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.
Postcard
Uncle Tupelo Lyrics
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Never been so down
Nothing here to stand on
It's a war-weary road
Another faceless tombstone
Nothing here to stand on
May never get out
Forever caught in a spin
No better place to begin
Can't find the phone, can't hear to listen can't take along what we're missing
Just as well to write this postcard from hell and the bar clock says three a.m.
Fallout shelter sign above the door
In other words, don't come here anymore
Too many miles between
I heard a dead man scream
Nothing here to stand on
Each and every step
Reeling out more or less
Nothing here to stand on
I turn to face the wind
May never get out
Forever caught in a spin
No better place to begin
I turn to face the wind
May never get out
Forever caught in a spin
No better place to begin
Tried to stay, tried to run
There's never been enough reason
To believe in anyone
This trickle-down theory has left all these pockets empty and the bar clock says three
A.m.
Fallout shelter sign above the door
In other words, don't come here anymore
"Postcard" is a song by American alternative country band, Uncle Tupelo, from their third studio album, "Anodyne" (1993). When analyzed closely, the song presents a bleak, stoic landscape ravaged by some nameless apocalypse. The lyrics create a vivid picture of a person who has lost all connections to a stable life. The individual is either physically or metaphorically lost, where they can't find their way home or lack a sense of belonging, as nothing seems solid enough to stand on. They don't have anyone to talk to or connect with, as they can't take anyone along with them or hear what anyone else has to say. The postcard is a grim reminder of their situation, and while they may not have a physical foundation, the postcard is what they have left.
The song's opening lyrics, "Lost sight of ground, never been so down, nothing here to stand on," depict someone lost, alone, and without direction. The singer is in a state of disillusionment and confusion, with no way to find their bearings or create a stable life. The next couplet, "It's a war-weary road, another faceless tombstone, nothing here to stand on," is full of despair and hopeless imagery. The phrase "faceless tombstone" is especially haunting, as it implies that the path the singer is traveling is strewn with death and loss.
The lyrics of "Postcard" can be interpreted in countless ways, with no clear indication of the exact type of apocalypse the singer is experiencing. The song talks about a dead man's scream, a fallout shelter sign above the door, and the trickle-down theory that's left pockets empty. These imageries create a plethora of interpretational possibilities.
Line by Line Meaning
Lost sight of ground
Feeling disoriented and out of control
Never been so down
In a state of profound sadness
Nothing here to stand on
Feeling adrift and directionless
It's a war-weary road
Life is a constant struggle
Another faceless tombstone
Life is full of hardship and loss
I turn to face the wind
Trying to confront challenges head-on
May never get out
Feeling trapped and uncertain of escape
Forever caught in a spin
Stuck in a cycle of chaos and confusion
No better place to begin
Despite the difficulties, there's nowhere else to start but here
Can't find the phone, can't hear to listen can't take along what we're missing
Unable to connect with others or find comfort in what's not there
Just as well to write this postcard from hell and the bar clock says three a.m.
Acknowledging a sense of hopelessness and despair
Fallout shelter sign above the door
A warning of danger and potential disaster
In other words, don't come here anymore
The situation is too dire to continue
Too many miles between
Distance and separation from loved ones
I heard a dead man scream
Witnessing the effects of violence and death
Each and every step
Every action is a struggle
Reeling out more or less
Feeling unable to gain traction or make meaningful progress
Tried to stay, tried to run
Attempting to confront or escape difficult circumstances
There's never been enough reason
Despite efforts, there's no clear purpose or drive
To believe in anyone
Distrust or lack of faith in others or institutions
This trickle-down theory has left all these pockets empty and the bar clock says three a.m.
Societal issues and economic disparities exacerbate struggles
Fallout shelter sign above the door
Sign of the enduring effects of struggle
In other words, don't come here anymore
Acknowledgement of a situation beyond repair
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JAY FARRAR, JEFF TWEEDY, MICHAEL HEIDORN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind