Jersey on the Wall
Tenille Townes Lyrics

There's a jersey on the wall
In the high school gym of this artist's hometown, there is a jersey hanging on the wall.

In a high-school gym in my hometown
The gym in question is located in the artist's hometown, where she grew up.

In the corner, by the scoreboard
The jersey is hanging in the corner of the gym nearest to the scoreboard.

Where the bleacher seats fold down
This is the area in the gym where the bleacher seats fold down when students sit on them.

Twenty-seven took the Tigers
A player with the number 27 was part of the high school basketball team called the Tigers.

To the finals that year
The Tigers made it to the finals of their high school basketball competition that year.

But that's not why it's hanging there
The jersey is hanging on the wall for a reason other than the fact that the team made it to the finals with the help of the player with the number 27.

If I ever get to Heaven
The artist is expressing her own beliefs about what happens when she dies.

You know I got a long list of questions
The artist has a long list of questions she would like to ask when she dies.

Like how do You make a snowflake?
One of the many questions the artist has for God is about how snowflakes are made.

Are You angry when the Earth quakes?
The artist questions if God is angry when natural disasters such as earthquakes occur on Earth.

How does the sky change in a minute?
Another question the artist has for God is about how the sky can change colors in such short periods of time.

How do You keep this big rock spinnin'?
The artist questions how God keeps the Earth rotating on its axis as it orbits around the sun.

And why can't You stop a car from crashin'?
The artist questions why God can't intervene to stop bad things from happening.

Forgive me, I'm just askin'
The artist prefaces her questions by asking for forgiveness, as she is only curious.

I bet somewhere, there's a yearbook
The artist believes that somewhere, there is a high school yearbook with a particular missing photo.

In a box under a bed
This yearbook is likely stored in a box under someone's bed.

With a senior picture missin'
The yearbook is incomplete due to a senior picture being missing.

In Loving Memory instead
This missing senior picture was replaced with a memorial note instead.

And somewhere there's a mother
The artist thinks that somewhere, there is a mother who is also questioning God's plan.

Who stopped goin' to church
Because she was unable to reconcile her doubt with her faith, this mother stopped attending church.

'Cause Your plan quit makin' sense down here on Earth
This mother stopped going to church because God's plan for the world no longer made sense to her on Earth.

Oh, I'm just sayin'
The artist emphasizes that she is simply making a point or suggestion.

You don't have to answer now
The artist recognizes that God may not answer her questions immediately.

Oh, but some day
At some point, the artist hopes to get answers to her questions.

If I ever get to Heaven
The artist reiterates that her questions are for when she believes she will go to Heaven.

If You got Your hands on everythin' that happens
The artist questions if God has control over everything that happens in the world.

Then why couldn't You stop that car from crashin'?
The artist questions if God has the power to intervene and stop bad things from happening, why he did not prevent a car crash from occurring.

Forgive me, I'm just askin'
The artist prefaces her questions again by asking for forgiveness and acknowledging that she is simply seeking knowledge.

I'm just askin'
Again, the artist emphasizes that her list of questions is just her seeking answers.