The Civil Wars: Barton Hollow Meaning
Barton Hollow Lyrics
But that's the least of all my fears
Ooh, underneath the water
It's not Alabama clay
That gives my trembling hands away
Please forgive me father
Ain't going back to Barton Hollow
Devil gonna follow me e'er I...
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This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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Well, this DOES sound a lot like old mountain music from the Appalachias.
A dead man walking is a term used to describe men on death row in the south, so I don't think that that part has anything to do with religion but the fact that it states that it's the least of all his fears suggest a terror of the afterlife.
The full moon reference definately has to do with the belief that a full moon can make people act differently.
I think that the Alabama clay, since John White is from Alabama, simply means dirt on his hands, possibly after burying and murdering someone. They could have done this because they were hired for the unmarked hundred grand or because they stole it.
I believe the underneath the water part either has to do with a body underneath the river, or the storyteller under the water.
Most of the song, however, is definitely speaking of their wanting to be forgiven but not believing they could be, and running from the law. Obviously walking and running and running for miles, please forgive me Father, devil and preacher references, and the old prayer hint to that.
Overall, I think this is a story of someone killing another for money and burying them near a river or putting them in the river. They might try to wash their hands but then they begin to run, trying to avoid the law. They know that if they're caught they'll be put to death, so they worry about going to Hell after they die. Also, they decide never to return to that place and now they believe that the devil is going to follow them. -
I really wasn't taking it as from being from Alabama, I thought the story was based in the Appalachian mountains with all the myths and legends from the folk there.
The music sounds so much like the blending that they do in those mountains.
When I saw the lyrics I was somewhat perplexed as to the meaning. They are a bit hard to understand.
It does sound like that they have committed some sin that they feel that they could never be forgiven for. Dressed in a tux and a fur stole plus an evening dress suggests that it was not just an everyday occurrance. -
I think the lyrics are them speaking about someone else, that has sinned and is refusing to go to the Lord for help. Thus making that person a "dead man walking". And at the part that says, "keep walking and running and running for miles" they're talking about you keep trying to run away from it, but the only solution is to be baptized.
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This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
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what i think this song is saying is that they have sinned in some way, possibly murder, and are not welcomed in that town and if they return they will be a "dead man walking". "wont do me no good, washing in the river"; they cant wash the evidence and sin away.
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