Meaning of "Keep Me Around" by The Wood Brothers

The song "Keep Me Around" explores the idea that even though emotions like loneliness and sadness may bring us down, they are still important to our lives. The lyrics personify these emotions as individuals who have a presence and impact in our lives. "Hello I'm Lonely," the opening line, introduces us to loneliness as a character that constantly lingers, sweeping up the place and being present both early and late. Despite the negative connotations of loneliness, it is acknowledged that it is something that is never forgotten. The repetition of the line "You keep me around" emphasizes the idea that these emotions are always present.

The next character introduced is "Sad" who acknowledges that they often get in the way and wonders how long they will stay. They are the one who shows the speaker the "rainbow in all shades of grey," highlighting the complexity and depth of human emotions. Despite being a burden, sadness is kept around because of the lessons it teaches.

The third character, "Faith," brings a different perspective. Although blind, faith is the one that consistently keeps the speaker going, ensuring that they land on their feet almost every time. Faith becomes a source of strength and resilience, balancing out the negative emotions.

The repetition of the lines "Sad and Lonely, they go and come / You think you don't need 'em but you gotta have some" emphasizes the idea that negative emotions are a necessary part of life. The line "Try askin' the Dark where the Light comes from" suggests that darkness and light are interconnected and that without experiencing the negative emotions, we cannot fully appreciate the positive ones.

In summary, "Keep Me Around" expresses the importance of embracing and acknowledging all emotions, even though some may bring us down. It reminds us that these emotions have a role to play in our lives and that they contribute to our growth and understanding.