But the board hit an oil patch and went flying, and the bassist found himself not just down, but possibly out. “I see him at the van and he’s got a bone about to pop out of his shoulder, and our tour manager is on the phone,” recalls drummer Travis Stearns.
So the band retreated to Austin, where an ER doc told James he had a shattered collarbone and would need surgery. In the meantime, they outfitted him with a sling. For a moment the band contemplated scratching its upcoming six-date run, because for a stand-up bassist, a collarbone tends to be necessary equipment. “Every time I lifted my arms to play the bass I could just feel the bones crunching on each other,” he says.
But he didn’t want to force his bandmates to cancel shows. Why don’t I play the electric bass instead, he wondered, while sitting in a chair? Wouldn’t that work? The band agreed, and they were off again. “That was a long bumpy drive with a broken collarbone,” James wryly recalls. “Didn’t even stop to get any medication on the way—that was a bad idea. “
But that’s the Dirty River Boys ethos. Playing upwards of 200 dates a year, giving heartfelt, unrestrained performances, and winning over a loyal audience show-by-show, it takes a lot more than a few broken bones to stop them.
Magdalene
The Dirty River Boys Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She was the only one that couldn't see her reflection.
Magdalene, she took a loaded gun, shot it into the sun to kill her morning.
She said "
Bury!
Bury me", she said "
Bury!
Bury me".
and your headstone memory.
Magdalene, she tore me up in between, left me alive it seems for your amusement.
Suddenly, I was the only one staring right at the sun to kill my morning.
Bury!
Bury me.
Bury!
Bury me.
Oh a dime????
and your headstone memory.
She cried (she cried) she cried.
From a jealous throne she awaits the after life.
She said "
Bury!
Bury me", she said "
Bury!
Bury me".
Cause a dime????
and your headstone memory.
Oh a dime????
and your headstone memory.
The song "Magdalene" by The Dirty River Boys tells the story of a woman named Magdalene who is consumed by her loneliness and unable to see her own reflection. The lyrics suggest that Magdalene, feeling hopeless and lost, takes a loaded gun and shoots it towards the sun in a desperate attempt to kill her morning or put an end to her pain. She then asks to be buried, indicating that she may have taken her own life. The second part of the song is told from the perspective of a narrator who was torn up by Magdalene and left alive for "your amusement" - most likely referring to the listener. This narrator also feels the need to kill his morning, summoning the same words as Magdalene as he asks to be buried. Throughout the song, a dime and a headstone memory are mentioned, suggesting themes of death, loss, and grief.
One interpretation of the song is that Magdalene represents a lost soul who has given up on life due to her loneliness and inability to see her own worth. The song speaks to the idea that sometimes people can feel so alone in their struggles that they feel as though they are the only ones who can see their pain. The repeated line "bury me" could also be interpreted as a metaphor for wanting to bury one's pain and start anew. The song is a poignant reminder of the human experience and the different ways we cope with the struggles we face in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Magdalene, she was a lonely one.
Magdalene was a person who felt alone and isolated.
She was the only one that couldn't see her reflection.
Magdalene had low self-esteem and couldn't see her own worth.
Magdalene, she took a loaded gun, shot it into the sun to kill her morning.
Magdalene was so miserable that she wanted to end her own life.
She said "Bury! Bury me", she said "Bury! Bury me". Oh a dime???? and your headstone memory.
Magdalene wanted to be buried and remembered after she died, even if it was with just a dime on her headstone.
Magdalene, she tore me up in between, left me alive it seems for your amusement.
Magdalene hurt someone emotionally by letting them live but feel the pain, possibly for her own entertainment.
Suddenly, I was the only one staring right at the sun to kill my morning.
The singer also felt helpless and hopeless like Magdalene and contemplated suicide.
She cried (she cried) she cried. From a jealous throne she awaits the after life.
Magdalene was unhappy and felt like life was unfair, jealous of others who seemed to have a good life. She awaits death.
She said "Bury! Bury me", she said "Bury! Bury me". Cause a dime???? and your headstone memory.
Magdalene repeats her request for a burial and memory, even if it was with just a dime on her headstone.
Oh a dime???? and your headstone memory.
Magdalene is fixated on the idea of being buried and remembered, even if it was with just a dime on her headstone.
Contributed by Brooklyn V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.