Robyn Raymond Hitchcock (born 3rd March 1953) is an English singer-songwrit… Read Full Bio ↴Robyn Raymond Hitchcock (born 3rd March 1953) is an English singer-songwriter and psych folk guitarist. While primarily a vocalist and guitarist, he also plays harmonica, piano, and bass guitar. Many of Hitchcock's album covers bear his paintings or drawings, and his albums' liner notes sometimes include a printed short story. His live concerts usually include a considerable amount of story-telling, imaginative and surreal ad-libbed monologues in his lyrical style. He is the son of novelist Raymond Hitchcock and the brother of artist Lal Hitchcock.

He regularly does solo work, and returns again and again to bands he has formed like The Soft Boys and The Egyptians. Hitchcock is an avid and able collaborator with people like director Jonathan Demme, actor Alan Rickman, country/folk duo (and longtime Hitchcock fans) Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, The Venus 3, R.E.M.'s Peter Buck, Young Fresh Fellows' frontman Scott McCaughey, Andy Partridge of XTC, Nick Lowe, former Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones, Jon Brion, and Grant-Lee Phillips, as well as Ministry's Bill Rieflin.

Hitchcock's musical and lyrical styles have been influenced by his appreciation of Bob Dylan, Gregory Corso, The Byrds, Country Joe & The Fish, and Syd Barrett.

Hitchcock's lyrics are an essential component of his work, and tend to include surrealism, comedic songs, characterisations of English eccentrics, plant roots, insects, trains, dreams, and melancholy depictions of everyday life. His themes include what many psychologists view as the roots of modern neurosis - namely, death, sex, and eating. (As if in recognition of these themes, he released an EP in 2007 called "Sex, Food, Death and Tarantulas".)

Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
Robyn Hitchcock Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

When you're lost in the rain in Juarez
And it's Eastertime too
And your gravity fails
And negativity don't pull you through
Don't put on any airs
When you're down on Rue Morgue Avenue
They got some hungry women there
And they really make a mess out of you

Now if you see Saint Annie
Please tell her thanks a lot
I cannot move
My fingers are all in a knot
I don't have the strength
To get up and take another shot
And my best friend, my doctor
Won't even say what it is I've got

Sweet Melinda
The peasants call her the goddess of gloom
She speaks good English
And she invites you up into her room
And you're so kind
And careful not to go to her too soon
And she takes your voice
And leaves you howling at the moon

Up on Housing Project Hill
It's either fortune or fame
You must pick up one or the other
Though neither of them are to be what they claim
If you're lookin' to get silly
You better go back to from where you came
Because the cops don't need you
And man they expect the same

Now all the authorities
They just stand around and boast
How they blackmailed the sergeant-at-arms
Into leaving his post
And picking up Angel who
Just arrived here from the coast
Who looked so fine at first
But left looking just like a ghost

I started out on burgundy
But soon hit the harder stuff
Everybody said they'd stand behind me
When the game got rough
But the joke was on me
There was nobody even there to call my bluff

I'm going back to New York City
I do believe I've had enough

Overall Meaning

"Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" by Robyn Hitchcock is a cover of Bob Dylan's original song. The lyrics depict a series of surreal and disillusioned experiences. The song begins in Juarez, a Mexican town, where the singer finds himself lost in the rain during Easter time. The line "gravity fails" suggests a feeling of being weighed down and overwhelmed. Despite this, the singer urges against putting on any facade or trying to appear strong when feeling down on Rue Morgue Avenue, a name associated with Edgar Allan Poe's story "The Murders in the Rue Morgue."

The mention of "hungry women" on this street implies encounters with dangerous or manipulative individuals who take advantage of the singer's vulnerability. The song then shifts to a plea to find someone called Saint Annie, appreciating her help but lamenting physical and emotional paralysis. The singer's doctor seems unable or unwilling to diagnose their condition, adding to the sense of frustration and helplessness.

The introduction of Sweet Melinda, portrayed as the "goddess of gloom," represents a seductive yet dangerous woman who entices individuals into her room but ultimately leaves them feeling voiceless, howling at the moon. The reference to Housing Project Hill indicates a place where one must choose between fortune or fame, both of which are portrayed as deceptive and unfulfilling. The cops are portrayed as indifferent, and the singer highlights the hypocrisy and corruption of the authorities who boast about their actions, including blackmailing the sergeant-at-arms.

