Bayleaf
Stone Gossard Lyrics
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All in three: one-two-wee was the way he sang
With a southern twang, he??
A gentle man, we'd owe him
From his dusty days though, he'd been split four ways
Cut to the bone, left alone too many
It only takes these memories to make me want...sigh...
Ahh...
Pending grey and coldness
Tried to woo him to me but the spell I cast was far too weak
To break him free, who woe him
He had a different dance, he had a different song
He had a different sound to follow home
But he didn't believe it
He did not, bay leaf
He didn't believe it
He did not, bay leaf
He didn't believe it at all
He did not, bay leaf
He didn't believe it
He did not, bay leaf
La la la la la...
Well he didn't believe it
He didn't believe it at all
He did not, bay leaf
He didn't believe it at all
He did not, bay leaf
He didn't believe it
He did not, bay leaf
Made his midnight stand with a pale fist
He took a swing, sight unseen, he suffered
Pulled his lover to him
Made his will about the hands of fate
A bit too late, to save him
When he went back home and his mom would drown and mold
He had a different mood, he had a different style
He opened up his love so wide
The song “Bayleaf” by Stone Gossard, the guitarist of Pearl Jam, is a poignant tale of a man who was once gentle and kind, but has been hurt and broken by life. The song starts with the memory of a man singing a lovely song with a southern twang. He had been split four ways and left alone too many times. The memories make the singer, presumably Gossard, want to sigh. The man in the song had a notion to explain their way to survive, but the pending grey and coldness overpowered his intent. The singer tries to woo him, but the spell cast was weak and couldn't break him free. The man had a different dance, a different song, and a different sound to follow home. However, he didn't believe in it, "he did not, bay leaf."
The song has two distinct parts. The first part talks about the gentle man and the memories associated with him. The second part starts with the line, "made his midnight stand with a pale fist," which signifies a dark turn in the man's life. He takes a swing, sight unseen, and suffers. He then pulls his lover to him and makes his will about the hands of fate, a bit too late to save him. When he goes back home, he has a different mood, a different style, and opens up his love so wide. The lyrics end with a La la la chorus with the repetition of "he didn't believe it, bay leaf."
Overall, the song tells a story of a man who has faced a lot of hardships but has still managed to love despite the setbacks. The song's narrator is left pondering the man's journey, hoping that he finds the belief to open up and love again.
Line by Line Meaning
Once this man I knew had a lovely song to sing to me
The singer remembers someone who had a beautiful melody to share with her
All in three: one-two-wee was the way he sang
He sang with a simple and repetitive rhythm
With a southern twang, he??
He had a country accent
A gentle man, we'd owe him
He was a kind and caring person
From his dusty days though, he'd been split four ways
Over time, he faced many difficulties
Cut to the bone, left alone too many
These hardships often left him feeling isolated and vulnerable
It only takes these memories to make me want...sigh...
The singer's recollections of him evoke a feeling of longing and sadness
You wanted to survive, had a notion to explain our way
He wanted to find a way to endure despite life's challenges
Pending grey and coldness
He faced a bleak and uncertain future
Tried to woo him to me but the spell I cast was far too weak
The artist attempted to help him but was unable to do so
To break him free, who woe him
He needed to be liberated from his struggles, but it was difficult for anyone to do so
He had a different dance, he had a different song
He had his own unique style and approach to life
He had a different sound to follow home
He had his own path to follow in life
But he didn't believe it
Despite his strengths and individuality, he lacked self-confidence
He did not, bay leaf
The phrase 'bay leaf' is a symbol for a lack of belief or faith
Well he didn't believe it
He doubted his own abilities and potential
Made his midnight stand with a pale fist
He made a final desperate attempt to overcome his difficulties
He took a swing, sight unseen, he suffered
However, his actions did not have the desired effect and he suffered the consequences
Pulled his lover to him
He sought comfort from someone he loved
Made his will about the hands of fate
He resolved to take control of his own destiny
A bit too late, to save him
Unfortunately, it was too little too late for him
When he went back home and his mom would drown and mold
After he passed away, his mother was consumed by grief
He had a different mood, he had a different style
He had a unique personality and approach to life
He opened up his love so wide
He expressed a great deal of love and affection for those around him
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@NapDanceEsatt
Once this man I knew had a lovely song to sing to me
All in three: one-two-wee was the way he sang
With a southern twang, he??
A gentle man, we'd owe him
From his dusty days though, he'd been split four ways
Cut to the bone, left alone too many
It only takes these memories to make me want...sigh...
Ahh...
You wanted to survive, had a notion to explain our way
Pending grey and coldness
Tried to woo him to me but the spell I cast was far too weak
To break him free, who woe him
He had a different dance, he had a different song
He had a different sound to follow home
But he didn't believe it
He did not, bay leaf
He didn't believe it
He did not, bay leaf
He didn't believe it at all
He did not, bay leaf
He didn't believe it
He did not, bay leaf
La la la la la...
Well he didn't believe it
He didn't believe it at all
He did not, bay leaf
He didn't believe it at all
He did not, bay leaf
He didn't believe it
He did not, bay leaf
Made his midnight stand with a pale fist
He took a swing, sight unseen, he suffered
Pulled his lover to him
Made his will about the hands of fate
A bit too late, to save him
When he went back home and his mom would drown and mold
He had a different mood, he had a different style
He opened up his love so wide
@priscilamaya5374
Muiito bommmmmmm💜🤘adoro esse Stone na guitar💕
@veddermn8
Guitar tone on this is exquisite.
@NapDanceEsatt
Once this man I knew had a lovely song to sing to me
All in three: one-two-wee was the way he sang
With a southern twang, he??
A gentle man, we'd owe him
From his dusty days though, he'd been split four ways
Cut to the bone, left alone too many
It only takes these memories to make me want...sigh...
Ahh...
You wanted to survive, had a notion to explain our way
Pending grey and coldness
Tried to woo him to me but the spell I cast was far too weak
To break him free, who woe him
He had a different dance, he had a different song
He had a different sound to follow home
But he didn't believe it
He did not, bay leaf
He didn't believe it
He did not, bay leaf
He didn't believe it at all
He did not, bay leaf
He didn't believe it
He did not, bay leaf
La la la la la...
Well he didn't believe it
He didn't believe it at all
He did not, bay leaf
He didn't believe it at all
He did not, bay leaf
He didn't believe it
He did not, bay leaf
Made his midnight stand with a pale fist
He took a swing, sight unseen, he suffered
Pulled his lover to him
Made his will about the hands of fate
A bit too late, to save him
When he went back home and his mom would drown and mold
He had a different mood, he had a different style
He opened up his love so wide
@RobMorrison89
Que temazo!!!
@toddobrien3407
Stone is the groovemeister.
@antonioortuno9511
Cool! Been looking for this album since ever ...
@RubyRose.1977
I like this. it's melodic.
@marko511d
Very cool. Gives me a Neil Young vibe.
@swampfizz
this just kicks ass man!!!!!
@robertbotham1535
Someday, when the COVID is over maybe...anyway when next I get to see Pearl Jam in concert...I'm gonna bring a sign that says STONE: BAYLEAF!