Song Meaning
Jesse Winchester's "How About You" isn't a saccharine anthem of overcoming adversity; it's a subtly barbed challenge to the listener's own state of being. The song meaning operates on layers of implied judgment. Winchester initially appears to offer empathy towards those with physical limitations, the blind man and the lame man, but quickly pivots to question the supposed advantages of those who are able-bodied. It's a clever reversal, suggesting that physical prowess means nothing without purpose or direction. The eagle's eye that sees nothing, the racehorse legs that never find their footing – these are metaphors for wasted potential, a far more insidious form of disability.
The core of the song's emotional intelligence rests in its avoidance of pity. Instead of wallowing in the perceived misfortunes of others, Winchester forces us to confront our own shortcomings. The recurring line, "He's alright, makin' do / Doing fine, how 'bout you?" is not just a rhetorical question; it's a pointed accusation. It suggests that while others may be navigating life with demonstrable challenges, the listener may be squandering their gifts, lost in a self-imposed wilderness of inaction or dissatisfaction.
That final verse seals the deal. The image of someone with "a voice like an angel / And nothing to sing about" is perhaps the most devastating of all. It speaks to the paralysis of choice, the burden of untapped talent, and the quiet desperation of those who possess the means to create but lack the will or inspiration. "How About You" then becomes a mirror, reflecting our own anxieties and unfulfilled dreams back at us, daring us to measure our lives against the quiet resilience of those who simply "make do."
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