Oskar Beck
The Ex Lyrics
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And your trunk, made in Buenos Aires, your trunk travelled with you
And your trunk, made in Buenos Aires, your trunk travelled with you
Trunk no. 3 with (what can I say?) clothes, shoes, books maybe?
And old photos, to remind you of home? I don't know you, I don't know your way
And old photos, to remind you of home? I don't know you, I don't know your way
We are, we live, we move, we stay and what's ahead is hard to say
We are, we live, we move, we stay and what's ahead is hard to say
And the trunk of Buenos Aires
Labelled no. 3
Carried his things, carries my things
And with it, history
And the trunk of Buenos Aires
Labelled no. 3
Carried his things, carries my things
The Ex's song "Oskar Beck" tells the story of a journey from Bremen to Stuttgart in Germany, which is the only thing the singer knows about the person they are referring to in the song. The person's trunk, which was made in Buenos Aires, is also mentioned several times in the lyrics, as it accompanied them on their journey. The trunk is described as carrying clothes, shoes, books, and old photos, which may have reminded the person of their home.
The song seems to be about the transient nature of life, how we are always on a journey in one way or another. The lyrics "We are, we live, we move, we stay and what's ahead is hard to say" capture this sentiment, and the trunk is a physical representation of this journey. The trunk itself has a history, carrying the person's things and now carrying the singer's things, bridging time and distance.
Interestingly, the song title "Oskar Beck" is not mentioned in the lyrics at all, leaving the listener to wonder who this person is and what their significance may be. The song is dedicated to Oskar Beck, who was a member of the Dutch resistance during World War II and a close friend of the band, but he is not directly referenced in the lyrics. The Ex created a whole album dedicated to Oskar Beck in 1991, and this song is one of the tracks on that album.
Line by Line Meaning
To this day the only thing I know of you is your journey from Bremen to Stuttgart
Despite being in a relationship, I have only gleaned information about you from your journey from Bremen to Stuttgart.
And your trunk, made in Buenos Aires, your trunk travelled with you
You carried a trunk made in Buenos Aires with you on your journey.
Trunk no. 3 with (what can I say?) clothes, shoes, books maybe?
Trunk no. 3 likely contained clothing, shoes, and perhaps books.
And old photos, to remind you of home? I don't know you, I don't know your way
I am unsure whether there were old photos in the trunk to remind you of home, but I don't know you well enough to say.
Was your journey by boat or was it by train, there were reasons to leave and begin again
I am uncertain about the mode of transportation you took on your journey, but I know there were reasons for you to depart and start anew.
We are, we live, we move, we stay and what's ahead is hard to say
Life is full of uncertainties and possibilities, and it's difficult to predict what lies ahead for us.
And the trunk of Buenos Aires
Labelled no. 3
Carried his things, carries my things
And with it, history
Trunk no. 3 from Buenos Aires not only carried his belongings, but mine as well, and with it, our shared history.
And the trunk of Buenos Aires
Labelled no. 3
Carried his things, carries my things
The Buenos Aires trunk that travelled with us both carried our possessions.
Contributed by Blake D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.