Usages of Place for Different Perspectives
HomeIn Bruce's album Devils & Dust there are three songs that had some resemblence to home or how home makes people feel; "Devils & Dust", "The Hitter", and "Black Cowboys". To start with "Black Cowboys" we get the story of a young boy who grew up in a low income household. Through the lyrics we get how amazing and loving the relationship is between the protagonist and his mother. "Along the street of stay bullets he made his way To the warmth of her arms at the end of each day." This line in particular shows how much Raney loved his mother, wanting to be there for her and have her be there for him. Gives a very homely and positive feeling to home. However at the end of the song as Roney (in theory) gets older he eventually has to leave his mother's side to go out and explore the world. "The Hitter" is almost the opposite in regards to timeline. The main character of this song is someone who from a young age had left to be a fighter, origionally fighting legally and then fighting illlegally. This second part really gets to the home aspect because he would always have to be on the run, running from police or other fighters. Eventually he gets tired of it all and goes home to his mother. To me I was able to see the bloodied knuckles on this man begging his mother to let him stay so that he could just "lie down for a while," or take a break from everything. The song "Devils & Dust" gave me a very painful image of someone who is stuck over seas. Bruce describes what happens to someone who is serving or fighting in a war. There were several lines that use place to describe how evil and scary war can be; however the line "an I'm just trying to survive, What if what you do to survive Kills the things you love." This in particular is powerful to me because the longing for home mentioned earlier in the song is actually a desire, a feeling as if when you kill your are killing not just the enemy but your own life. People were not ment to kill others, so when we do so it destroys our mental stabillity. In many other songs Bruce brings up faith and how it can be thrown out or possibly strengthened when challeneged.
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FaithIn this album there are three songs that specifically had a connection to religious ideals or struggles with faith. The first one is pretty straight forward as the title is "Jesus Was An Only Son". This song tells the story of Jesus growing up with the comfort of his mother. Bruce's use of place in this song is really to just acknowledge the historical aspect to this story; however I wanted to focus on how Bruce used this religious figure to show that even he wanted to life his life; he even "beseeched his Heavenly Father to remove The cup of death from his lips." This line specifically hit me on the level that even the strongest believers, the most faithful people can have trouble with thier faith. Later Jesus faces the stages of the cross and even during his last struggle he stopped to comfort his mother in her sorrow. He ragained he faith and accepted his job, saying "Mother, still your tears. For remember the soul of the universe Willed a world and it appeared."
"Leah" was another song that focused more on the struggle with faith. How in this world there is darkness and hate but we take on those burdens everyday in hopes of finding a place to stay. How each of us want to "find me a world, where loves the only sound." To find a place where people can be happy and not have to carry the weight of our curret world. "Matamoras Banks" was the third song that I noticed a faith analogy. This song in particular shows the strength of faith however much we waver from it. Bruce's usage of place in this song helps us see the painful path and the harshness of finding your faith. How you can struggle to find a place worth living. The line "My pockets full of dust, my mouth filled with cool stone, The pale moon opens the earth to its bones," made me think about how negative this song is in general. How there is so little to be greatful for and why do we suffer so much because of loss of love. The Matamoras River, to myself, resembles a border that separates two loved ones leaving them questioning the lives they live. |
Family/Love"Silver Polomino", "Long Time Commin'" and "Reno" all discuss different forms of love or aspects of family. "Silver Polomino" focuses on the rememberance of a mother who left her sons to deal with the grief. Bruces uses place in this song to describe the sorrow, or the memories that continue to soar through the minds of the sons. Joyful moments and times that can never be repeated now that thier mother is gone. If I was to lose my mother at the age of 13 or even up to now I would be devistated. I would walk through my house and be completely wrecked by grief due to all the things I can relate to my mother. Places are physical memories to me and where you live or learn to love really holds memories. "Long TIme Commin'" and "Reno" discuss two different aspects of love. "Reno" gives us the story of a male who has lost thier lover and has found some hooker or prostitute to fill the gap left. The last few lines about "the best you've ever had" and how "it wasn't the best I ever had, Not even close" really shows how you need to truely love someone. There is a difference between sleeping with someone and sleeping with someone you love. "Long Time Commin'" gives us a version of a good love. Bruce in this song sings about his second marriage. In particular he sings about his love and how hes made mistakes. The verse "Well there's just a spark of a compfire left burnin' . Two kids in a sleeping bag beside, Reach 'neath your shirt put my hands across your bell and feel Another one kickin' inside, and I ain't gonna fuck it up this time." Bruce sings about his failure to be a good father or husband in his last relationship and how he now has three kids and a wife to love and take care of.
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