Meaning of "Evelyn" by Gregory Alan Isakov

"Evelyn" is a song that captures the sense of longing and dissatisfaction that can come from living a mundane and unfulfilling life. Evelyn works the graveyard shift at a gas station, a job that lacks excitement and fulfillment. The repetition of the line "all the tables nice and clean, Evelyn's asleep" reinforces the monotony of her daily routine, while the mention of "kids smoking on south first" and high school being "just a blur" suggests that she may feel disconnected from the world around her. The mention of "an old folk song on the radio" and a "bag of weed in the back" hints at her attempts to find solace and escape in music and substances.

The lyrics also touch on themes of loneliness and the search for something more meaningful. The line "she can't stand the sight of this coldasac" suggests that Evelyn is dissatisfied with her current surroundings and longs for a change. The mention of "pictures up a different day, driving west to east L.A" indicates that she daydreams about a different life, one filled with possibility and adventure. The line "anyone can dream" emphasizes the universal nature of these aspirations, highlighting the fact that anyone, regardless of their current circumstances, can hold onto their dreams.

The song also explores the fleeting nature of happiness. Evelyn's job requires her to clean tables, but even then, she is constantly confronted with messiness and disorder caused by others. The reference to a "thin dark cloud in the evening air" and a bum in the parking lot washing windows suggests that even after a sunny day, sadness and hardship still linger. This serves as a reminder that even when things seem perfect on the surface, there is often a hidden darkness or sadness lurking beneath.

Overall, "Evelyn" is a poignant song that captures the yearning for something more in life and the human desire to break free from the monotony of everyday existence. It explores themes of loneliness, escapism, and the fleeting nature of happiness, reminding listeners that dreams and aspirations can provide solace even in the most mundane of circumstances.