Scarecrow
The O.C. - Beck Lyrics
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With the devil tryin' to take my mind
And my soul's just a silhouette
In the ashes of a cigarette
Illusions never fake their lies
Trick cards fool the eye
Carry zeros over till they add up
Sometimes the jail can't chain the cell
And the rain's too plain to tell
All alone by a barren well
The scarecrow's only scarin' himself
I've been diggin' the ground
Through the dust and the clouds
I see miles and miles
And the junkyard piles
I wanted hope from a grave
I wanted strength from a slave
What gives you comfort now
Might be the end of you then
Crows are pullin' at my clothes
The wind got my fingers froze
Standing all day keepin' watch
Over all the treasures we lost
Sometimes the jail can't chain the cell
And the rain's too plain to tell
All alone by a barren well
The scarecrow's only scarin' himself
In Beck's song "Scarecrow," the lyrics speak to themes of internal struggle, disillusionment, and isolation. The first verse sets a tone of mental and emotional battle with the devil as the devil tries to take the singer's mind. The ashes of the cigarette in the lyrics represent remnants of the singer's past where he's tried to find comfort in smoking away his sorrows. The next verse speaks to how the singer's illusions and trickery can never surpass the reality of his struggles. He tries to bury his tears in his life's story, but it never helps him escape from his pain.
The chorus describes how sometimes you cannot escape your struggles as if the singer's mind is a cell that even the keys cannot open. The barren well reflects his isolation and grave sense of loneliness. Then we find the singer digging through the ruins trying to find something that's not there. He's immersing himself in junkyard piles where he sees miles and miles with no hope of escaping from his reality. He wanted comfort from finding the right gravesite or strength to help him overcome his struggles, but he found no solace in these ideals.
Finally, the song speaks to the singer's current state of affairs where he is overseeing all of the treasures he has lost. He's standing there all day, keeping watch as crows pull at his clothes, and his fingers freeze. The chromatic melody of the song speaks further to the singer's sense of disorientation and discordance in his life.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm walkin' to the other side
I am moving towards a different place or situation.
With the devil tryin' to take my mind
There is a negative force trying to sway my thoughts.
And my soul's just a silhouette
My inner self is obscured or hard to see.
In the ashes of a cigarette
Amidst the remnants of a burnt-out cigarette.
Illusions never fake their lies
Deceptive thoughts and ideas never truly present themselves as what they are.
Trick cards fool the eye
Deceitful techniques can manipulate or misdirect one's perspective.
Carry zeros over till they add up
Seemingly insignificant actions or choices can accumulate to result in something significant.
Bury tears in the chapters you shut
To suppress emotions and conceal them from others or oneself.
Sometimes the jail can't chain the cell
Sometimes restrictions and limitations don't hold back the innate nature of something or someone.
And the rain's too plain to tell
The weather cannot convey or express its message clearly.
All alone by a barren well
Solitary and isolated, near an empty or fruitless water source.
The scarecrow's only scarin' himself
The intended threat or intimidation only affects oneself and has no impact on others.
I've been diggin' the ground
I have been digging into or exploring a matter.
Through the dust and the clouds
Despite obstacles or hinderances.
I see miles and miles
I perceive or imagine vast distances.
And the junkyard piles
Surrounded by heaps of discarded or forgotten objects.
I wanted hope from a grave
I hoped for positive change or encouragement from something that was lifeless or ending.
I wanted strength from a slave
I desired to draw fortitude and resolve from a situation of oppression or cruelty.
What gives you comfort now
What currently provides you ease or solace.
Might be the end of you then
May result in your detriment or downfall in the future.
Crows are pullin' at my clothes
Birds are tugging at my clothing.
The wind got my fingers froze
The cold weather caused my extremities to become numb or immobile.
Standing all day keepin' watch
Maintaining constant observation and vigilance for an extended period.
Over all the treasures we lost
Guarding the remnants or semblances of things that can never be recovered.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BECK HANSEN, JOHN KING, MIKE SIMPSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind