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.
Yea Tho We Walk
Meg Hutchinson Lyrics
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Sun creeping over those blue angels of death
So much corn and loss and God, hold the Good Book tight
For fear the fields will swallow you at night
Landing low over the prisons, Omaha at Eppley field
Inmates down in the courtyard, so close that I can feel
So much rage and hope and grief, and this dream of getting free
Fueled by the sound of airplanes as they leave
This valley grows darker each time
Oh my friend the soul seems made from such a thread
No matter how it tears it always tries to mend
Seems death is my new neighbor, he watches me in my garden
His silhouette in the window so terrible and handsome
If I turn away, or if I watch him carefully
Will I not fall in love today?
Oh my friend is that your hand in mine...
Do unto others, love thy brother
Yea tho we walk tho we walk
The opening line of Meg Hutchinson's song, "Cold morning in the Midwest, winter earth in a wedding dress," sets the tone for a vivid and poignant narrative. The earth, draped in a blanket of snow, is compared to a bride donning her wedding dress. This imagery is both beautiful and sombre, suggesting that something both joyous and mournful is happening in the scene. The following line, "Sun creeping over those blue angels of death," introduces a subtle sense of foreboding. The blue angels of death are most likely clouds, but the use of "angels of death" implies a sense of danger looming on the horizon. The following lines invoke a sense of fear and uncertainty. References to God and the Good Book suggest a need for comfort and guidance in the face of adversity. The fear of being swallowed whole by the fields at night is a powerful metaphor for a sense of helplessness and vulnerability.
The second half of the verse moves the narrative to an airport, where the singer is surrounded by inmates in a prison courtyard. The juxtaposition of the open sky and fleeing planes with the confines of the prison creates a sense of longing for freedom. The rage, hope, and grief that coexist in the prisoners' lives fuels a sense of desperation to escape. The chorus provides solace and comfort. The sentiment of holding hands with a friend through the darkness of the valley is a powerful image of camaraderie and solidarity.
The song goes on to explore themes of death and the fragility of life. Death is depicted as a neighbour, watching from the shadows, always present but never welcome. The silhouette of Death in the window is terrible and handsome, suggesting a bewitching quality to its inevitability. The lyrics hint at the power of love to overcome fear, suggesting that choosing to look Death in the eye might lead to a deeper appreciation of life. The final line of the chorus, "Yea tho we walk tho we walk," is a reminder to keep moving forward, even in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Cold morning in the Midwest, winter earth in a wedding dress
A somber winter day in the Midwest, with the snow making the earth look like a bride wearing a dress.
Sun creeping over those blue angels of death
The sunrise making the grey tombstones look like angelic beings that bring death.
So much corn and loss and God, hold the Good Book tight
Amidst the vast fields of corn, there's a feeling of loss and the need to hold onto the good book tightly for comfort.
For fear the fields will swallow you at night
There's a looming fear that the fields will swallow you whole in the darkness of the night.
Landing low over the prisons, Omaha at Eppley field
The plane is descending over the prisons located in Omaha at Eppley field.
Inmates down in the courtyard, so close that I can feel
The inmates in the prison courtyard are so close that the singer can feel their presence.
So much rage and hope and grief, and this dream of getting free
The inmates have a lot of emotions and dreams of being free despite their current situation.
Fueled by the sound of airplanes as they leave
The sound of planes leaving fuels their hope and dreams of one day leaving and being free themselves.
Oh my friend, is that your hand in mine?
The singer wonders if their friend is holding hands with them.
This valley grows darker each time
The valley becomes increasingly dark as time goes on.
Oh my friend the soul seems made from such a thread
The soul is delicate like a thread that can be torn easily.
No matter how it tears it always tries to mend
Despite being torn, the soul always tries to heal itself.
Seems death is my new neighbor, he watches me in my garden
The singer feels like death is nearby, watching them in their garden.
His silhouette in the window so terrible and handsome
Death's shadow is both scary and handsome at the same time.
If I turn away, or if I watch him carefully
The singer isn't sure whether to ignore death or watch him closely.
Will I not fall in love today?
The singer wonders if they will unexpectedly fall in love with death.
Do unto others, love thy brother
Treat others the way you want to be treated, and love your fellow human beings.
Yea tho we walk tho we walk
Despite the challenges we face, we continue to move forward.
Contributed by Emily T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.