Sending Home the Slates

Song Meaning

The lyrics paint a stark picture of a struggling farmer, tied to his ancestral land but yearning for something more, both for himself and for a loved one who has left. The opening lines immediately establish a sense of meager existence: "Oats and potatoes and rye," with a "thatch on the roof" that "cannot cover the truth" – a truth revealed by a "tear in my eye." This sets a tone of quiet desperation, a contrast between the unchanging, limited reality of the farm and the profound sadness it engenders. The central tension arises from the departure of someone dear, likely seeking opportunity elsewhere, and the farmer's complex feelings about it. He acknowledges the "seven generations" rooted in this "bit of ocean to view," but also the inherent limitations that drive people away. The phrase "somewhere you cannot go in a shoe" suggests a distant, perhaps unattainable, destination, highlighting the vastness of the world beyond their small "cove." The farmer grapples with the emptiness left behind, feeling "poorer each year for its yields" and the "emptiness that he now feels." The recurring chorus, "But oh, they'll be sending home the slates," offers a bittersweet promise of remittance from "the States." This money is intended to bring material comfort – "more than potatoes on your plates," "whiskey by the crates" – a stark contrast to the farmer's current hardship. However, the phrase "sending home the slates" itself carries a double meaning. While it signifies financial support, "slates" can also refer to roofing tiles, suggesting that the very structures of their home, and perhaps their lives, are being rebuilt or sustained by external funds, rather than by their own labor or the land's bounty. This lyrical construction effectively underscores the narrator's internal conflict. He is proud of his heritage and the land, yet acutely aware of its inability to provide. The imagery of the "ships of the fleet" and the changing "tide" in Verse 5 hints at the transient nature of the loved one's absence and the potential for permanent departure. The final verses question the value of staying "'lone by the fire" when it means being "Far from your own heart's desire," suggesting that even the promise of material improvement might not mend the deeper emotional void caused by separation and unfulfilled longing.