Bread & Water
Railroad Earth Lyrics


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Hard lessons for my meal last night
Cold cruelty on my plate
A faithful heart & years on the side
It's goin down with a bitter taste

[Chorus]
It's goin down . . it's goin down
Goin down like bread & water
Can you hear? can you hear?
Can you hear me when I cry?

No comfort in my bed last night
Old man trouble on my head
Same old singer . . brand new song
Same old story . . brand new friend

[Chorus]

Oh the lion . . oh the lion
Oh the lion . . help me lord!
Can't you hear me? can't you hear me?
Can't you hear me callin out?

Hard numbers were my bread last night
Hard travelin? on my slate
It's gettin? hard to send it off
Oh my friend take a look at my plate

[Chorus]

Oh the lion . . oh the lion
Oh the lion . . help me lord!
Can you hear me? can you hear me?




Can you hear me callin? out?
Oh the lion!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of "Bread and Water" by Railroad Earth talk about a person going through difficult times and facing hardships in their life. The opening verse talks about how the person had a hard lesson for their meal last night, indicating that they either didn't have enough or didn't have something that was satisfying. The second line paints a picture of cold cruelty, suggesting that the person is experiencing something harsh and unpleasant. Despite being faithful and having put in years of hard work, they are left with a bitter taste. This could be interpreted as the person feeling unappreciated or neglected even after putting in so much effort.


The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "It's going down like bread and water." This line indicates that the person's situation is becoming increasingly difficult and that they are struggling to make ends meet. The line "Can you hear me when I cry?" emphasizes the person's loneliness and hopelessness, indicating that they are reaching out for someone to listen to them and help them through their tough times.


The verse that follows talks about the person's lack of comfort in their bed due to old man trouble on their head. This suggests that they are experiencing physical or mental health problems that are preventing them from getting restful sleep. The "same old singer, brand new song" line refers to the fact that the person is stuck in the same cycle of issues, even though they may have new people in their life. The repetition of the "oh the lion" line at the end suggests that they are calling out to a higher power for help and guidance.


Line by Line Meaning

Hard lessons for my meal last night
I faced some tough experiences recently


Cold cruelty on my plate
Those experiences were not easy to swallow


A faithful heart & years on the side
I have been trying to stay true to myself for a long time


It's goin down with a bitter taste
It's hard to accept what's happening


It's goin down . . it's goin down
The situation is getting worse


Goin down like bread & water
It feels like basic survival


Can you hear? can you hear?
I am asking for help


Can you hear me when I cry?
I need someone to listen to me


No comfort in my bed last night
I couldn't find peace even in my sleep


Old man trouble on my head
I'm dealing with a lot of problems


Same old singer . . brand new song
The same issues keep repeating themselves


Same old story . . brand new friend
Even new people in my life are bringing the same problems


Oh the lion . . oh the lion
I feel like I'm facing a great danger


Oh the lion . . help me lord!
I am asking for divine intervention


Can't you hear me? can't you hear me?
I feel like my cries are not being heard


Can't you hear me callin out?
I am calling for help


Hard numbers were my bread last night
I am dealing with financial struggles


Hard travelin’ on my slate
I have a difficult journey ahead of me


It's gettin’ hard to send it off
I'm having a hard time letting go of my problems


Oh my friend take a look at my plate
I am asking for help and support




Lyrics © O/B/O APRA/AMCOS

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