He moved to Los Angeles and waited tables. He got an agent and after eight months, began acting in television commercials and then other roles. He appear in two multi-part movies on Disney's Mickey Mouse Club: Just Perfect (1990) (TV) and My Life as a Babysitter (1990) (TV).
Early movie roles included Guinevere (1994) (TV), Frank & Jesse (1995), Powder (1995), Eden (1996), The Grass Harp (1995), and The Method (1996). One of his best known roles was probably as the title character in "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles" (1992).
grief
Sean Patrick Flanery Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tears, John
Tears, John
Bruised in the rain
With his overalls torn
With one shoe off
One shoe on
Tears, John
And where will your little son sleep, John
Under the smoke stacks
Under the heap
Under the tent where the canopy leaks
Tears, John
Tears, John
You're drowning in the grief
Of Jupiter's water
Let me open my teeth
And cradle you there
There's a bed for the boy
And rope for the father
Both orphaned by Heaven
Where no child is spared
To who will your little son pray, John
Dark are the strangers
That sleep on the train
There's blood on their cots
And bones on their plates
Tears, John
Tears, John
Who, then, will tend to the sheep, John
My treads in the place
Where the vicious gods preach
Where claws come in sharp
And on wolves in white fleece
Tears, John
Tears, John
Tears, John
Tears, John
You're drowning in the grief
Of Jupiter's water
Let me open my teeth
And cradle you there
There's a bed for the boy
And rope for the father
Both orphaned by Heaven
Where no child is spared
Swing from my limb
Render your tears
The more that you shed
The deeper it is
Two little hands
Push the chair from your feet
Drown in your beautiful grief
The lyrics in Sean Patrick Flanery's song Grief paint a poignant picture of a father's tragic loss: his little son has gone missing, lost somewhere in the rain, and the father is left grappling with the overwhelming feelings of sorrow and helplessness. The lyrics evoke a strong sense of despair and sadness, as the father is left to wonder where his son is and how he will survive. The repeated phrase "tears, John" underscores the depth of his pain and the intensity of his grief.
The song's title, "Grief," encapsulates the overarching theme and tone of the lyrics. The father is "drowning" in his sorrow, trapped in a state of constant despair and hopelessness. Throughout the song, there is a sense of desperation and urgency, as if the father is pleading for help or for some kind of resolution to his tragedy. The repeated refrain "Let me open my teeth and cradle you there" creates a powerful image of the singer trying to offer comfort and solace to the grieving father.
Overall, the song's lyrics are a moving meditation on the devastating impact of loss and grief. Through its vivid imagery and heart-wrenching language, the song captures the raw emotions of a parent faced with the unimaginable pain of losing their child.
Line by Line Meaning
Where is your little son lost, John
Asking about John's son who has gone missing, emphasizing how dreadful the situation is
Tears, John
Expressing how heartbroken John is about his lost son
Tears, John
Reiterating John's deep sorrow over the situation
Bruised in the rain
Describing the possible situation the lost son could be in, imagining him hurt and vulnerable in the rain
With his overalls torn
Adding to the imagery of the lost son being in a bad state physically
With one shoe off
Further emphasizing the imagery of the lost son's vulnerability and discomfort in his current state
One shoe on
Finishing off the description of the lost son's current state, painting a picture of how scattered and out-of-place he must be
And where will your little son sleep, John
Continuing to highlight the grimness of the situation by focusing on the fact that the lost son may be without shelter
Under the smoke stacks
Imagining the lost son sleeping in a place of industry, amidst the pollution and noise
Under the heap
Providing another possibility of the lost son's sleeping situation, suggesting he may be among trash and waste
Under the tent where the canopy leaks
An additional option for the lost son's sleeping spot, one that includes danger as the tent he would use is also defective
You're drowning in the grief
Taking a moment to examine John's personal pain and the depth of the sorrow he is feeling
Of Jupiter's water
Creating a metaphor for the overwhelming force of John's grief, by using the immense power of a planet and its properties
Let me open my teeth
Offering the potential for help and comfort
And cradle you there
Expanding on the idea of helping, by creating a soothing and protective environment for John's grief
There's a bed for the boy
Returning to the topic of the lost son, but offering some hope by suggesting there may be a place for him to rest
And rope for the father
Adding an ominous note of desperation for potential alternatives, as the rope could be used tragically
Both orphaned by Heaven
Connecting John and his lost son by their shared suffering, which seems so unfair and devastating
Where no child is spared
Finishing off the image of a truly merciless and unfeeling universe that could allow such pain and tragedy to occur
To who will your little son pray, John
Returning to the lost son, but shifting to the topic of faith or spiritual guidance in such dark times
Dark are the strangers
Continuing the emphasis on danger and the hopelessness of a lost son finding help amongst strangers
That sleep on the train
Painting a picture of homeless or nomadic people, and suggesting the lost son would be in danger in such company
There's blood on their cots
Creating an image of violence or struggle, which could be a threat to the lost son
And bones on their plates
Giving a gruesome detail which pairs with the last line to underline how unsafe it would be for the lost son around these people
Who, then, will tend to the sheep, John
Another metaphor is used to compare John to a sheep that needs taken care of, also suggesting that the lost son may also need someone trustworthy to watch over him
My treads in the place
Repositioning the focus to the singer of the song, indicating that his role is to be the shepherd who can tend to John
Where the vicious gods preach
Giving another metaphor, the place where the singer would help is a dangerous one where even gods can turn cruel
Where claws come in sharp
More focus on danger and the cruelty of the cruel gods, underscoring how difficult this solution would be for John's tragic situation
And on wolves in white fleece
Making a twist, the danger is not from the prey but from the predators as presented in the contrast of the wolves in white fleece
Swing from my limb
The song takes a turn from metaphors to more abstract language, suggesting that the singer will be a point of support for John just like a branch of a tree
Render your tears
Encouraging John to let out his sorrow yet again as he struggles through such a terrible ordeal
The more that you shed
Encouraging John in his grief, as the theme of shedding tears continues to be supported as a way of processing loss
The deeper it is
Reiterating that grief is often very deep and painful, but suggesting that somehow releasing more pain may create some relief
Two little hands
Bringing up the imagery of John's lost son again, underscoring how his innocence and small form are central to the tragedy of the situation
Push the chair from your feet
Creating a call-back to the second stanza, which included imagery of the lost son's clothing, suggesting that John may be overwhelmed by thoughts of his son in a darker way
Drown in your beautiful grief
An unusual phrasing that focuses on the beauty of grief even as it acknowledges how painful it can be, suggesting that such sadness may be transformative or meaningful for John in some way
Contributed by Jack N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.