Discography
Seductive Reasoning (Columbia, 1975)
I Gave My Love a Kerry (Earth Rock Wreckerds, 2004)
If You Empty Out All Your Pockets You Could Not Make The Change
Maggie and Terre Roche Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
When I was sayin' that I was free
You was lined up down the avenue
Just about as far as I could see
You got one eye on my dungarees
And another on my reviews
And a third one on the waitress
She was straightenin' up the pews
She was passin' around a basket (Mercy)
She was wipin' off the spoon
She was readin' the handwritin' on the moon
(Handwritin' on the moon)
You call yourself a handyman
You can do anything with your hands
Tellin' me about your family
Tellin' me about your plans
Yeah, well I ain't got the belly for this
And you ain't got the brains
And if you emptied out all of your pockets
Honey you could not make the change
She keeps passin' around that basket (Mercy)
You keep droppin' in your dues
Instead of readin' the handwritin'
On the moon (Handwritin' on the moon)
(Oh yeah)
Mine sure ain't the belly
And I know yours ain't the brains
And if you emptied out all your pockets
Honey you could not make the change
If you emptied out all of your pockets, baby
You could not make the change
(Could not make the change)
The lyrics to Maggie and Terre Roche's song "If You Empty Out All Your Pockets You Could Not Make the Change" contain a sense of frustration and disillusionment with the idea of freedom and the expectations society places on individuals. The song begins with the singer reminiscing about a time before they went to jail, when they claimed to be free. However, they observe that despite their claims of freedom, they were always being scrutinized and judged by others. The imagery of being lined up down the avenue suggests a sense of being watched and evaluated.
The lyrics then shift to a waitress straightening up pews and passing around a basket, which symbolizes religious or societal expectations. The sense of mercy being mentioned suggests that the singer is questioning the supposed compassion and understanding present in such institutions. The line about reading the handwriting on the moon implies that the singer sees through the façade and can see the truth behind the societal expectations and norms.
The second verse addresses someone who calls themselves a handyman and boasts about their abilities and family. However, the singer dismisses their claims, stating that they do not have the determination or intelligence to succeed. The phrase "if you emptied out all of your pockets" implies that even if this person were to give their all, they still wouldn't be able to bring about any real change or transformation.
Overall, the song conveys a sense of disillusionment with the expectations placed on individuals and the struggle to find one's own true freedom. It questions societal norms and offers a perspective that challenges the idea of success and fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
Before I went to jail
Prior to my incarceration
When I was sayin' that I was free
When I claimed to be liberated
You was lined up down the avenue
You were gathered along the street
Just about as far as I could see
Extending to the limits of my vision
You got one eye on my dungarees
You closely observe my denim pants
And another on my reviews
And additionally on my appraisals or criticisms
And a third one on the waitress
Furthermore, you focus on the waitress
She was straightenin' up the pews
Who was tidying and arranging the pews
She was passin' around a basket (Mercy)
She was distributing a collection basket (May God help us)
She was wipin' off the spoon
She was cleaning a spoon
She was readin' the handwritin' on the moon
She was deciphering the message written on the moon
You call yourself a handyman
You claim to be a skilled worker
You can do anything with your hands
You can accomplish any task using your hands
Tellin' me about your family
Informing me about your relatives
Tellin' me about your plans
Sharing your future intentions
Yeah, well I ain't got the belly for this
However, I lack the courage for this situation
And you ain't got the brains
And you lack the intelligence
And if you emptied out all of your pockets
If you were to completely remove the contents of your pockets
Honey you could not make the change
Dear, you would not possess enough currency
She keeps passin' around that basket (Mercy)
She continues to circulate that collection basket (May God help us)
You keep droppin' in your dues
You continuously contribute your payments
Instead of readin' the handwritin'
Rather than deciphering the message
On the moon (Handwritin' on the moon)
Written on the moon's surface (Message in the sky)
Mine sure ain't the belly
Certainly not my bravery
And I know yours ain't the brains
And I'm aware you lack intelligence
And if you emptied out all your pockets
Additionally, if you were to remove all the items from your pockets
Honey you could not make the change
Dear, you would not be able to produce the required money
If you emptied out all of your pockets, baby
In the event that all the contents of your pockets were removed, my dear
You could not make the change
You would be incapable of generating the necessary currency
(Could not make the change)
(Unable to produce the needed money)
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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