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02 Early Spring Till
Nathaniel Rateliff Lyrics
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Best to land, not to crash, pulling out too late
Call on everyone you ever knew, and plead
Well I've been the bum who's underfed
I've been the one who should've said
Maybe I'm wrong and I've always been that way
Have you fallen from where glory sprouts
Are you cut off in fields and pressed down
Like an early spring till that don't come around
I think I've been there
I think I'm waiting too long
You tried this panting and poured
You set a course to cross me out
Are you tired and broken, once so stout
Are you full of the feeling, don't doubt it when it's gone
I could cut off this reel and leave now
I could fill up with air and scream so loud
I think I'm going to
die
From always saying goodbye
In "02 Early Spring Till," Nathaniel Rateliff sings about a person who is struggling and trying to find their way. The lyrics address themes of introspection, regret, and the need for change. The opening lines "I was out there missing steps, when you swung around to me. Best to land, not to crash, pulling out too late," suggest that the singer has been reckless and not mindful of their actions, and that they need to work on making better choices.
The next verse, "Call on everyone you ever knew, and plead. Well I've been the bum who's underfed. I've been the one who should've said. Maybe I'm wrong and I've always been that way," shows the singer reflecting on their past mistakes and wondering if they could have done things differently. The use of the word "plead" suggests the singer is seeking help, perhaps from those they have wronged in the past.
The chorus, "Are you tied to your field, wrung out. Have you fallen from where glory sprouts. Are you cut off in fields and pressed down. Like an early spring till that don't come around," likens the singer's struggle to that of a field that is not productive, due to either being overworked or underused. The line "I think I've been there" suggests the singer has experienced this feeling before.
The bridge, "You tried this panting and poured. You set a course to cross me out. Are you tired and broken, once so stout. Are you full of the feeling, don't doubt it when it's gone," seems to be directed at someone who has hurt the singer in the past, perhaps intentionally or unintentionally. The repetition of "are you" suggests that the singer is trying to understand the other person's perspective, and perhaps forgiving them for their actions.
The final verse, "I could cut off this reel and leave now. I could fill up with air and scream so loud. I think I'm going to die from always saying goodbye," expresses the singer's desire to make a change and move on from their past. The use of the metaphor of cutting off a reel suggests that the singer is ready to let go of what has been holding them back, and the image of screaming suggests a release of pent-up emotions. The final line, "I think I'm going to die from always saying goodbye," suggests that the singer is tired of constantly moving on and saying goodbye to people and things, and is ready for a change.
Line by Line Meaning
I was out there missing steps, when you swung around to me
I was lost and stumbling, when you suddenly appeared to help me
Best to land, not to crash, pulling out too late
It's better to make a controlled landing than to risk crashing by pulling out too late
Call on everyone you ever knew, and plead
When in need, it's sometimes necessary to ask for help from everyone you know and beg for their assistance
Well I've been the bum who's underfed
I know what it's like to be down on my luck and without enough to eat
I've been the one who should've said
There have been times when I regretted not speaking up when I should have
Maybe I'm wrong and I've always been that way
Perhaps I have been mistaken in my actions and this is just how I've always been
Are you tied to your field, wrung out
Are you stuck in a situation that has drained you of all your energy and resources
Have you fallen from where glory sprouts
Have you lost your once successful position and now struggle to find your way again
Are you cut off in fields and pressed down
Are you isolated and trapped in a difficult situation, feeling overwhelmed and weighed down
Like an early spring till that don't come around
Like a barren and unproductive field that never sees the arrival of spring
I think I've been there
I can relate to this feeling
I think I'm waiting too long
I suspect that I am taking too long to take action
You tried this panting and poured
You put in a lot of effort and gave it your all
You set a course to cross me out
You made a deliberate decision to exclude me from your plans
Are you tired and broken, once so stout
Are you exhausted and defeated, after being strong and capable before
Are you full of the feeling, don't doubt it when it's gone
Are you experiencing intense emotions that you should embrace and not question, even when they eventually fade away
I could cut off this reel and leave now
I could stop what I'm doing and walk away at any moment
I could fill up with air and scream so loud
I have the potential to unleash my emotions and make my presence known in a dramatic way
I think I'm going to
I believe that I will take action based on what I'm feeling
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: NATHANIEL DAVID RATELIFF
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind