Save Yourself
Tarkio Lyrics


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Here there is no revelry
The sadness needs no leavening
So loose your boots and sit yourself down
Deep inside the water tank
Over by the riverbank
There I saw my little girl drown

Call it a detour
Ugly and impure
Save yourself
Where is the life line
Here on the highline
Save yourself

I came back here at 24
My friends all say what you're doing this for
Well my father died and passed this shit to me
Rub my hands in turpentine
My prospect's now being undermined
With bankers knocking daily at my door

Call it a detour
Ugly and impure
Save yourself
Where is the life line
Here on the highline
Save yourself

Lost inside the peloton
With the Jerry Lewis telethon
Ticking soft till I fall fast asleep
Slipped away with candlelight
Leather chaps and cattle drives
This is not the life I meant to lead

Call it a detour
Ugly and impure
Save yourself
But where is the life line
Here on the highline
Save yourself





Save yourself

Overall Meaning

The song "Save Yourself" by Tarkio conveys a sense of defeat and hopelessness, with a strong emphasis on the need for self-preservation in the face of adversity. The opening lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the piece, with references to sadness and drowning. The singer urges the listener to "loose your boots and sit yourself down" as if inviting them to sit with him and share in his misery. The lyrics go on to describe a detour in the singer's life, with the loss of his father and the challenges he now faces.


The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "Save yourself," emphasizing the need for individual action and self-protection. The mention of a life line suggests the possibility of rescue or support, but ultimately the responsibility falls on the individual to take care of themselves. The mention of a highline, which could refer to a type of railroad or telecommunications wire, adds to the sense of danger and vulnerability in the situation.


The second half of the song introduces new imagery, including a peloton (a group of cyclists in a race) and the Jerry Lewis telethon (a fundraiser for muscular dystrophy). These references to endurance and perseverance contrast with the earlier themes of defeat and hopelessness, and may suggest the need for resilience in the face of ongoing challenges.


Overall, "Save Yourself" is a poignant and melancholy song that speaks to the human need for protection and survival in difficult times.


Line by Line Meaning

Here there is no revelry
This place is devoid of joy or celebration.


The sadness needs no leavening
The level of sorrow is already too high and does not require any further influence.


So loose your boots and sit yourself down
Take off your shoes and take a seat.


Deep inside the water tank
Inside the water storage container.


Over by the riverbank
Close to the edge of the river.


There I saw my little girl drown
This is where I witnessed my daughter's death by drowning.


Call it a detour
Consider it a diversion, an alternate route.


Ugly and impure
It is unattractive and not pure.


Save yourself
Rescue yourself from danger or difficulty.


Where is the life line
Where is the means to save one's life in this situation?


Here on the highline
The lifeline is not present in this scenario.


Save yourself
In this tricky situation, you are your only hope to survive.


I came back here at 24
I returned at the age of 24.


My friends all say what you're doing this for
All my buddies wondered why I was back here.


Well my father died and passed this shit to me
My father passed away, but left me this problematic situation to handle on my own.


Rub my hands in turpentine
I'm cleaning my hands with turpentine.


My prospect's now being undermined
The future I hoped for is now in jeopardy.


With bankers knocking daily at my door
I'm facing constant pressure from bankers who want me to pay up.


Lost inside the peloton
I am stuck in a mass of people, unable to break free.


With the Jerry Lewis telethon
This is a charity event organized by Jerry Lewis, whose goal is to raise money for research.


Ticking soft till I fall fast asleep
The passage of time doesn't affect me, since I'm able to fall asleep easily.


Slipped away with candlelight
I departed quietly, secretly.


Leather chaps and cattle drives
I was out there working hard like a cowboy, herding cattle.


This is not the life I meant to lead
This is not the kind of life I had envisioned for myself.


Call it a detour
Once again, view it as a diversion or a different path to take.


Ugly and impure
It is still not ideal or pure.


Save yourself
Save yourself, once again.


But where is the life line
I still ask, where is the means to save one's life in this scenario?


Here on the highline
As before, the lifeline is not present.


Save yourself
Once again, rescue yourself from danger or difficulty.




Contributed by Eli P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

cassandalabra

so beautiful and devastating. still gives me chills even after almost 20 years of listening...

Manuel Cabral

Here there is no revelry
The sadness needs no leavening
So loose your boots and sit yourself down
Deep inside the water tank
Over by the riverbank
There I saw my little girl drown

Call it a detour
Ugly and impure
Save yourself
Where is the life line
Here on the highline
Save yourself

I came back here at 24
My friends all say what you're doing this for
Well my father died and passed this shit to me
Rub my hands in turpentine
My prospect's now being undermined
With bankers knocking daily at my door

Call it a detour
Ugly and impure
Save yourself
Where is the life line
Here on the highline
Save yourself

Lost inside the peloton
With the Jerry Lewis telethon
Ticking soft until I fall fast asleep
Slipped away with candlelight
Leather chaps and cattle drives
This is not the life I meant to lead

Call it a detour
Ugly and impure
Save yourself
But where is the life line
Here on the highline
Save yourself

The ominous collective

I enjoy this.

bushwhackedonvhs

+The ominous collective You would

David A

TIM WILSON ..david is listening

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