Janeway is a young man who began wailing straight out of the womb, and most folks would agree that he hasn’t stopped since. “Oh what a set of lungs that child has,” they’d say, “he must be destined for something special.” Not wishing to disappoint, and being a good southern boy, Paul began singing in church, stretching his vocal cords with an eye toward becoming a man of the cloth.
The cloth, however, didn’t appreciate young Paul’s affinity for dirty jokes, Prince, and Tom Waits, and he was inclined to search elsewhere for co-conspirators. He began plying his trade with whomever would have him. With a wholly re-imagined take on the sounds he’d grown up singing and seeking, Paul recruited a rag-tag band of like-minded weirdoes, visionaries, and hacks to help him harness the power he now knew he possessed. Under the nom du guerre St. Paul and the Broken Bones, the motley crew roams the countryside looking to get cabooses shakin’, faces meltin’, and brothers and sisters everywhere testifyin’
Broken Bones & Pocket Change
St. Paul & The Broken Bones Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Tired restless and blue
When it comes and she goes
Says goodbye to my poor soul
Broken bones and pocket change
This heart is all she left me with
Reckless love has made me cold
Ain't nobody, ain't nobody gonna love me
I'll just stand here, all alone
Broken bones and pocket change
This heart is all she left me with
I got it bad baby
I got it so bad
And I'm down
Oh I'm down on my knees
Music died and it let me go
Said goodbye to my poor soul
The melody, why have you forsaken me
Broken bones and pocket change
This heart is all she left me with
Broken bones and pocket change
This heart is all she left me with
This heart is all she left me with
This heart is all she left me with
Oh but I, Oh but I, oh but I've been broken
Can't take, can't take it down
I'm going down, I'm going down today
The lyrics to St. Paul & The Broken Bones's song Broken Bones & Pocket Change tell a story of a man who has been hurt deeply by the love of his life, leaving him with nothing but broken bones and pocket change. He has grown tired, restless and blue from his young, reckless love that has left him feeling cold and alone. The music has died and he is left to suffer with nothing but his broken heart. He is begging for mercy on his knees but he can't seem to escape the pain of his past love.
The lyrics of "Broken Bones & Pocket Change" speak to the pain of a broken heart and the desperation that comes with it. The song's haunting melody and soulful lyrics capture the raw emotions of love's aftermath. The repetition of the phrase "broken bones and pocket change" emphasizes the lyrics' message of loss and emptiness. It feels like the singer is stuck in a cycle of heartbreak, as the love of his life keeps coming and going, leaving him feeling lonely and forlorn.
Overall, the lyrics to "Broken Bones & Pocket Change" capture the sense of loss and heartbreak that can come with loving someone deeply. The song conveys a sense of hopelessness and despair, as the singer struggles to overcome the pain of his past love.
Line by Line Meaning
Young Love has made me old
The singer's experience with love has aged them prematurely
Tired restless and blue
The singer is exhausted, agitated, and sad
When it comes and she goes
The singer's partner is inconsistent in their affections
Says goodbye to my poor soul
The artist's partner leaves them feeling empty and dispirited
Broken bones and pocket change
The artist is left with nothing but physical and financial hardship after their partner leaves them
This heart is all she left me with
The singer is emotionally devastated and left with nothing but heartache after the end of the relationship
Reckless love has made me cold
The singer's experience with love has left them jaded and indifferent
Worn down just like shoes
The artist is weary and defeated, like a pair of worn-out shoes
Ain't nobody, ain't nobody gonna love me
The artist feels unlovable and alone
I'll just stand here, all alone
The artist is resigned to their fate and prepared to face the world alone
I got it bad baby
The singer is deeply in love with their partner
I got it so bad
The artist's love for their partner is all-consuming and overwhelming
And I'm down
The singer is emotionally and physically low
Oh I'm down on my knees
The singer is in a state of desperation, begging for their partner's affection
Music died and it let me go
The singer's world was shattered when their relationship ended
The melody, why have you forsaken me
The artist feels abandoned by the very things that used to bring them joy and comfort
Oh but I've been broken
The artist is emotionally and mentally shattered
Can't take, can't take it down
The singer is struggling to cope with their pain
I'm going down, I'm going down today
The singer is on the brink of collapse and may not be able to keep going much longer
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Jesse Thomas Phillips, Paul William Janeway
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Jay Jacobs
Young Love has made me old
Tired restless and blue
When it comes ohh and she goes
Says goodbye to my poor soul
Broken bones and pocket change
It's all she left me with
Reckless lover
It has made me cold
Worn down just like shoes
Ain't nobody, ain't nobody gonna Love me
I'll just stand here
All alone
Broken bones and pocket change
It's all she left me with
I got it bad baby
I got it oh so bad
And I'm down
Oh I'm down on my, my, my knees
Music died and it let me go
Said goodbye to my, my poor, my poor soul
Melody, melody, melody
Why have you forsaken
Forsaken me?
Broken bones and pocket change
That is all she left, she left me with
Broken bones oh and pocket change
It's all she she left, she left me with Lord
It's all she left me with
It's all she left me with
I've been beat down
I've been tired I been lonely
I've gotta need a now, no no no
Can't have it now
Stay Hopeful
Whomever broke this man's heart and left him with pocket change...Good on you! Without your selfishness we would not have this gem here...This man has passion, heart, and soul...Just got turned onto these guys through NPR Tiny Desk session...Good job, OurVinyl for seeing this talent as well
hapkid
yep
CheesecakeLasagna
Oh wow, I'm already hearing an NPR Tiny Desk version of this in my head! Beautiful grounded acoustic
Shawn Westmoreland
Stay Hopeful true
Pat Clair
Couldn't have said it better myself
Mitch Tucker
It's music, not a woman. That broke this man's poor heart 🤔
HarlowBird
I've never fallen so hard in love before than I have with this song. His voice makes my soul warm.
Givingyou Arating
Instant water works soon as his voice hit the microphone 😮💨. Absolutely beautiful!!!!
robert sexton
I just found these guy the other day and I can’t stop listening to them I’m sure the whole neighborhood knows them by now !!!! Crank it up and let er roll ✊
bunnysir123
The kind of music that just makes you close your eyes and just feel. Freaking amazing.