This "understanding" of 'TN Jed' hit me I don't know how many years after I first heard it. I wonder if anyone/most folks get it immediately.
So, first line - "Cold iron shackles, ball and chain. Listen to the whistle of the evening train."
Chorus - "TN, TN, there ain't no place I'd rather be. Baby, won't you carry meeeeeeeee... back to TN!"
The narrator requests to be carried because he has the iron shackles, ball and chain on!
I attributed not having figured that out for years to Hunter's lyrical subtlety moreso to any shortcoming on my comprehensive abilities; also maybe because I don't listen to the tune much! I had a similar realization with 'Row Jimmy', which I posted about in that Forum. I'm going to post in 'Peggy-O' Forum about a realization about that song, though I know Hunter didn't write it.
"Sustine et abstine." - Epictetus
Bear and forbear.
So, first line - "Cold iron shackles, ball and chain. Listen to the whistle of the evening train."
Chorus - "TN, TN, there ain't no place I'd rather be. Baby, won't you carry meeeeeeeee... back to TN!"
The narrator requests to be carried because he has the iron shackles, ball and chain on!
I attributed not having figured that out for years to Hunter's lyrical subtlety moreso to any shortcoming on my comprehensive abilities; also maybe because I don't listen to the tune much! I had a similar realization with 'Row Jimmy', which I posted about in that Forum. I'm going to post in 'Peggy-O' Forum about a realization about that song, though I know Hunter didn't write it.
"Sustine et abstine." - Epictetus
Bear and forbear.