Matchbox
Willie Nelson & Family Lyrics
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Well, I'm sitting here wondering, would a matchbox hold my clothes?
Sitting here wondering, would a matchbox hold my clothes?
I ain't got no matches, but I got a long way to go.
I'm an old, poor boy and I'm a long way from home
I'm an old, poor boy and I'm a long way from home
I won't ever be happy; everything I do is wrong.
[Chorus]
Let me be your little dog 'til your big dog come.
Let me be your little dog 'til your big dog come.
When your big dog gets here, show him what this little puppy's done.
[Chorus]
The lyrics to Willie Nelson's Matchbox are quite simple, yet they contain a deeper meaning that can be interpreted in a few different ways. The main theme of this song seems to revolve around the idea of being a wanderer, someone who is constantly on the move and searching for a place to call home. The singer is sitting and wondering if a matchbox would be able to hold his clothes, which suggests that he doesn't have much to his name and is carrying his possessions with him wherever he goes.
The second verse further reinforces this idea, as the singer describes himself as an old, poor boy who is a long way from home. He doesn't feel that he will ever be happy and believes that everything he does is wrong. This could be interpreted as a feeling of aimlessness or a lack of purpose in life, which can be common for those who are constantly on the move and searching for something they can't quite define.
At the end of the song, the singer offers to be someone's little dog until their big dog comes. This could be interpreted as a plea for companionship and a desire to find a place where he belongs. Overall, Matchbox is a poignant song that speaks to the universal desire to find a place to call home.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I'm sitting here wondering, would a matchbox hold my clothes?
I'm unsure about how to carry my belongings, would a small matchbox be enough to contain everything?
Sitting here wondering, would a matchbox hold my clothes?
My mind is preoccupied with the thought of whether a tiny matchbox would suffice to hold all my clothes.
I ain't got no matches, but I got a long way to go.
I do not possess any matches to light a fire, but I have a long journey ahead of me.
I'm an old, poor boy and I'm a long way from home
I am a destitute, elderly person who is far away from my hometown.
I won't ever be happy; everything I do is wrong.
I am in a pessimistic state of mind, believing that I can never find happiness because all my actions lead to failure.
Let me be your little dog 'til your big dog come.
Allow me to serve you obediently until someone greater comes along.
Let me be your little dog 'til your big dog come.
I am willing to be subservient and submissive until a more dominant force arrives.
When your big dog gets here, show him what this little puppy's done.
When the more powerful individual arrives, demonstrate to them the work that I, a smaller and less significant person, have accomplished.
I ain't got no matches, but I got a long way to go.
Although I do not have all the necessary resources, I have a considerable distance to travel to reach my destination.
[Chorus]
Refrain, previously stated lines are about to be repeated.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: ADAM COHEN, VICCI MARTINEZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind