Coral and Tar

Song Meaning

The lyrics of "Coral and Tar" paint a vivid picture of intense longing and self-reflection. The speaker desperately pleads for someone to "Come over," lamenting a shared past that feels distant. A deep sense of loneliness and unfulfilled desire permeates the verses. The central tension arises from the speaker's self-comparison to natural elements. While imagining the steadfast devotion of a pine or an oak, willing to "break for you only," the speaker immediately undercuts these fantasies. The contrast between the idealized natural world and the reality of being "a man in my prime And I'm priming" or "a man in the smoke And I'm lonely" highlights a profound sense of inadequacy and isolation. What truly makes these lyrics compelling is the stark shift in the third verse. The speaker moves from passive longing to a surprisingly destructive impulse, taking to drink "as if seeking a bog to be mired in." This desire to "choke up the garden" and "harden the earth against any rebirth" suggests a protective, almost desperate, attempt to prevent further pain or vulnerability. The imagery of keeping "the moon's beams from embroiling your dreams And making the terry place coral" hints at a desire to control or even freeze a delicate, soft space. Ultimately, the lyrics are effective because they capture the complex, often contradictory, nature of human yearning. The raw vulnerability of the repeated "Come over" is amplified by the speaker's internal struggle and the unexpected turn towards a hardened, almost defiant, stance. The final invitation to "join me in in coral And join me in tar" suggests a desire for companionship even in this transformed, perhaps less vibrant, state.