Pine Box
Paul Westerberg Lyrics
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Hit that beach at Omaha
He never hit my mama
But hit that beach at Omaha
He lived - not gonna tell
About a goddamn thing he saw
Pine box and a white stone
He had a pine box and a white stone
Baby brother laid before he had a chance to crawl
Baby brother got laid before he had a chance to crawl
(??) And he's there on Iwo Jima
Pine box and a white stone
Pine box and a free ride home
Pine box and a white stone
Pine box
Ain't afraid of dying
Living has got him stumped
Stand before God
He kneeled down in front
Ain't afraid of dying
Living has got him stumped
Stand before God
He kneeled down in front
Pine box and a white stone
Pine box and a free ride home
Pine box and a white stone
He always took it slow
He always took it slow
Now there's fluid in his lungs
Always took it slow
Now there's fluid in his lungs
The HMO says "no, no, no, you're done."
Daddy's on his way to visit for the second time
Daddy's on his way to visit for the second time
The soldier cemetery where my baby sisters lie
In a pine box and a white stone
Pine box and a free ride home
Pine box and a white stone
Toughest Mother Fucker that I ever ought to know
Pine box
Pine box
The song Pine Box by Paul Westerberg is a poignant tribute to the veterans of WWII, who went through unimaginable horrors, faced death every day, and witnessed things that were beyond anyone's comprehension. The first two lines of the song, "He never hit my mama, but hit that beach at Omaha" are an allusion to the Omaha Beach landings on June 6, 1944, which were a part of the Normandy invasion of France by the Allied Forces during World War II. The singer's father never hit his mother, but he faced the fury of war head-on, showing immense courage and bravery. The next line, "He lived - not gonna tell, about a goddamn thing he saw", implies that the singer's father doesn't like to talk about his war experiences as they're too painful to revisit. He carries the weight of those memories with him silently and stoically.
The chorus of the song, "Pine box and a white stone, pine box and a free ride home", is a reference to the coffins and gravestones that the fallen heroes of WWII were given. The singer's baby brother who never had a chance to crawl is buried on Iwo Jima, which was the site of one of the bloodiest battles of WWII. The lines, "Ain't afraid of dying, living has got him stumped, stand before God, he kneeled down in front" suggest that the singer's father has made peace with the idea of death, but he's still trying to grapple with the harsh realities of life. The song ends with the singer's father's visit to the soldier cemetery where his baby daughters are buried. It's a somber end to a hauntingly beautiful song that pays tribute to the unsung heroes of WWII.
Line by Line Meaning
He never hit my mama
His father never physically abused his mother
Hit that beach at Omaha
His father was a soldier who fought in WWII, including the battle at Omaha Beach
But hit that beach at Omaha
Reinforcing his father's military service and possible trauma as a result
He lived - not gonna tell
He's not going to reveal any details about his father's life or experiences
About a goddamn thing he saw
Further emphasizing his reluctance to share any details about his father's past
Pine box and a white stone
His father passed away and was buried in a pine box with a white headstone
Pine box and a free ride home
His father received a military funeral with a pine box and transportation provided by the government
Baby brother laid before he had a chance to crawl
His younger brother died as a baby before he even had the chance to crawl
And he's there on Iwo Jima
His brother is buried at the Iwo Jima Memorial Cemetery
Ain't afraid of dying
His father was not afraid of death
Living has got him stumped
His father found living to be difficult or confusing
Stand before God
He believes his father will have to face judgment in the afterlife
He kneeled down in front
Imagery of his father kneeling in front of God in prayer or supplication
He always took it slow
His father acted deliberately and cautiously
Now there's fluid in his lungs
His father has developed a serious medical condition
The HMO says "no, no, no, you're done."
The health insurance company has decided not to cover his father's medical treatment any longer
Daddy's on his way to visit for the second time
He is visiting his sisters' graves at the military cemetery where they are buried alongside their father
Toughest Mother Fucker that I ever ought to know
His father was a tough and strong person, physically and emotionally
Pine box
Repeating the symbol of his father's burial in a pine box
Contributed by Claire E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.