Rox In The Box by The Decemberists Lyrics Meaning – Unearthing the Sorrow of Labor and Life
Lyrics
Get the water right down to your socks
This bulkhead’s built of fallen brethren’s bones
We all do what we can
We endure our fellow man
And we sing our songs to the headframe’s creaks and moans
And it’s one, two, three
On the wrong side of the lee
What were you meant for
What were you meant for
And it’s seven, eight, nine
You gave your shuffle back in line
And if you ever make it to ten, you won’t make it again
And if you ever make it to ten, you won’t make it again
And you won’t make a dime
On this gray granite mountain mine
Of dirt you’re made and of dirt you will return
So while we’re living here
Let’s get this little one thing clear
There’s plenty of men to die, you don’t jump your turn
And it’s one, two, three
On the wrong side of the lee
What were you meant for
What were you meant for
And it’s seven, eight, nine
You gave your shuffle back in line
And if you ever make it to ten, you won’t make it again
And if you ever make it to ten, you won’t make it again
And it’s one, two, three
On the wrong side of the lee
What were you meant for
Whatever you’re meant for
And it’s seven, eight, nine
You gave your shuffle back in line
And if you ever make it to ten, you won’t make it again
And if you ever make it to ten, you won’t make it again
And if you ever make it to ten, you won’t make it again
Peering into the soul of a folk-rock ballad, The Decemberists’ ‘Rox in the Box’ transports listeners to the gritty reality of the miner’s life, where the relentless search for precious metals is a metaphor for deeper human struggles. With a melody that feels both haunting and familiar, the song feels like an echo from a time when folk tales were not just stories, but the lived experiences of the many.
But to truly appreciate the weight that each verse carries, one must delve into the layers of lyrical craftsmanship that Colin Meloy, the band’s lead singer and principal songwriter, has woven into this rich tapestry. We’ll uncover the hidden meaning behind this ardently dark, yet strangely uplifting tune, and the way it speaks to the inevitable dance with fate we all must engage in.
The Sisyphean Symphony of Miners
The cadence of the lyrics mirrors the repetitive and grueling task of the miners, casting the listener into a relentless rhythm that seems to mirror the strike of pick against stone. ‘If the rocks in the box / Get the water right down to your socks,’ Meloy sings, conveying the damp, suffocating conditions of the mines. It paints a vivid picture of the miners’ daily toil, faced with dangers that could lead to a watery grave, encased within the earth.
Yet amidst this oppressive imagery, there’s a communal resolve in ‘We all do what we can / We endure our fellow man.’ It is a testament to the collective spirit that emerges when faced with such dire circumstances. The miners’ chorus rises against the haunting ‘headframe’s creaks and moans,’ a ghostly monument to the perilous work below.
A Countdown to Inevitability
Meloy’s counting in the refrain, ‘And it’s one, two, three / On the wrong side of the lee,’ followed by ‘And it’s seven, eight, nine / You give your shovel back in line,’ reflects a fatalistic view of life and labor. There is a sense of a journey that once begun, has a predetermined end. The counting implicates a ritualistic progression towards an outcome that is as much a part of the miner’s life as it is a listener’s journey through the song.
Being on the ‘wrong side of the lee’ suggests a constant battle against forces larger than oneself, never feeling the respite or safety that might be found on the leeward side. The numbers ‘one, two, three’ can be symbolic of life’s initial stages, and ‘seven, eight, nine’ those of life’s end, with ‘ten’ implying death, a point of no return, punctuating the grim reality of the miner’s existence.
The Cycle of Dust
In an almost Biblical sense of ashes to ashes, ‘Of dirt you’re made and of dirt you will return,’ echos throughout the track, grounding the listener in the unavoidable cycle of life. These words don’t just speak to the physicality of the miner’s toil, but also to the ephemeral nature of human endeavor. There’s a stark realization that regardless of what one might achieve, the end is the same for all, a return to the earth from which we came.
This mortality is further ensconced in the somber acknowledgment that there’s no profit to be had in this laborious quest – ‘And you won’t make a dime / On this gray granite mountain mine.’ Not only does it underscore the futility of the miner’s hopes for wealth, but it can also be seen as a parable for the fruitlessness of materialism.
Morbid Lottery of Life
‘There’s plenty of men to die / You don’t jump your turn,’ sings Meloy, suggesting a dark, inevitable waiting game where each miner’s fate is sealed, a grim lottery where one’s number eventually comes up. It’s a reminder that death is the most democratic institution in existence – it comes for everyone regardless of their station in life, and there is an order that cannot be circumvented, despite the human desire for control.
These lines also touch upon the relationship humans have with risk and survival; knowing that your time will come, but also that there is a natural order to when it will come. It’s a stark reminder to the living to endure and make the most of the time they have, not rushing towards the end, but rather accepting the journey.
Chorus of Fate and Free Will
‘What were you meant for / Whatever you’re meant for,’ reflects the existential quandary that the song encapsulates. The duality of predestination and self-determinism present in the lyrics is haunting. It asks the listener if there is a set path we are all meant to follow, or whether we have the freedom to carve out our own destinies, even in the face of life’s harshest circumstances.
The words transform the seemingly pessimistic tone into one of ambiguous hope, leaving the interpretation of one’s purpose as an open question. In this, Meloy invites introspection and injects a form of rebellion against the idea that our fates are sealed. It’s an insightful twist that seeks to empower, urging listeners to find meaning in the face of life’s unyielding march.
