Interpretation
"Dust And Wine" by
Richard Thompson is a song about loss, pain, and the desire to escape. The lines "Dust And Wine, That's what my world is" and "Dust And Wine, That's what she said" show that the protagonist is trapped in a world full of dust and wine. The dust may symbolize the feeling of decay and transience, while the wine serves as a means of escape and forgetting.
The song describes how everything the protagonist holds in his hands seems to crumble, and he instead turns to the bottle. The lines "So I drink like no tomorrow, Dust and Wine" illustrate that the protagonist seeks liberation from his pain and desperation, using wine as a means of numbing himself.
The text also hints at shattered dreams, lost friendships, and a broken love. The lines "Pipe dreams of mine let me down, Assembly line let me down, Partners in crime let me down, Jemima let me down too" show that the protagonist has been disappointed by many people and situations. Nevertheless, he tries to fight against the darkness by drinking wine and lighting a lamp to bring light into his inner self.
The chorus "Dust And Wine, Easy on the throttle, Dust And Wine, That's what she said, Take your pick, Me or the bottle, Dust And Wine" illustrates the conflict between the protagonist and his desire for wine. He is presented with the choice to either choose himself or escape into the bottle.
The song ends with the line "Got my nose, Down on the lino, Dust And Wine", meaning that the protagonist is down on the floor and surrendering to the wine.
Overall, "Dust And Wine" by Richard Thompson depicts a world of decay, pain, and escape from reality. The song expresses feelings of loss and loneliness, conveying the longing for redemption."