Forty-Five
Dickie Lyrics
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In the spring of '69 they said "your husband's going down"
A summer morning brought a boy then almost 4 years to the day
A birthday celebration threaded with a trip to father's grave
And only two Junes just before, at the end of any week
A seven-year-old son and brother had a heart that wouldn't beat
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of it all?
The six still had a mother, though he can't recall her face
That's when the memories looked like
neighbors as the Beatles records played
With every window split wide open, every door neglect to close
There was this constant clear commotion from the moment he awoke
And then the older ones would stay while the younger had to leave
Now that a marriage set in motion an extraction from the scene
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of it all?
Everyone would have their children, some of those would have their own
But no one's ever much for visits or talking on the phone
And when they gathered around their mother in a bad she never made
They got one lasting long reflection
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of it all?
The lyrics of "Forty-Five" by Dickie tell a story of a family that has gone through a lot of hard times. The song describes several events that have happened throughout the years, starting with the news of a new baby arriving in '68, followed by the husband getting into trouble and being taken down in '69. Then we hear about a boy who is born on a summer morning, but four years later, another son dies unexpectedly. The family is described as having an open-door policy and a lot of noise, but the group is pulled apart when a marriage leads to people moving away. Finally, we hear about how nobody from the family visits much anymore, even though they all have their own children, and they are left with a bad reflection of their mother.
The lyrics are a reflection on the fleeting nature of family relationships and how easily they can fall apart. Despite the family's love for each other, they are unable to maintain close ties, and as a result, they are left feeling isolated and disconnected. The repeated chorus of "Is this the end of it all?" reinforces the sense of uncertainty and finality that the song conveys.
Overall, the lyrics of "Forty-Five" are poignant and thought-provoking, highlighting the fragility of family relationships and the importance of staying connected even in difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
In '68, she's told another baby is coming around
In 1968, the father was made aware that another child was on the way.
In the spring of '69 they said "your husband's going down"
In the beginning of 1969, the father was warned of impending danger.
A summer morning brought a boy then almost 4 years to the day
On a warm summer morning, a son was born close to four years after the previous child.
A birthday celebration threaded with a trip to father's grave
The son's birthday was intertwined with a visit to his deceased father's grave.
And only two Junes just before, at the end of any week
Two Junes prior and at the end of a week, a seven-year-old son and brother passed away.
A seven-year-old son and brother had a heart that wouldn't beat
The family lost a son and brother at the age of seven due to a heart condition.
The six still had a mother, though he can't recall her face
The remaining child still had a mother, but couldn't remember what she looked like.
That's when the memories looked like neighbors as the Beatles records played
The child's memories during this time involved neighbors and the music of The Beatles.
With every window split wide open, every door neglect to close
There was constant activity with open windows and doors that were not properly shut.
There was this constant clear commotion from the moment he awoke
The child was met with consistent noise and activity every time he woke up.
And then the older ones would stay while the younger had to leave
The older siblings were able to stay while the younger ones were not.
Now that a marriage set in motion an extraction from the scene
After a marriage had taken place, the family was separated from the previous scene.
Everyone would have their children, some of those would have their own
Each person in the family had children and some of those children had children of their own.
But no one's ever much for visits or talking on the phone
No one in the family was very good at keeping in touch through visits or phone calls.
And when they gathered around their mother in a bad she never made
When the family gathered around their unhealthy mother, she struggled to make anything for them.
They got one lasting long reflection
They were left with one enduring and significant reflection.
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of everything for the family?
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of everything for the family?
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of everything for the family?
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of everything for the family?
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of everything for the family?
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of everything for the family?
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of everything for the family?
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of everything for the family?
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of everything for the family?
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of everything for the family?
Is this the end of it all?
Is this the end of everything for the family?
Contributed by Eli Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mark
In 1968, the mother was made aware that another child was on the way.
In the beginning of 1969, the mother was warned of impending danger.
On a warm summer morning, a son was born close to four years after the previous child.
The son's birthday was intertwined with a visit to his deceased father's grave.
Two Junes prior and at the end of a week, a seven-year-old son and brother passed away.
The family lost a son and brother at the age of seven due to a heart condition.
The remaining child still had a mother, but couldn't remember what she looked like.
The child's memories during this time involved neighbors and the music of The Beatles.
There was constant activity with open windows and doors that were not properly shut.
The child was met with consistent noise and activity every time he woke up.
The older siblings were able to stay while the younger ones were not.
After a marriage had taken place, the family was separated from the previous scene.
Each person in the family had children and some of those children had children of their own.
No one in the family was very good at keeping in touch through visits or phone calls.
When the family gathered around their unhealthy mother, she struggled to make anything for them.
They were left with one enduring and significant reflection.
Is this the end of everything for the family?
Is this the end of everything for the family?
Is this the end of everything for the family?
Is this the end of everything for the family?
Is this the end of everything for the family?
Is this the end of everything for the family?
Is this the end of everything for the family?
Is this the end of everything for the family?
Is this the end of everything for the family?
Is this the end of everything for the family?
Is this the end of everything for the family?