Kerosene
Simon Joyner Lyrics
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She fell down on her knees and cried
This is an ungodly mistake
She never thought shed ever be denied
and father's eyes went to them all
And all her sisters stare you down
But she's the only one who got her mother's smile
to live on this earth you need two hands
One to crush the weeds that steal your crops
And one to crush your fellow man
And a woman to tell you when to stop
you take the road and make a river
All you needed was some rain
You drift north and drag the darkness
Leave behind some kerosene
so she can burn down your fields
And brand the cattle with her smile
And send a smoke signal to the stars
Ready to plant some fertile soil
In Simon Joyner's song "Kerosene," the first verse captures the feeling of shock and disbelief that comes with a sudden unraveling of one's beliefs. The "she" mentioned in the verse finds herself in an ungodly mistake, something she never thought would happen to her. Her father and sisters look at her with judgment and disapproval while she is the only one to inherit her mother's smile. The verse goes beyond religion as it touches upon themes of familial expectations, disappointment, and individuality. The second verse goes into the realities of living on earth, sorting people into two kinds- those who work towards their goal relentlessly and the ones who oppose, with a woman guiding a man on when to draw the line.
The bridge ponders upon the idea of breaking through, where an individual takes their pain and rises above it. The idea of drifting and taking on the darkness suggests taking a different and possibly destructive path, and the imagery of kerosene creates a sense of recklessness. The chorus seems to portray the singer of the song as a force to be reckoned with, potentially a destructive force, but one who is also ready to sow the fields and begin again, ready to move on from the past.
Line by Line Meaning
Like an angel bounces off heavens gate
She was overzealous, full of energy and enthusiasm, like an angel caught in the ecstasy of finally reaching heaven.
She fell down on her knees and cried
Her passionate outlook turned suddenly plaintive - she was helpless, confined to her knees from where she could only express her emotions through tears.
This is an ungodly mistake
The situation was unexpected and unnatural, something that shouldn't have happened in the first place.
She never thought she'd ever be denied
Being denied something that she deeply looked forward to was not even a possibility - a predicament she was not prepared to face.
And father's eyes went to them all
The father looked over everyone involved, taking note of each one's reaction and affect during the episode.
And all her sisters stare you down
The sisters looked at the subject in a contemptuous, disapproving manner, projecting their disapproval.
But she's the only one who got her mother's smile
Out of everyone present, only she had the impeccable resemblance to her mother's infectious, cheerful smile.
Lately you haven't seen much of it around
Her mother's smiling face, for some reason, had become rare to spot lately.
To live on this earth you need two hands
In order to survive in this world, one needs to have a pair of hands to perform tasks proficiently.
One to crush the weeds that steal your crops
One hand aids you in getting rid of any harmful weeds that could harm your crops/dreams.
And one to crush your fellow man
The other hand helps crush any competitors, opponents or enemies that might pose a threat, in order to succeed.
And a woman to tell you when to stop
A sensible woman is required to remind you when to restrain your actions, and not overdo your pursuits, even if they might be necessary ones.
You take the road and make a river
Transforming or converting the course of one's life (taking a different road), and change one's life's direction so much so that it feels like a entirely different and long journey (making a river).
All you needed was some rain
All that was required to achieve this kind of transformation in life was just a small push, or a significant life event.
You drift north and drag the darkness
As your journey proceeds, you traverse further up North, and drag along with you any despair or negativity that once had a hold on you.
Leave behind some kerosene
You abandon and forget the worldly possessions and routines you left behind in this process, and choose to light your life on a new path.
So she can burn down your fields
After abandoning her old life, She is ready to ignite some chaos and uncertainty in the lives of people who were holding her back.
And brand the cattle with her smile
With a confident, determined smile plastered across her face, she leaves an everlasting mark on the people she encounters.
And send a smoke signal to the stars
As an infallible proclamation of the change she represents, her triumphant story will be heard even in the far reaches of the universe.
Ready to plant some fertile soil
After the tumultuous transformations, she is ready to sow the seeds of her new, refined ideas, and start afresh with new, more fruitful beginnings.
Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Simon Joseph Joyner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind