People Of My Village
Rusted Root Lyrics
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There on the phone
Good morning I see you
Dead on the throne
Like a dragonfly with stone wings, stone wings I sing
I tell you the ones I love the people of my village
That I was drowned in a Scotland sea
Good morning I see you
There on the phone
Good morning I see you
Dead on the throne
Here I sit stone wings, stone wings I sing I tell you
The ones I love the people of my village
That I was drowned in a Scotland sea
By pagans in ecstasy Mother, Father you never heard from me
(Tell me why)
Good morning I see you
There on the phone
Good morning I see you
Dead on the throne
I was lifted for the gift
For the gift I bring held down
I drunk the town
For the people of my village
The lyrics to Rusted Root's song "People of My Village" are rich with metaphor and imagery. The opening lines "Good morning I see you, there on the phone" and "Good morning I see you, dead on the throne" seem to be contrasting images. On the one hand, there is the idea of the living, connected to the world and each other through technology. On the other hand, there are those who are disconnected, isolated, and perhaps even dead metaphorically, sitting on the throne of their own loneliness.
The image of the dragonfly with stone wings is also striking. It seems to suggest a moment of beauty and fragility frozen in time, as if the dragonfly is suspended in mid-flight. The repeated phrase "stone wings I sing" seems to emphasize the idea of something beautiful and fleeting, almost otherworldly.
The lines "That I was drowned in a Scotland sea / By pagans in ecstasy / Mother, Father you never heard from me" create a sense of mystery and tragedy. It's not clear who is speaking or who the mother and father are, but the implication is that someone has been lost to a violent and perhaps mystical fate.
Rusted Root is known for blending different genres of music and using a diverse range of instruments in their songs. "People of My Village" is no exception. The band incorporates African drumming rhythms and chants, Appalachian folk elements, and even a didgeridoo. The musical style is often referred to as "worldbeat" or "ethnic rock."
Line by Line Meaning
Good morning I see you
There on the phone
The singer acknowledges someone and greets them in the morning while they're talking on the phone.
Good morning I see you
Dead on the throne
The singer sees someone sitting still and unresponsive like a lifeless figure sitting on a throne.
Like a dragonfly with stone wings, stone wings I sing
I tell you the ones I love the people of my village
The singer compares himself to a dragonfly with heavy wings and sings about his love for the people in his hometown.
That I was drowned in a Scotland sea
By pagans in ecstasy Mother, Father you never heard from me
The artist was drowned by people in a state of religious ecstasy in Scotland and his parents never received any news from him.
Here I sit stone wings, stone wings I sing I tell you
The ones I love the people of my village
The artist repeats his statement about singing for the people in his hometown, while he sits with his heavy wings made of stone.
I was lifted for the gift
For the gift I bring held down
I drunk the town
For the people of my village
The singer was praised for the gift he brought, but he felt trapped and overwhelmed while sacrificing everything for the betterment of his village.
Good morning I see you
There on the phone
The singer repeats his morning greeting to someone on the phone.
Good morning I see you
Dead on the throne
The artist repeats his observation of someone sitting motionless on the throne.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JENN WERTZ, JIM DONOVAN, JOHN BUYNAK, LIZ BERLIN, MICHAEL GLABICKI, PATRICK NORMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind