Manzanar
Van Dyke Parks Lyrics


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Parks

Noone can forget the place where she has gone away
Funny how regret can taste like honey in L.A. anyway
All the trees ornamental
Every breeze downright sentimental
No one can forget her face when she has gone away
Let a bungalow and yard fulfill your every need
Get a Romeo and garden all but gone to seed as they say
Every swallow returning
Just to follow a natural yearning
It is just a paper chase when she has gone away
What the heck I've hit the deck and checked romance on holiday
Drawn a breath and danced with death
Until the dawn had held it at bay
Watched the palms by the sea sway
In the arms of beautiful Nissei
Now I can't forget her face since she has gone away
Manzanar not the kind of girl to hit the street
Manzanar she is dancin to a brand new beat
Don't know me from Ansel Adams 'cause I'm from Los Angeles
Would've called her but was at a loss
For what to say just to please
When it gets right down there to the wire
When you're reeling and feel her desire
Tell her she is All-American in Japanese
This is a dump without a doubt
You gotta jump you wanna shout
And it is sump thin you got out
Manzanar
You are not warm a desert storm
And where the High Sierra hits the flyway
You are alone you will explode
To Arizone you hit the road
Next sound you hear is pounding down the highway
Like a man without a nation
In a camp of concentration
With a stamp of degredation and shame
To a place they call it Manzanar by name
You are awake an evening star
All you can take is makin out just where you are
There's a name to explore there
And a story of shame and war there




In Manzanar in Manzanar
Manzanar!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Van Dyke Parks's song Manzanar speak to the experiences of Japanese Americans during World War II when they were forced to live in internment camps. The song references Manzanar, one of the ten internment camps set up by the United States government to confine Japanese Americans after the Pearl Harbor attack.


The lyrics evoke a sense of longing, regret, and nostalgia for a time and a place that can never be fully recaptured. The opening lines suggest that no one can forget the place where someone has gone, and the regret associated with it can taste like honey in Los Angeles anyway. The reference to bungalows and gardens fulfills the need for comfort and familiarity; however, the imagery of trees and swallows returning only reinforces the feelings of longing and regret.


The chorus of the song, "Manzanar not the kind of girl to hit the street, Manzanar she is dancin to a brand new beat," seems to indicate a sense of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. The final lines of the song, "There's a name to explore there, And a story of shame and war there, In Manzanar, in Manzanar," show an acknowledgement of the injustice and difficulties that the Japanese Americans faced during the war.


Line by Line Meaning

No one can forget the place where she has gone away
She left an impression in this place that nobody can forget.


Funny how regret can taste like honey in L.A. anyway
Regret can disguise itself as something sweet in Los Angeles.


All the trees ornamental
The trees are all decorative in nature.


Every breeze downright sentimental
Every wind is full of emotions and memories.


No one can forget her face when she has gone away
Her face left an impact that nobody can erase from their memory.


Let a bungalow and yard fulfill your every need
A small house and garden can provide everything you need.


Get a Romeo and garden all but gone to seed as they say
Acquire a romantic partner and a garden that has lost its vitality.


Every swallow returning
All the birds are coming back to this place.


Just to follow a natural yearning
They follow their natural instincts and desires.


It is just a paper chase when she has gone away
Without her, everything feels pointless and futile, like chasing paper.


What the heck I've hit the deck and checked romance on holiday
I gave up on romance while on vacation.


Drawn a breath and danced with death
I took a chance and pushed myself to the brink of danger.


Until the dawn had held it at bay
I managed to stay alive until the break of dawn.


Watched the palms by the sea sway
I observed the palm trees swaying in the breeze next to the ocean.


In the arms of beautiful Nissei
I was embraced by a beautiful Japanese person named Nissei.


Now I can't forget her face since she has gone away
Her departure made me unable to forget her face.


Manzanar not the kind of girl to hit the street
Manzanar is not the type of person to roam the streets.


Manzanar she is dancin to a brand new beat
Manzanar is living her life in a new and unique way.


Don't know me from Ansel Adams 'cause I'm from Los Angeles
I am not as famous or successful as Ansel Adams because I am from Los Angeles.


Would've called her but was at a loss
I wanted to call her but didn't know what to say.


For what to say just to please
I didn't know what to say to make her happy.


When it gets right down there to the wire
When it's time to make a decision with no room for error.


When you're reeling and feel her desire
When you're overwhelmed and feeling her attraction.


Tell her she is All-American in Japanese
Tell her that she is an embodiment of both American and Japanese cultures.


This is a dump without a doubt
This place is undoubtedly a disaster.


You gotta jump you wanna shout
You need to take action and express yourself.


And it is sump thin you got out
This place is something you need to escape from.


Manzanar
A place name that represents a story of shame and war.


You are not warm a desert storm
You are not welcoming; rather, you create turmoil like a desert storm.


And where the High Sierra hits the flyway
Somewhere that is a crossroads between two different regions.


You are alone you will explode
You are isolated and will eventually break down.


To Arizone you hit the road
To get away from here, you drive to Arizona.


Next sound you hear is pounding down the highway
The next thing you hear is a car speeding away on the highway.


Like a man without a nation
Like a person who belongs nowhere.


In a camp of concentration
In a confined facility where people are placed against their will.


With a stamp of degredation and shame
With a label of humiliation and guilt.


To a place they call it Manzanar by name
To a place that is known and recognized as Manzanar.


You are awake an evening star
You are awakened and bright like a star in the evening sky.


All you can take is makin out just where you are
All you can handle is figuring out where you are in this situation.


There's a name to explore there
There is a story behind the name Manzanar worth exploring.


And a story of shame and war there
And that story is one of guilt, disgrace, and war.


In Manzanar in Manzanar
The name of the place that carries this upsetting story.


Manzanar!
A rallying cry for the story of Manzanar to be heard and remembered.




Contributed by Julia D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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