Meaning of "Cattle and Cane" by The Go-Betweens

The lyrics of "Cattle and Cane" by The Go-Betweens paint a vivid picture of nostalgia and longing for the past. The imagery of fields of cane, a house of tin and timber, and a father's watch left behind all evoke a sense of innocence and loss. The repetition of "waste memory wastes" throughout the song suggests the fading of memories and the inevitability of time eroding the past. The comparison between the schoolboy in bigger pants waiting for a chance and the narrator feeling alone but at home also speaks to the universal experience of growing up and yearning for something more. The mention of a brighter world of books and silent times in thought contrasts with the reality of fields of cattle and cane, highlighting the tension between imagination and reality. Ultimately, the song captures a bittersweet reflection on childhood, memory, and the passage of time.