Willy Porter is a contemporary American folk musician from Wisconsin. His c… Read Full Bio ↴Willy Porter is a contemporary American folk musician from Wisconsin. His career as a published singer began in 1990 with his album, The Trees Have Soul, although his popularity began in 1994 with his album Dog Eared Dream, which had the successful single Angry Words, and led to his touring as an opening act for artists including Tori Amos and The Cranberries. Recently, Porter opened for Jethro Tull, where he formed a friendship with Tull's guitarist, Martin Barre.

Anonymous Caller
Willy Porter Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

So scared of each other these days
Can't look each other in the eye
Go straight for the 12-gauge
No fortress around your heart
Can keep the wolves at bay
Down in paradise these days

Did you hear the one about

The kid with the gun?
Did you hear the one about
The priest and the nun?
Did you hear the one about
The crumbling mansion in the sun?
Well, I went there once
But Elvis wasn't home

Now I laugh too long and I cry too hard
My shrink says, boy
You got a hair-trigger heart
I'm just beating the shrubs
For the presence of God
It's a long way to heaven
It's a long way from here

Did you hear the one about
The man who loved everyone?
The papers called him a bum
Said his work was dung
He cried too long, and he laughed too loud
For those so busy being proud

He said I wish I were stronger
I wish I were taller
And he prayed his Johnson
Wouldn't get any smaller
He said it all in the voice
Of the anonymous caller
On line seven

It's a long way to heaven
It's a long way to heaven

Such a long way, so I say
Looking into you
I climb the tree that holds the hive
Looking into you
I am the only man alive
Looking into you
I drink your love like blood-red wine
Looking into you
I am not a slave to time

Looking into you
I am not afraid to die

Overall Meaning

The song "Anonymous Caller" by Willy Porter talks about the current state of fear and mistrust that people have for each other. The opening lines of the song state the obvious, that people are too scared to look each other in the eye, and that they are quick to reach for their weapons in a moment of fear. The singer bemoans the fact that no fortress can keep danger and chaos at bay anymore, and that paradise has become a myth.

The song then delves into various stories that the singer has heard, like the one about a kid with a gun, a priest and nun, and a crumbling mansion in the sun, but all of these stories lead nowhere. The singer himself admits that he is a lonely and troubled person, who laughs too much and cries too much. He is searching for God in this chaos, but he acknowledges that the journey is long and arduous. The story of a man who loved everyone but was ostracized by society because of his perceived shortcomings is also told.

Line by Line Meaning

So scared of each other these days
People are too afraid of each other nowadays.

Can't look each other in the eye
People can't maintain eye contact with each other.

Go straight for the 12-gauge
People choose violence as their first option when faced with conflict.

No fortress around your heart
No emotional walls can protect you from the dangers of life.

Can keep the wolves at bay
No amount of defense can prevent the dangers of life from harming you.

Down in paradise these days
Even places that were considered safe, like paradise, are now dangerous.

Did you hear the one about The kid with the gun?
There are many stories of kids with guns and their dangerous consequences.

Did you hear the one about The priest and the nun?
There are many stories of religious people committing taboo acts.

Did you hear the one about The crumbling mansion in the sun?
There are many stories of things that were once grand and beautiful that are now decaying.

Well, I went there once But Elvis wasn't home
An experience that didn't live up to expectations.

Now I laugh too long and I cry too hard
Emotional extremes are part of life.

My shrink says, boy You got a hair-trigger heart
A psychiatrist diagnosed him with a heart that's easily triggered by emotions.

I'm just beating the shrubs For the presence of God
He's searching in nature for a spiritual connection.

It's a long way to heaven It's a long way from here
The journey to heaven is long, and it's far from where he is now.

Did you hear the one about The man who loved everyone?
There are many stories of people who show unconditional love for others.

The papers called him a bum Said his work was dung
The media criticized this man and his work.

He cried too long, and he laughed too loud For those so busy being proud
His display of intense emotions was too much for those too focused on their pride.

He said I wish I were stronger I wish I were taller
He feels insecure about his physical and emotional abilities.

And he prayed his Johnson Wouldn't get any smaller
He prays for an increase in his masculinity.

He said it all in the voice Of the anonymous caller On line seven
He shared his deepest insecurities anonymously over the phone.

Such a long way, so I say Looking into you
It's a long journey to reach one's destination, but he's determined to complete it.

I climb the tree that holds the hive Looking into you
He's willing to take risks to find what he's looking for.

I am the only man alive Looking into you
He feels alive and empowered when 'looking into' his object of affection.

I drink your love like blood-red wine Looking into you
He's immersing himself completely in the love he's receiving from someone else.

I am not a slave to time Looking into you
Nothing can keep him from enjoying the moment with his loved one.

I am not afraid to die
He's not afraid of dying as long as he experiences and cherishes true love.

Contributed by Gianna B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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