D.F.W
Ron Hawkins Lyrics


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I don't remember who wrote
Was it St. Peter or St. Paul?
That into every life
A little shit's gonna fall
I've been unfair and you've been untrue
What the hell?
What are we gonna do?
We wrote that book
That angry almanac
Where the words you should never say
Meet the things you can never take back
Sad sleight of hand
Cruel callous cracks
Hollow hollers and countless counterattacks

I took a walk past your home
That old place on Virtue Street
Didn't take me too long
It's just eight houses, a lane and some trees
Why's that street so small?
It ain't no mystery
It seems like living on virtue is the hardest place to be

I woke up on Sunday mornin'
With a freight train on my chest
Evangelically alone
Just me and that old Infinite Jest
Words can feel like stones
Words can be a noose
Godspeed D.F.W.
Words can take you home




Words can make you choose
Godspeed D.F.W.

Overall Meaning

The opening lines of the song "D.F.W." by Ron Hawkins and The Do Good Assassins present an age-old adage that even saints can't escape - "A little shit's gonna fall into every life." The following lines reveal that the singer has been bogged down by unfairness and untruthfulness in a relationship and the singers wonder what they could do. The next verse suggests that the singer has written a book of angry and hurtful words that they could never take back. These words cause cracks in their relationship and painful counterattacks that don't let emotions heal.


The last verse talks about the singer taking a walk on Virtue Street, where they feel that living virtuously is the hardest thing to do. The song ends with the singer waking up on a Sunday morning feeling isolated and heavy-laden, with David Foster Wallace's "Infinite Jest" as their only company. The song suggests that words have the power to make or break a person, and sometimes they even carry the person home. The song speaks about the struggles of an emotionally challenged relationship that is sinking because of the hurtful words said and how it's difficult to live a virtuous life in society in which words are powerful.


Line by Line Meaning

I don't remember who wrote
I am uncertain about who drew up these beliefs


Was it St. Peter or St. Paul?
Did it come from Catholicism's founders?


That into every life
It's nature that every being


A little shit's gonna fall
Will, at some point, experience difficulties


I've been unfair and you've been untrue
We've been unjust to each other


What the hell?
What options do we have now?


What are we gonna do?
What can we undertake to resolve this?


We wrote that book
We composed that angry publication


That angry almanac
That harmful annual reference


Where the words you should never say
Where the expressions you should always censor


Meet the things you can never take back
Combine with the irretrievable deeds


Sad sleight of hand
Unfortunate deception


Cruel callous cracks
Mean-spirited mockery


Hollow hollers and countless counterattacks
Empty screams and numerous counterstrikes


I took a walk past your home
I strolled by your residence


That old place on Virtue Street
That former abode located on Virtue Street


Didn't take me too long
It didn't take long


It's just eight houses, a lane and some trees
Merely consisting of eight houses, one lane, and few trees


Why's that street so small?
What's the reason for that narrow street?


It ain't no mystery
The explanation isn't elusive


It seems like living on virtue is the hardest place to be
Living laudably is seemingly the most challenging place


I woke up on Sunday mornin'
On Sunday dawn, I was awakened


With a freight train on my chest
With a heavy burden on my chest


Evangelically alone
Very solitary


Just me and that old Infinite Jest
Only me and that aged humorous book


Words can feel like stones
Expressions can be like rocks


Words can be a noose
They can lead one to ruin


Godspeed D.F.W.
May he rest peaceably


Words can take you home
Words can be comforting


Words can make you choose
They can influence decisions


Godspeed D.F.W.
May he rest peaceably




Lyrics © CD Baby
Written by: Ronald James Hawkins

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@seanclemens6294

My favourite solo track. Such a beautiful song.

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