I have a much bigger appreciation for Jars of Clay's album Much Afraid than I did back when I first got it in middle school.
Started listening to it tonight after going after lyrics to describe something that was going on--and started missing the feel of some of the songs.
I think I get it better because I think more metaphorically now. Sara and I didn't use to like it as much because they'd kind of grown up too fast for us, so to speak--Much Afraid is so different from the self-titled first album, in ways I can't quite describe, except, yeah, that they kind of grew up--and kind of not. 'Cause it's still very dramatic, in its way, in ways that--
--like dude, maybe it's 'cause of all that's been going on over here with APO and other randomness, but it reminds me of Tim and especially Tom, the way the lyrics go. Sometimes I think that only high-school and college boys would write songs like that and sing them, so ambiguous and dramatic and subtly proud of their philosophy. But dang, they're good for twisting into what you want them to say.
Everything is less simple than I saw it in middle school--and that's saying something. But I get what they're saying now, I think, a little better.
Fare thee well
Trade in all our words for tea and sympathy
Wonder why we tried, for things could never be
Play our hearts' lament like an unrehearsed symphony
Not intend
To leave this castle full of empty rooms
Our love the captive in the tower never rescued
And all our victory songs
Seem to be playing out of tune
But it's not the way
That it has to be
Don't trade our love for tea and sympathy
'Cause it's not the way
That it has to be
You begin
All your words fall to the floor and break like china cups
And the waitress grabs a broom and tries to sweep them up
I reach for my tea, slowly drink in
'Cause it's not the way
That it has to be
Don't trade our love for tea and sympathy
'Cause it's not the way
That it has to be
Don't trade our love for tea and sympathy
Fare thee well
The words, the bag of leaves that fill my head
I could taste the bitterness, call the waitress instead
'Cause she holds the answer, smiles and asks one teaspoon or two
'Cause it's not the way
That it has to be
Don't trade our love for tea and sympathy
'Cause it's not the way
That it has to be
Don't trade our love for tea and sympathy
Don't trade us for tea and sympathy
Don't trade us for tea and sympathy
We can work it out
Don't trade us for tea and sympathy
Don't trade us for tea and sympathy
We can work it out
Don't trade us for tea and sympathy
We can work it out...
-"Tea and Sympathy"
...this's been quite the not-all-there-minded rant. Time for some good old-fashioned homework. Yech.
-Laurel