The final verses express the singer's personal experiences, starting with the metaphor of starting on "burgundy" (a reference to wine) but eventually succumbing to harder substances. The betrayal of those who claimed to support the singer becomes evident, with nobody there to offer support or stand behind them when things become tough. The decision to go back to New York City signifies a desire to escape and start anew, having had enough of the disillusionment and abandonment.

Overall, "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues" paints a picture of a disillusioned narrator navigating a series of surreal and disheartening experiences, highlighting themes of vulnerability, disillusionment, and the search for genuine connection in a world that seems indifferent.

Line by Line Meaning

When you're lost in the rain in Juarez
When you feel completely hopeless and disoriented in a bleak and desolate place

And it's Eastertime too
And even during a hopeful and uplifting time, you still feel lost and alone

And your gravity fails
And your sense of self and purpose is fading away

And negativity don't pull you through
And even negative thoughts and emotions cannot help you overcome your struggles

Don't put on any airs
Don't act pretentious or hide your true emotions

When you're down on Rue Morgue Avenue
When you find yourself in a place of chaos and confusion

They got some hungry women there
There are women who are desperate for love and attention in that place

And they really make a mess out of you
And they have a way of causing emotional turmoil and instability in your life

Now if you see Saint Annie
If you happen to encounter a compassionate and caring person

Please tell her thanks a lot
Please express gratitude to her for her kindness

I cannot move
I feel physically and emotionally paralyzed

My fingers are all in a knot
I am metaphorically unable to control or navigate my own life

I don't have the strength
I lack the resilience and energy

To get up and take another shot
To attempt to overcome my obstacles and try again

And my best friend, my doctor
Even the person I trust the most for guidance and support

Won't even say what it is I've got
Refuses to acknowledge or diagnose my issues or problems

Sweet Melinda
A woman who appears desirable and alluring

The peasants call her the goddess of gloom
The common people think of her as an embodiment of sadness and despair

She speaks good English
She communicates effectively and eloquently

And she invites you up into her room
And she tempts you to enter her world of sadness and self-destruction

And you're so kind
And you are compassionate and understanding

And careful not to go to her too soon
And cautious about giving in to her influence too quickly

And she takes your voice
And she silences your ability to express yourself

And leaves you howling at the moon
And leaves you feeling lost and shouting your pain into the void

Up on Housing Project Hill
In a disadvantaged and impoverished neighborhood

It's either fortune or fame
Your only options seem to be either achieving great wealth or attaining fame

You must pick up one or the other
You believe you have to choose between these two paths

Though neither of them are to be what they claim
However, both options ultimately fail to bring true fulfillment or happiness

If you're lookin' to get silly
If you are seeking mindless pleasure or escape

You better go back to from where you came
You should return to the place where you originated from

Because the cops don't need you
Because authority figures have no use or interest in your reckless behavior

And man they expect the same
And they anticipate that you will conform to their expectations

Now all the authorities
Now all the figures of power and control

They just stand around and boast
They simply brag and show off their influence

How they blackmailed the sergeant-at-arms
How they manipulated and coerced someone in a position of authority

Into leaving his post
To abandon his responsibilities and duties

And picking up Angel who
And taking advantage of a naive and innocent person who

Just arrived here from the coast
Has recently come to this place from a different location

Who looked so fine at first
Who seemed attractive and promising initially

But left looking just like a ghost
But ended up feeling empty and lifeless

I started out on burgundy
I began my journey with excitement and enthusiasm

But soon hit the harder stuff
But quickly encountered more challenging and difficult situations

Everybody said they'd stand behind me
Everyone claimed they would support me and have my back

When the game got rough
When things became tough and challenging

But the joke was on me
But I became the target of a cruel and mocking trick

There was nobody even there to call my bluff
There was no one present to challenge or expose my deception

I'm going back to New York City
I am returning to a place that holds significance and familiarity

I do believe I've had enough
I sincerely feel that I have reached my limit and cannot endure anymore

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