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.
Chickamauga
Uncle Tupelo Lyrics
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Where you're from and where you're going
I know these things like I know you hate me now
Catch yourself in mid-air thinking
Your dreams can never be bought
I couldn't help you then and I guess I can't help you now
When jousting is for pleasure
The time is right for getting out while we still can
Chickamauga's where I've been
Solitude is where I'm bound
I don't ever want to taste these tears again
I don't ever want to taste these tears again
Appalachian, so patient
The lessons we've traveled
As soon as we're out we're kicking our way back in
Fighting fire with unlit matches
From our respective trenches
No authority can clean up this mess we're in
A miracle might point the way
To solutions we're after
And avert our chronic impending disaster
Chickamauga's where I've been
Solitude is where I'm bound
I don't ever want to taste these tears again
Uncle Tupelo's song Chickamauga paints a picture of a place, a feeling, and a realization of the hopelessness of the situation. The opening verse "You'd never leave on your own / Where you're from and where you're going / I know these things like I know you hate me now" reveals the singer's knowledge of the addressee's predicament. The person is stuck in a cycle of familiarity and cannot move on; they hate the singer for not being able to help them before and now being unable to help them now. The lines "Your dreams can never be bought / I couldn't help you then and I guess I can't help you now" empathizes with the person's unfulfilled dreams and the singer's inability to change their situation.
The second verse "When jousting is for pleasure / Pleasure is way out of hand / The time is right for getting out while we still can" echoes the sentiment of being stuck in an endless cycle of fighting for sport. The pleasure of jousting is way out of hand, and it's time to break the cycle before it's too late. The lines "Chickamauga's where I've been / Solitude is where I'm bound / I don't ever want to taste these tears again" convey the singer's personal experience and his determination to break free from the past cycle of pain and tears, seeking solace in solitude.
The chorus "Appalachian, so patient / The lessons we've traveled / As soon as we're out we're kicking our way back in / Fighting fire with unlit matches / From our respective trenches / No authority can clean up this mess we're in" highlights how the Appalachian mountains have stood patiently, watching as the cycles of pain and strife continue. There are lessons to be learned, but as soon as one breaks free, they find themselves back to square one, fighting with unlit matches, hopeless of finding a solution. The lines "A miracle might point the way / To solutions we're after / And avert our chronic impending disaster" reveals the glimmer of hope that a miracle might help them find the solutions they seek and avert a looming disaster.
Overall, the lyrics of Chickamauga speak of the endless cycles of pain, strife, and hopelessness, while offering a glimmer of hope for a brighter future. The song's slow, haunting melody adds to the sense of despair and hopelessness of the lyrics, making it a poignant and captivating piece of music.
Line by Line Meaning
You'd never leave on your own
I know you too well to believe you would leave on your own
Where you're from and where you're going
I know your past and future, your identity and destination
I know these things like I know you hate me now
I know you hate me now just like I know these other things
Catch yourself in mid-air thinking
Have a moment of realization in the middle of your thought process
Your dreams can never be bought
No amount of money can give you your dreams
I couldn't help you then and I guess I can't help you now
I couldn't help you in the past and I doubt I can now
When jousting is for pleasure
When people fight for fun
Pleasure is way out of hand
Pleasure has gotten out of control
The time is right for getting out while we still can
We should leave while it's still possible
Chickamauga's where I've been
I've been to Chickamauga
Solitude is where I'm bound
I'm going to be alone
I don't ever want to taste these tears again
I don't want to be sad like this anymore
Appalachian, so patient
The Appalachian Mountains are quiet and waiting
The lessons we've traveled
The things we've learned from our experiences
As soon as we're out we're kicking our way back in
As soon as we leave, we want to come back
Fighting fire with unlit matches
Trying to solve a problem with inadequate resources
From our respective trenches
From our separate viewpoints and experiences
No authority can clean up this mess we're in
There is no one who can fix our situation
A miracle might point the way
A miracle could show us the solution
To solutions we're after
To the solutions we are seeking
And avert our chronic impending disaster
Prevent the disaster that we know is coming
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JAY FARRAR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@JK-xz1lt
Yep. Uncle Tupelo was just better than their separate parts. This whole album is just really awesome.
@sonvolt9938
Uncle Tupelo, Son Volt, Wilco Its ok to love them all.
@scottschleifer8739
Thank you! I really dislike when I'm told I have to love one over the others
@ShanOakley
Choose! No! Okay!
@angel1329us
I love you, Gordon. Thank you.
@jeffkenny9448
I want to start a band that sounds like Son Volt meets Wilco ;)
@thomaslknapp
@@jeffkenny9448 I want to see Son Volt and Wilco tour together, trading off opening/top slots and with reuniting Uncle Tupelo for a third set at each show. With the final show an outdoor festival type thing in a field outside Chickamauga, Georgia.
I don't usually get what I want, though.
@drugstorecowboys9187
Put simply, these people changed my life......
@daveclinton4945
I'm so glad i bought this record in high school because i liked the cover.
@tntblue61
Country-Punk...Alt. Country? It's Rock n' Roll!