The Farmer's Hotel
Silver Jews Lyrics

The lights went out in New York
The singer experienced a blackout in New York City.

Then they went out in Goshen
The singer also experienced a blackout in Goshen, a smaller town.

I got stuck in Goshen and that was sad.
The singer was unhappy about being stranded in Goshen due to the blackout.

The townsfolk stared hard
The locals seemed to scrutinize the artist.

Like their minds had been marred
The locals appeared to have been affected by the negative aspects of living in their run-down neighborhood.

By life in a district so downtrodden and drab.
The neighborhood where the singer was stranded was economically troubled and unattractive.

I flagged down a stranger
The singer sought help from a passerby.

In a worn wooden wheelchair
The passerby was a disabled person who used a beat-up wheelchair.

And when I asked if he knew of a hotel
The artist inquired about a place to stay in Goshen.

He said "if I get your meaning
The passerby responded in a cryptic manner.

Then I'm definitely leaning
The passerby expressed his partiality.

Towards recommending the Farmer's Hotel."
The passerby suggested the artist to stay at the Farmer's Hotel.

As I left to find the place
The singer went to look for the recommended hotel.

A mother loooked me in the face
The singer was confronted by a woman.

And whispered "please sir, not the Farmer's Hotel."
The woman implored the singer not to go to the Farmer's Hotel.

Once where I was headed
Despite the woman's warning, the artist continued towards the hotel.

She swore I would regret it
The woman predicted that the artist would be sorry about his decision.

Though what might happen she wouldn't foretell.
The woman did not explain what would happen.

The old place it was vicious
The Farmer's Hotel was a dangerous and unpleasant place.

Wicked and pernicious
The hotel was evil and harmful.

"Please stay clean of that rank abbatoir"
The woman urged the artist to avoid the dreadful hotel.

Though her words alarmed me
The artist became worried by the woman's words.

I was stuck until morning
The singer had to stay in Goshen for the night.

And in the end we must be who we are.
The artist accepted that people cannot change or escape their identity.

With no light on the door
The entrance of the Farmer's Hotel was not well-lit.

I wasn't quite sure
The singer was uncertain.

If a night clerk was working within
It was unclear if the hotel's night clerk was present.

From behind a red curtain
Someone appeared from behind a theater-like curtain.

Limped a perilous person
A dangerous-looking person with a limp came out.

He appeared to have some egg on his chin.
The person had some food stains on his face.

This old yankee warlock
The person appeared to the singer to be a Yankee magician.

Brushed back a gray forelock
The person had gray hair which he swept back.

And bid me to sign in the book
The person requested the artist to sign the hotel's registration book.

With no bonhomie
The person was unfriendly and unwelcoming.

He proffered the key
The person gave the singer the room key.

Never once did he give me a look.
The person did not make eye contact while interacting with the artist.

I thanked the old codger
The singer thanked the strange hotel worker.

And in my role as the lodger
The singer acted like a regular hotel guest.

I headed upstairs for to sleep
The singer went upstairs to rest.

There was no air of slumber
The guest room felt unsettling to the artist.

The doors, they had no numbers
The doors to the guest rooms were not numbered.

Which room was intended for me?
The singer did not know which room to choose.

The passage kept on going
The hallway seemed to continue indefinitely.

Like the carpet was flowing
The carpet appeared to wave like a river.

Towards that thing at the end of the hall
The hallway led to a mysterious object.

My own eyes had adjusted
The artist's vision had adapted to the low light.

This account can be trusted
The singer asserted the accuracy of his story.

Because I know that I saw what I saw.
The artist was certain about what he had witnessed.

I heard animal noises
The singer heard sounds like those made by animals.

And tangled up voices
He also heard indistinct and confused voices.

Chanting more and of rumors of more
The voices spoke of mysterious matters and spread rumors.

There's no natural law
The strange events were beyond explanation through the laws of nature.

That can explain what I saw
The artist could not make sense of what he had witnessed.

Spread out on that straw-covered floor.
On the floor of the mysterious place, there was straw scattered around.

Now I've put an ocean
The singer has distanced himself from Goshen.

Between myself and Goshen
The artist is now far away from the town.

To get away from the Farmer's Hotel
The condition of the Farmer's Hotel motivated the artist to leave Goshen.

If you get a nation
If many people visit Goshen.

To travel to Goshen
If people travel to Goshen.

Please stay away from the Farmer's Hotel
The artist strongly advises them to avoid the dangerous hotel.

Just like poetry in motion
The blackout looked artistic and impressive.

And I checked into the Farmer's Hotel
Despite the warning, the singer stayed at the Farmer's Hotel.

Things too unclean
The hotel was unsanitary.

Are better left unseen
The artist advises people to avoid unpleasant experiences.

Please keep away from the Farmer's Hotel
The artist reiterates his warning, asking people to avoid the Farmer's Hotel.