Son Volt is an alternative country group which formed in 1994 in St. Louis,… Read Full Bio ↴Son Volt is an alternative country group which formed in 1994 in St. Louis, Missouri. The band currently consists of Jay Farrar (vocals, guitar), Chris Masterson (guitar), Andrew Duplantis (bass, vocals), Mark Spencer (keyboards) and Dave Bryson (drums). Farrar is the only original member remaining in the band.

Son Volt formed after the breakup of the band Uncle Tupelo, owing to the simmering creative differences between songwriters Farrar and Jeff Tweedy. The group's members lived in Minneapolis, St Louis, and New Orleans at the time. Son Volt is often considered the closest continuance of Uncle Tupelo's Alt-country/Americana sound and musical legacy. Jeff Tweedy would steer his post-Uncle Tupelo group Wilco towards more adventurous sonic territory - and greater critical and commercial success - in a move that has sharply divided fans.

Farrar has released albums under his own name and the Son Volt nameplate, though there is little continuity in supporting band members. After a strong initial showing with 1995's Trace, the original Son Volt lineup released two more records before going on permanent hiatus in 1999. After the original members were unable to reach an agreement on the terms of a reunion, Farrar put together a new version of Son Volt in 2004. The revived Son Volt has regained its creative footing with 2005's confident Okemah and the Melody of Riot. Son Volt went on to release "The Search" in the Spring of 2007.

Question
Son Volt Lyrics

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My mind's made up to pacing across the floor
No point in staying if we're not saying war
I don't mind hanging around
Whatever now and what else can I do?
It's a question of you.

Thoughts careen till I can't stand up
Where's the crime in a streak of bad luck?

Words to pick at, retreat from
Words that fester if only to get at the truth
It's a question of you.

What it all comes down to
Is a different set of values
To throw away or mobilize to use
It's a question of you.

No time to be singular
Here's hoping that the feeling gets through
The sound of sound beginning leads to places
Where reflections break anew
It's a question of you.

What it all comes down to
Is a different set of values

To throw away or mobilize to use
It's a question of you.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Son Volt’s song “Question” seem to address a conflict or disagreement between two people. The singer’s mind is made up as they pace across the floor, indicating that they have already made a decision to leave if they cannot resolve the issue at hand. They express a willingness to stick around, but only if the other person is willing to engage in an honest conversation about the matter at hand. The repeated phrase “It’s a question of you” suggests that the crux of the issue lies with the other person, and that the singer is waiting for them to address it.

As the song progresses, the singer’s thoughts become more chaotic, indicating that the situation is causing them a great deal of internal turmoil. They question the morality of the situation, wondering if their streak of bad luck is a crime in and of itself. They also acknowledge the power of words and the role they can play in either bringing people together or pushing them apart. The repeated refrain about different values represents an underlying tension between the singer and the other person, suggesting that their core beliefs are not aligned. Ultimately, the song seems to be about the difficulty of maintaining a relationship when two people have fundamentally different perspectives on life.

Line by Line Meaning

My mind's made up to pacing across the floor
I am restless and need to move around to deal with my thoughts and emotions.

No point in staying if we're not saying war
If we can't come to a resolution or agreement, it's better to part ways.

I don't mind hanging around
I'm willing to stay and try to work things out if there's a chance.

Whatever now and what else can I do?
I am at a loss for what to do next because of the situation we're in.

It's a question of you.
The issue at hand is about your actions or decisions.

Thoughts careen till I can't stand up
My thoughts and emotions are overwhelming me to the point I can't handle them.

Where's the crime in a streak of bad luck?
Is it wrong to have a run of bad luck or have things not go your way?

Words to pick at, retreat from
Sometimes words said in anger or frustration can be taken back and it's better to walk away from them.

Words that fester if only to get at the truth
Sometimes people say hurtful things to get to the root of an issue, which can be difficult to hear and process.

It's a question of you.
The issue at hand is about your actions or decisions.

What it all comes down to
The underlying issue is..

Is a different set of values
We have conflicting beliefs or priorities.

To throw away or mobilize to use
We must either compromise and let go of some values or come up with a plan to work toward both of our values.

It's a question of you.
The issue at hand is about your actions or decisions.

No time to be singular
We don't have the luxury of dealing with this individually; we must work as a team and find a solution.

Here's hoping that the feeling gets through
Let's hope we can understand each other and come to an agreement.

The sound of sound beginning leads to places
Starting a conversation or taking action can lead to progress and resolution.

Where reflections break anew
Through thoughtful contemplation and discussion, we can gain new perspectives and insights.

It's a question of you.
The issue at hand is about your actions or decisions.

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: JAY FARRAR

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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