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.
True To Life
Uncle Tupelo Lyrics
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Always try to sing it clear
What the hell are we all doing here
Making too much of nothing
Or creating one unholy mess
An unfair study in survival, I guess
But it always comes down to
And this tightwire act
Leaving us here for dead to news of the world
And liquor piles up ahead
Dodging those with words of power
Forever on their breath
When the quality of life gets tripped upstrangled like death
It seems it's getting harder out thereespecially without time enough to see
True to life is another hangover
True to life is more and more politics
True to life is always having to look over your shouldertrue to life is assembly-line sickness
But it always comes down to
What to do when it's all around you
And this tightwire actleaving us here for dead to news of the world
And liquor piles up ahead
Dodging those with words of power
Forever on their breath
When the quality of life gets tripped upand strangled like death
It seems it's getting harder out thereespecially without time enough to see
The lyrics of Uncle Tupelo's song True to Life express a disillusionment with the state of the world and society, and a struggle to find a way to navigate through it. The singer seems to be questioning the purpose and meaning of life, asking "what the hell are we all doing here" and reflecting on the "unholy mess" and "unfair study in survival" they observe around them. The lyrics suggest a feeling of being overwhelmed by the negative aspects of the world - "assembly-line sickness", "words of power", and the "news of the world" which seems to leave people "here for dead". The repeated line "what to do when it's all around you" emphasizes the feeling of being trapped and powerless in the face of these issues.
Despite the bleak picture painted by the lyrics, there is also a sense of determination and resilience. The singer is "always try[ing] to sing it clear", to communicate something important and to make themselves heard above the noise. They are dodging those with "words of power" and trying to find a way to navigate the "tightwire act" of life. The repeated line "it always comes down to" suggests that there is a core truth or principle that the singer is trying to hold onto - a sense of what is important and valuable in life, even in the face of difficulty.
Overall, Uncle Tupelo's True to Life is a powerful reflection on the challenges and complexities of contemporary life, and a call to maintain a sense of clarity and purpose in the face of it.
Line by Line Meaning
I can only sing it loud
I can only express myself in a way that is clear and direct
always try to sing it clear
I strive to be articulate and thoughtful in my expression
what the hell are we all doing here
What is our purpose in this life, and why are we all here on this earth?
making too much of nothing
We often create problems for ourselves even when there are none
or creating one unholy mess
We end up making a bigger mess of things than originally intented
an unfair study in survival, I guess
Life is often set up to be unfair, and we must learn to survive in spite of it
but it always comes down to
Regardless of the circumstances, what follows is the reality of the situation we find ourselves in
what to do when it's all around you
What can we do when we are overwhelmed by the problems that surround us?
and this tightwire act
Life often feels like a balancing act, where every decision or action has serious consequences
leaving us here for dead to news of the world
The news of the world can be so overwhelming that we feel beaten down and unable to cope with it
and liquor piles up ahead
Many turn to alcohol to numb the pain or escape the harsh realities of life
dodging those with words of power
We often feel powerless in the face of those who have more control or influence over our lives
forever on their breath
Their words and actions are always present and impactful
when the quality of life gets tripped up and strangled like death
When life becomes difficult or chaotic, our quality of life suffers greatly
it seems it's getting harder out there
The problems and difficulties we face in life seem to be getting worse and more complex
especially without time enough to see
We often don't have enough time to step back and evaluate our situations, making it even more difficult to cope
true to life is another hangover
The reality of life can be difficult to accept, like the physical pain and discomfort that comes with a hangover
true to life is more and more politics
The reality of life is that politics and power dynamics greatly impact our lives
true to life is always having to look over your shoulder
The reality of life is that we often feel we must be on guard and protect ourselves from those who may hurt us
true to life is assembly-line sickness
The reality of life is that many are trapped in monotonous, repetitive work that can be physically and emotionally draining
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: BRYAN FERRY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind