Ruthie Foster is an American singer/songwriter of blues and folk music.
… Read Full Bio ↴Ruthie Foster is an American singer/songwriter of blues and folk music.

She is from Gause, Texas and from a family of gospel singers. She studied music at McLennan Community College and then worked in the US Navy, where she started performing. Her debut was released in 1997 and she has performed in North America, Europe and Australia. She has often been compared to Ella Fitzgerald and Aretha Franklin.

Hole In My Pocket
Ruthie Foster Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'm living on the outside
And I'm looking in
I'm feeling like a window
Sometimes I break just like a window

Love is jus a liquid
And it's flowing like a river
I've been reaching for this ocean

And I break before I see the waves

So why don't you
Show me ways to save my soul
Show me ways to save my soul
I got a hole in my pocket
Where it all slips away

Oh, show me ways to save my soul
Show me ways to save my soul
I got a hole in my pocket
Where it all slips away

Where my head been
Since this needle took a spin
And a stitch out of my thoughts
When I had my life in place

I'm living on the outside
And I'm looking in
I can't get it together
Oh, you gotta show me, you gotta show me
Show me ways to save my soul
Show me ways to save my soul
I got a hole in my pocket
Where it all slips away

Oh, show me ways to save my soul
Show me ways to save my soul
I got a hole in my pocket
Where it all slips away

Oh, I got a hole in my pocket
I got a hole in my pocket
I got a hole in my pocket
Where it all slips away

Oh, I got a hole in my pocket
I got a hole in my pocket
A hole in my pocket
Where it all slips away

Oh Oah, oah

There's less and less inside of me
Oh, a little bit less
And a little bit less each day
Oh, wrap me up
And hide me
Oh, you know there's gotta be something left
Something I can save

Oh, show me ways to save my soul
Show me ways to save my soul
I got a hole in my pocket
Where it all slips away

Oh, show me ways to save my soul
Show me ways to save my soul
I got a hole in my pocket
Where it all slips away

Oh, show me ways to save my soul
Show me ways to save my soul
I got a hole in my pocket
Where it all slips away

Oh, I got a hole in my pocket
I got a hole in my pocket
I got a got hole in my pocket
Where it all slips away

Oh, I got a hole in my pocket
I got a hole in my pocket
I got a hole in my pocket
Where it all slips away

I got a hole in my pocket
Where it all slips away

I got a hole in my pocket
Where it all slips away

Overall Meaning

The song "Hole In My Pocket" by Ruthie Foster speaks about the feeling of being on the outside and looking in. The lyrics express the longing for something more significant in life, something that seems just out of reach. The opening lines, "I'm living on the outside, and I'm looking in," set the mood of the song - that of feeling left out, disconnected, and separated from the experiences of others.

The metaphor of a window is also prevalent in the song. The singer says that she feels like a window and sometimes breaks like one. Windows are transparent and allow us to see what's happening on the other side, but they also make us feel exposed and vulnerable. The same is true for the singer's emotions and thoughts, which she puts out for all to see, making her feel exposed and at risk of getting hurt.

The chorus, "Show me ways to save my soul," is a plea for help, asking for guidance on how to fill the void, the hole in her pocket, where it all slips away. The metaphor of a hole in a pocket is significant as it signifies loss and waste. The singer feels like she is losing something every day and can't keep hold of everything she values.

Overall, "Hole In My Pocket" is a powerful song that expresses the struggle to find meaning and purpose in life. It speaks to the feeling of being left out and disconnected, and the need for guidance in finding one's way.

Line by Line Meaning

I'm living on the outside
I feel isolated and disconnected from others

And I'm looking in
I observe others living their lives and wish I could be a part of it

I'm feeling like a window
I feel transparent and exposed

Sometimes I break just like a window
I can't handle the pressure and I crack

Love is jus a liquid
Love is like a fluid

And it's flowing like a river
Love is constantly moving and changing

I've been reaching for this ocean
I've been searching for a deeper connection to love

And I break before I see the waves
But I can't handle it and I fall apart before experiencing it fully

So why don't you
Asking for help

Show me ways to save my soul
I need guidance in preserving my well-being

I got a hole in my pocket
I'm losing things that are important to me