Pieces
Patricia Barber Lyrics

There's a piece in the chair
There is something left behind or missing in the chair, symbolizing potential loss or remembrance.

A piece in the hall
There is something forgotten or abandoned in the hall, representing an unfinished transition or decision.

A nice piece of me, Stuck to the wall
A portion of oneself has been left on the wall or behind, remembering a different time or person with fondness.

Divide and conquer, The jigsaw in you
The personal struggle within oneself can often feel like a puzzle to be solved, making it difficult to feel whole.

Has left asunder, All over the room
The unresolved puzzle has scattered everywhere in the form of personal debris, leaving the individual feeling disassembled.

There's a piece by the clock, Clinging awkwardly to time
A memory or regret is lingering close to the clock, signifying the painful reality of time's unstoppable passage.

There's a piece by the piano, Clinging stubbornly to rhyme
A past melody persists near the piano, potentially fueling the desire for artistic expression or creative output.

There's a fun piece of me, In a crack in the floor
A piece of joy or laughter is hidden, possibly beneath a less-than-ideal circumstance or location.

An innocent piece, Who walked out the door
A part of oneself that was pure and innocent was lost or left behind, representing the pain and regret that comes with growth and change.

Call me a doctor, Or a structural engineer
The personal struggle or pain may require guidance from various sources, ranging from medical professionals to mentors and beyond.

Draft me a past and a future, That consent to adhere
There is a desire to design or dictate a narrative for oneself, one that is cohesive and agreeable according to one's own desires and beliefs.

Give me a pill that makes cohesion, A farmacological thing
The desire for internal coherence and stability can be so overwhelming that even a medical solution is desired, though unlikely to truly solve the problem.

Bring me the tape and the twine, The blueprint design
A metaphorical representation of the effort to tie together one's life and self into a single, coherent being that can exist and thrive in the world as it is.

To fit the scraps and the threads, To the feet and the legs
The act of creating order from the chaos requires finding the specific connections and links between each disparate piece, so that a whole can be restored and made functional.

There's a piece that was pretty, For a moment or two
Something that was once lovely or worthwhile is now broken or worn down, representing the fleeting nature of life's joys and successes.

But my mouth and my lips, Are somehow askew
The individual is experiencing a physical manifestation of their internal unquiet, such as anxiety or depression, making even speaking difficult or unpleasant.

A piece of a hero, Is behind the TV
There is a small piece of someone who inspired the individual, perhaps a personal hero or role model, hidden behind the TV or in a less conspicuous location.

The piece with the glue, Is looking for pieces for me
The individual is struggling to find their own missing pieces or resolve their inner turmoil, so they seek out something or someone else to bring them together.

There's a piece in Detroit, A piece in L.A.
The individual's puzzle of a life has taken them to different places, each of which carries its own memories and experiences.

New York is a critic, She's funny that way
The individual's time in New York, the city of dreams and harsh reality, has had a profound influence on their self-image and sense of place in the world.

There's a piece prone to panic, A big piece is blue
There are specific pieces of the puzzle that hold greater emotional weight and distress, such as a large piece being blue or having significant psychological barriers that must be overcome.

All the pieces agree, The best piece went with you
The individual recognizes that a large portion of their own puzzle is missing or gone forever, likely as a result of someone else's absence or loss.

In fragments and tatters scattered, All over the road
The scattering or loss of the puzzle pieces has left the individual feeling broken or lacking, and the search to reclaim them is often long and difficult.

Each piece has the other, But no piece is a hall
Every part of the individual's puzzle can be connected to others, but none of them truly create a place of security or safety on their own.

Little maps in their pockets, Reflections of possibility
Each piece of the puzzle is like a small map or reflection of the person they represent, hinting at or uniquely demonstrating their potential and future direction.

The pieces pick themselves up, Dust themselves off, ... And start all over again
Despite the difficulty and pain of reassembling one's own puzzle, the individual persists in the belief that by gathering the pieces and starting anew, they can become whole once more.