Summerteeth is my go to Wilco album. When I'm feeling weary, I like to listen to "She's a Jar" very loudly and ruminate. On what I'm not sure. Probably mostly about how my life would be so much better if I had TiVo or something. In any case, what the fuck is that song about? Anyone?
She's a jar
With a heavy lid
My pop quiz kid
A sleepy kisser
A pretty war
With feelings hid
She begs me not to miss her
She says forever
To light a fuse
We could use
A handful of wheel
And a day off
And a bruised road
However, you might feel
Tonight is real
When I forget how to talk, I sing
Won't you please
Bring that flash to shine
And turn my eyes red
Unless they close
When you click
And my face gets sick
Stuck, like a question unposed
Just climb aboard
The tracks of a train's arm
In my fragile family tree
And watch me floating inches above
The people underneath
Please beware the quiet front yard
I warned you
Before there were water skies
I warned you not to drive
Dry your eyes, you poor devil
Are there really ones like these?
The ones I dream
Float like leaves
And freeze to spread skeleton wings
I passed through before I knew you
I believe it's just because
Daddy's payday is not enough
Oh I believe it's all because
Daddy's payday is not enough
Just climb aboard
The tracks of a train's arm
In my fragile family tree
And watch me floating inches above
The people underneath
She's a jar
With a heavy lid
My pop quiz kid
A sleepy kisser
A pretty war
With feelings hid
You know she begs me
Not to hit her
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4 comments:
Not exactly sure, but I love how it completely changes direction with the last line of the song.
i have no clue, i just love them.
this is one of my favorite wilco songs, too, and i've always been confused about it. as a self-proclaimed lyrics nerd, it really annoys me when i don't "get" a song, so i've spent some time thinking about this one. the best i've got is that he's trying to have a relationship with this girl that is afraid of having a relationship. "she's a jar with a heavy lid" could mean that she's tough to get to open up (brilliant, i know) or to get to know. this is a total shot in the dark, but the last line never struck me as being about the guy singing the song, maybe she was abused by a previous boyfriend or her father? there are a lot of references to family and even "Daddy", so that could be it. who knows, really. that's the beauty and the curse of several great wilco songs. while it's equally likely tweedy was high as a kite when he wrote this, i prefer to think he's something of a genius. :)
Wilco is grand. have you heard the Mermaid Avenue discs they did with Billy Bragg? awesome. totally.
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