Performing Songwriter calls Hutchinson, "...A master of introspective ballads filled with understated yearning and an exquisite sense of metaphor." The twenty-six year old describes her style as "lyric-based, folk-pop, with a whole lot of small town idealism and one devastating break up thrown in for good measure." Among her influences she is quick to include poet Mary Oliver along with the likes of David Grey, Patty Griffin, Greg Brown and Shawn Colvin. Her songs are characterized by a weathered but unselfconscious optimism, a love of language and of the natural world. Having grown up in a town of 5,000 people, "just outside the National Historic District," her songs possess all the charm of Lake Wobegon, tempered by a sweet and timeless voice.
Over In A Barrel
Meg Hutchinson Lyrics
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Entirely immersed, but sad, sad to the bone
And i say, "here, take my ear, i'm gonna spend three years alone"
Then we laugh across the table,
'cause we know i never, never wanna go
Over in that barrel
No, don't want to go deaf and dumb and blind
You're all i want, you're all i want, you're all i want tonight
Maybe later i'll, dream of geologic time
How small we are, making our circles and our rhymes
If van gogh went to the moon, you think she'd care or know his name
Does the universe hold its breath... on each lonely man's fame?
They went, over in that barrel
Yeah, they went deaf and dumb and blind
All this to sell one painting and then take his own life
I prefer our dinner, pour me more wine -
Ready to dive
Full tilt, into the rest of this brief life
If i knew where that was, i'd go there tonight
But i'm no, beethoven, you're no matisse, no van gogh no, no
No brilliant, deaf and dumb and blind
So let's have our second helping and curl up in each other's light
We don't have to decide, anything tonight
We don't have to decide, anything tonight
(we don't have to)
The song "Over In A Barrel" by Meg Hutchinson explores the themes of loneliness and the struggle for recognition and fame, ultimately questioning whether these pursuits are worth sacrificing one's well-being and relationships. The lyrics suggest a conversation between two individuals, possibly lovers, as they share a meal and discuss their respective living situations. The line "Over stroganoff, we consider van gogh" highlights the contrast between their relatively comfortable existence and the pain Van Gogh experienced as a struggling artist.
The singer then offers to give up their ear, as Van Gogh famously did, but they both acknowledge that they do not want to end up "over in that barrel," a reference to Van Gogh's mental breakdown and eventual suicide. The singer expresses their desire for the other person, saying "You're all I want tonight," emphasizing the importance of human connection and love as a source of fulfillment. The second verse contemplates the insignificance of human existence in the grand scheme of things.
The singer questions whether Van Gogh's legacy would matter if he had lived during a time when humans had not yet explored the moon. The reference to "geologic time" highlights the temporal limitations of human accomplishments. Despite this realization, the singer expresses their preference for enjoying a nice meal and wine instead of striving for fame and recognition at any cost. The song concludes with the lines "We don't have to decide anything tonight," suggesting an emphasis on living in the moment and enjoying each other's company.
Line by Line Meaning
Over stroganoff, we consider van gogh
While eating stroganoff, we think about Van Gogh
Entirely immersed, but sad, sad to the bone
Although deeply engrossed in thought, we are extremely sad
And i say, "here, take my ear, i'm gonna spend three years alone"
Jokingly, I suggest donating my ear while I spend time alone
Then we laugh across the table, 'cause we know i never, never wanna go
We laugh because we both know I don't want to end up like Van Gogh
Over in that barrel
In reference to Van Gogh's suicide and his painting 'Sorrow'
No, don't want to go deaf and dumb and blind
I don't want to suffer like Van Gogh did
You're all i want, you're all i want, you're all i want tonight
I only want to be with my partner tonight
Maybe later i'll, dream of geologic time
Perhaps I'll contemplate the vastness of time later
How small we are, making our circles and our rhymes
We are insignificant in the grand scheme of things
If van gogh went to the moon, you think she'd care or know his name
On the moon, Van Gogh's fame would be irrelevant
Does the universe hold its breath... on each lonely man's fame?
The universe doesn't care about our achievements or struggles
They went, over in that barrel
Another reference to Van Gogh's suicide
Yeah, they went deaf and dumb and blind
Van Gogh suffered greatly before ending his life
All this to sell one painting and then take his own life
Van Gogh's tragic end was a result of his struggles, despite his artistic talent
I prefer our dinner, pour me more wine -
I'd rather enjoy a nice meal with my partner than dwell on Van Gogh's fate
Ready to dive
Excited and eager to live my life to the fullest
Full tilt, into the rest of this brief life
Devoted to living the rest of my life fully and completely
If i knew where that was, i'd go there tonight
If I knew what the future held, I'd pursue it with all my might
But i'm no, beethoven, you're no matisse, no van gogh no, no
We are not great artists like Beethoven, Matisse, or Van Gogh
No brilliant, deaf and dumb and blind
We don't need to be suffering to be great artists
So let's have our second helping and curl up in each other's light
Let's enjoy our meal a little longer and cuddle in each other's presence
We don't have to decide, anything tonight
There's no need to make any big decisions tonight
(we don't have to)
Reiteration of not having to make decisions tonight
Contributed by London P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Top10BeyondTheScreen
Which celebrity interview made you cringe the most?
@victoriawilliams2786
Trump's
@mlggamer5296
From this list definitely Kathy Griffin and Allen Carr
@ketmaniac
@@mlggamer5296 Alan
@mlggamer5296
@@ketmaniac oh it is spelled Alan I thought it was initially spelled right when I was typing
@flyme2themoon720
Compaired to Amber Heard these are nothing.Ambers the most toxic and disqusting thing that ever entered Hollywood...PERIOD!!
@reenierossi3724
Where was the story about the screenshot you advertised, which hooked me to come in and watch?
@michaeljordan6008
Sorry weenie
@NuhashTheHash
Buy a yub beanie
@tommyvenegas6704
I suffered the same fate.