Jesse Welles’ new song “Ozark” feels particularly lyrically rich. Here’s a sketch of what stood out to me.
I was born up on the hill
though I am being born still
Personal participation in the ongoingness of creation.
I was carried down to the river valley
on the big bend of the Arkansas
Carrying the baby to a special place in the river valley. Presentation of the child to the spirits of place. An introduction and initiation.
People talk but they don’t know
when ya tell em that’s where you call home
they say ah yeah buddy I seen that show before
but they don’t know what it’s like to feel
like the world is wrong and the nature’s real
rolling down Altus Hill
People don’t know what your home is like; at best they might have ideas formed by popular portrayals on television. Only those initiated into their places (“carried down to the river”), in relation to their place, can know it in any depth. Such initiates know that the world of appearances is the false world.
watch the river flow the way it does
watch the trees grow the way they do
it’s all connected
it’s all connected to you
Initiated into interconnectedness. Self and land are not separate.
when I was young I didn’t understand
but I’m older now and I’ve seen the land
Ozark please forgive my tresspasses
Foolish youthfulness does not appreciate its inheritance; that comes with age. The breach of ingratitude is forgiven through renewed relationship.
cause I’ve been around and I seen the way
everybody everywhere is about the same
Ozark just so beautiful, kiss my ass
Caplitalism flattens culture; market efficiencies want uniform products like McDonald’s cheeseburgers and country music. And now every small town is full of wannabe rednecks who are, in reality, another target demographic. But the particularity of place calls us to a higher loyalty. Fake consumerism can kiss my ass.