
The gravel and the dust have gone from boots to bones
The rough journey has taken a toll on my physical and emotional being, leaving me exhausted.
I bought these pants, I bought these pants from an army officer, One hand and six children.
I had to buy these pants from an army officer despite having limited resources, being a single parent with six children to care for.
Time has gone, time has gone with me, The autumn leaves will fall from trees from here to Kentucky
As the years have gone by, I have witnessed the changing seasons and the passage of time.
Born in North Carolina but I don't see how that matters, Son of a road side diner and a dumpster dive mother
Although I was born in North Carolina, my upbringing by a mother who scavenged for food in dumpsters and a father who owned a roadside diner defines me more than my birthplace.
Soon as he learned to walk well, he learned to wander
From a young age, the singer learned to be self-sufficient and independent, always on the move.
I ain't got much, I ain't got much but my thumb, It's carried me from sea to sea, Lord knows it's just begun
The only possession I have is my ability to hitchhike, which has taken me on a journey across the country, and I feel like there's much more ahead of me.
Charity, charity garbage cans, the police have forbidden me, They think I'm less than man
I have had to rely on charity and scavenge from garbage cans to survive, but the authorities see me as inferior and unworthy of respect.
And oh, they're right, no, I am not like them, The land's my law, these handcuffed paws only raise to defend
I admit that I am different from those who live conventional lives, but I believe in the freedom of the land and will fight to protect it, even with my handcuffs still on.
I fell in love, I fell in love with the setting sun, I'll spend my life chasing my wife from New York to the Grand Canyon
I have found love and will do whatever it takes to be with my partner, even if it means following the sun and traveling across the country.
Maybe then, maybe then I'll settle down, I've seen defeat in comfort's reach, I'm off to press holy ground
If I reach my destination, I might consider settling down, but I've also learned that even when things seem comfortable, defeat can still be lurking, so I'm always ready to move on and seek out new challenges.
Contributed by Mackenzie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.