Redemption
Rob Baird Lyrics
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Hardwood floors and old dirt roads
Fire and rain, comin' down
Passin' wind blowin' town to town
Guess I'm livin' like a runaway child
Movin' like the songs on the radio dial
Goin' here wishin' I was there
()
Everybody's lookin' for something real or something more
And I need something I can't ignore
Redemption, redemption
There's somebody that I still miss
Her name barely leaves my lips
She comes to me in my darkest dreams
Makes me wish for the sweetest things
She loved me like I didn't deserve
I could never find the words
She got mad on Christmas Day
And I was a thousand miles away
Everybody's lookin' for something real or something more
And I need something I can't ignore
Redemption, redemption
(Bridge)
And all the things you leave behind, left the pain, the faith, the lies
Lose yourself just tryin' to find ---
Everybody's lookin' for something real or something more
And I need something I can't ignore
Redemption, redemption
The lyrics of Rob Baird's song "Redemption" touch on themes of longing, nostalgia, and the search for something meaningful that can provide a sense of purpose and hope. The first stanza evokes a sense of wandering and restlessness: the singer is moving from town to town, and living on the run like a child who has left home. The references to dark alleys, dirt roads, and passing winds all suggest a sense of impermanence and transience, as if the singer is a drifter who cannot find a stable place to call home.
The chorus of the song highlights the singer's desire for redemption: a sense of salvation or renewal that will give his life direction and meaning. The repetition of the word "redemption" reinforces the importance of this concept to the singer, suggesting that he is deeply in need of a sense of purpose or a way to make sense of his life.
The second stanza focuses on the singer's memories of a past love, who he still misses and who is a source of comfort and regret for him. The bittersweet tone of the lyrics, with their mixture of fond reminiscence and sadness over what has been lost, adds to the song's sense of nostalgia and longing. The reference to the lover getting mad on Christmas Day underscores the idea that even the happiest memories can be complex and tinged with sadness.
The bridge of the song suggests that the search for redemption and the need to let go of the pain and lies of the past can be a difficult and painful process. The repetition of the phrase "something real or something more" in the chorus emphasizes the idea that the singer is looking for something that will give his life meaning and value beyond the superficiality of everyday existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Dark back alleys and lightning glow
The dimly lit streets and flashes of light give the impression of a wild and dangerous environment.
Hardwood floors and old dirt roads
The contrasting surfaces and textures create a feeling of nostalgia and a longing for simpler times.
Fire and rain, comin' down
The intense weather conditions represent the ups and downs of life - the good and the bad times coming at us all at once.
Passin' wind blowin' town to town
The constant movement and changing environment reflects the life of a musician constantly traveling from place to place.
Guess I'm livin' like a runaway child
The artist feels like they are living aimlessly without a clear direction in life.
Movin' like the songs on the radio dial
The singer feels like they are being pulled in different directions as if they were changing stations on a radio.
Goin' here wishin' I was there
Wishing to escape the present and be somewhere different.
Tryin' to make a livin' while no one cares
The struggle of trying to succeed in a world where no one seems to care or notice your hard work and efforts.
There's somebody that I still miss
The artist yearns for someone they have lost and still think about.
Her name barely leaves my lips
The person the artist misses is difficult to talk about and brings up painful memories.
She comes to me in my darkest dreams
The person still haunts the singer even in their sleep and at their lowest moments.
Makes me wish for the sweetest things
Memories of the person bring a sense of longing and a desire for something pure and good.
She loved me like I didn't deserve
The person loved the singer unconditionally, even though they felt undeserving of such love.
I could never find the words
The singer struggled to express their feelings and thoughts to the person they miss.
She got mad on Christmas Day
The memory of a fight or argument that happened on a special day, bringing up feelings of regret.
And I was a thousand miles away
The regret of not being there when the person needed them most.
And all the things you leave behind, left the pain, the faith, the lies
Everything that is left behind in life - both good and bad - the joys and the sorrows, the truths and the deceptions.
Lose yourself just tryin' to find ---
In the search for meaning and purpose in life, it's possible to lose oneself completely in the process.
Everybody's lookin' for something real or something more
The desire for something genuine and authentic - something beyond the mundane and superficial.
And I need something I can't ignore
The artist feels compelled to seek out the thing they are looking for, even if it is difficult or painful.
Redemption, redemption
The artist is searching for redemption - a way to make up for past mistakes or achieve a sense of spiritual renewal.
Contributed by Jonathan J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.