Uncle Tupelo was an alternative country music group from Belleville, Illino… Read Full Bio ↴Uncle Tupelo was an alternative country music group from Belleville, Illinois, active between 1987 and 1994. Jay Farrar, Jeff Tweedy, and Mike Heidorn formed the band after the lead singer of their previous band, The Primitives, left to attend college. The trio recorded three albums for Rockville Records, before signing with Sire Records and expanding to a five-piece. Shortly after the release of the band's major label debut album Anodyne, Farrar announced his decision to leave the band due to a soured relationship with his co-songwriter Tweedy. Uncle Tupelo split on May 1, 1994, after completing a farewell tour. Following the breakup, Farrar formed Son Volt with Heidorn, while the remaining members continued as Wilco.

Although Uncle Tupelo broke up before it achieved commercial success, the band is renowned for its impact on the alternative country music scene. The group's first album, No Depression, became a byword for the genre and was widely influential. Uncle Tupelo's sound was unlike popular country music of the time, drawing inspiration from styles as diverse as the hardcore punk of The Minutemen and the country instrumentation and harmony of the Carter Family and Hank Williams. Farrar and Tweedy lyrics frequently referenced Middle America and the working class of Belleville.

Blue Eyes
Uncle Tupelo Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Sometimes I get upset when people treat me bad
I don't have time to think and so I get real mad
And I pull my hair and find somewhere where I can be alone
And when I do I think of you and head myself back home

[Chorus]
For I got chores to keep me busy, clock to keep my time
A pretty girl to love me, with the same last name as mine

When the flowers wilt, a big old quilt to keep us warm
And I got the sun to see your blue eyes, and tonight you're in my arms

Sometimes I get unwound when fancy cars drive past
Money don't get me down, I can't make it last
And I bite my nails and if that fails I go get myself stoned
And when I do I think of you and head myself back home

[Chorus]

Sometimes I get unwound when fancy cars drive past
Money don't get me down, I can't make it last
And I bite my nails and if that fails I go get myself stoned
And when I do I think of you and head myself back home

[Chorus]

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Uncle Tupelo's "Blue Eyes" are a reflection on the simple life and the importance of love and family. The singer is a hardworking man who is often mistreated by others, causing him to become angry and seek solace by himself. However, despite his struggles, he finds comfort in the thought of his loved ones, particularly his wife who shares his last name.

The chorus is an ode to the things that bring joy to his life: his daily obligations ("chores to keep me busy, clock to keep my time"), the love of his life, family and a sense of belonging ("a pretty girl to love me, with the same last name as mine"), a cozy home life ("a big old quilt to keep us warm"), and the beauty of the world around him ("and I got the sun to see your blue eyes"). These things give him hope and comfort, a reminder to continue pushing forward even in the face of adversity.

The song speaks to the human desire for connection and simple pleasures in life, reminding us not to take these things for granted. It also touches on the challenges that we face, and the ways in which we cope with them. Overall, "Blue Eyes" is a beautiful and poignant reminder of the power of love and the importance of appreciating the small things in life.

Line by Line Meaning

Sometimes I get upset when people treat me bad
At times I feel disturbed when I am treated unfairly

I don't have time to think and so I get real mad
I don't have the luxury of reflecting and hence I become angry

And I pull my hair and find somewhere where I can be alone
In frustration, I become agitated and seek solitude to calm down

And when I do I think of you and head myself back home
Your thought brings me peace, and I find my way back home

[Chorus]
Refrain

A pretty girl to love me, with the same last name as mine
I am blessed with a beautiful partner, who shares my surname

When the flowers wilt, a big old quilt to keep us warm
Even in tough times, we have a cozy cover to comfort us

And I got the sun to see your blue eyes, and tonight you're in my arms
In the warmth of the sun, I gaze into your blue eyes, and tonight I have you in my embrace

Sometimes I get unwound when fancy cars drive past
At times, I feel uneasy when I see fancy cars go by

Money don't get me down, I can't make it last
Money does not depress me, and I can't hold onto it for long

And I bite my nails and if that fails I go get myself stoned
In anxiety, I bite my nails, and if that does not help, I take solace in getting high

And when I do I think of you and head myself back home
Thinking of you brings me back to my senses, and I make my way back home

[Chorus]
Refrain

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MICHAEL HOLBROOK PENNIMAN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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