Rusted Root is an alternative/bluegrass/jam band which formed in Pittsburgh… Read Full Bio ↴Rusted Root is an alternative/bluegrass/jam band which formed in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1990. The band consists of Michael Glabicki (vocals, guitar), Colter Harper (guitar), Dirk Miller (guitar), Patrick Norman (bass, percussion), Liz Berlin (percussion, vocals) and Jason Miller (drums, percussion). Every member of the band has proficiency in African drums, and this lends to the band's strong percussion, which draws from Middle-Eastern, African, Latin, Native American and funk influences. The band is best known for their 1995 hit single "Send Me On My Way" which has been featured in dozens of films and television shows.

Moon
Rusted Root Lyrics

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We have not traveled very far
We have not traveled very far
For in the circle I see
And in the fire will be a dying sun

I swear I saw the moon move
Glide across the sky
With a star at it's side

It's crescent shape
Is out tonight
With opal shadow hiding by
And I swear I saw the moon move

I'm singing about
Some kind of pain
Sits outside
From where the fire burns
All of you huddled in the earth
I am touching the surface, I am

Let me bend into the fire
Let it dry my skin
It waits to be part of the fire
Let the healing begin
Let the healing begin

I am sifting through glass chards
Of wisdom pains
I am tearing them out one by one
One by one
They've been buried so long
I had chose to ignore them
But slowly they surface
And cut through my skin

I swear on my conscience,
If you tell me twice my good Lord
I will suffer your will again
I swear I'll move through this,
If you tell me twice my good Lord
I will suffer your will again
Suffer your will again
If you tell me twice my good Lord
Suffer your will again
If you tell me twice my good Lord

For in the circle I see
And in the fire will be a dying sun
For in the circle I see
And in the fire will be a dying sun

If you tell me twice my good lord
Never suffer your will again
If you tell me twice my good lord
Never suffer your will again

And I swear I saw the moon move
Glide across the sky
With the stars all in line
I'm standing here
Watching the fire grow
As everyone sees it
And cuts through their own

And I swear I saw
The moon move

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Rusted Root's "Moon" evoke mystical and spiritual imagery, as well as a sense of pain and healing. The opening lines repeat the phrase "We have not traveled very far," which could refer to physical distance, or to the spiritual journey the singer is undergoing. The allusion to a dying sun further reinforces the sense of change and transformation taking place. The chorus presents the mystical image of the moon moving, with a star at its side, and the "opal shadow" hiding by. This movement of the moon suggests a shift in perspective or an awakening in the singer's consciousness.

The second verse continues to explore the singer's pain and the healing process. The fire becomes a symbol of transformation, as the singer seeks to "bend into the fire" and allow it to "dry [their] skin." The fire also serves as a gathering place, where the singer can connect with others who are going through their own transformative journeys. The mention of "glass chards of wisdom pains" implies that the singer is confronting long-buried emotional wounds, and the process is painful but necessary.

The final chorus repeats the image of the moon moving, with a slight variation - this time the stars are "all in line." This could be interpreted as a sign of alignment or coordination, suggesting that the events of the song are part of a larger cosmic pattern. The final lines express the singer's willingness to submit to a higher power and to endure whatever is necessary for their spiritual growth.

Line by Line Meaning

We have not traveled very far
We have not progressed much in our journey, still have a long way to go

For in the circle I see And in the fire will be a dying sun
The singer observes that the circle and the fire represent the journey of life, where everything comes to an eventual end

I swear I saw the moon move Glide across the sky With a star at it's side It's crescent shape Is out tonight With opal shadow hiding by And I swear I saw the moon move
The singer witnesses the beauty of the moon and the star that accompanies it, fascinated by the unique features of the moon, with its crescent shape and opal shadow

I'm singing about Some kind of pain Sits outside From where the fire burns All of you huddled in the earth I am touching the surface, I am
The artist sings about pain that exists outside the circle of fire, witnessing others taking shelter while the artist faces the pain head-on

Let me bend into the fire Let it dry my skin It waits to be part of the fire Let the healing begin Let the healing begin
The artist asks to be consumed by the fire, seeking to begin the process of healing and renewal

I am sifting through glass chards Of wisdom pains I am tearing them out one by one One by one They've been buried so long I had chose to ignore them But slowly they surface And cut through my skin
The singer sifts through the painful experiences and difficult lessons of life, acknowledging and confronting them after having long ignored them, accepting the pain that comes with facing the truth

I swear on my conscience, If you tell me twice my good Lord I will suffer your will again I swear I'll move through this, If you tell me twice my good Lord I will suffer your will again Suffer your will again If you tell me twice my good Lord Suffer your will again
The singer reaffirms their faith and trust in God, accepting to move through pain and suffering if it is the will of God

And I swear I saw the moon move
The artist returns to the observation of the moon, symbolizing the cyclical nature of life, and the constant change that comes with it

If you tell me twice my good lord Never suffer your will again If you tell me twice my good lord Never suffer your will again
The artist reiterates their commitment to follow God's will, but this time asks for the pain and suffering to be removed if God sees fit

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JIM DISPIRITO, JIM DONOVAN, JOHN BUYNAK, LIZ BERLIN, MICHAEL GLABICKI, PATRICK NORMAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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