Want For Anything
Ernest Ellis
The Weight of Repetition and Desire in 'Want For Anything'
Ernest Ellis's song 'Want For Anything' delves into the themes of repetition, longing, and the search for meaning in the mundane. The lyrics paint a picture of a life filled with routine and the desire to break free from it. The repeated mention of 'The same Mary a thousand times' and 'The crosses, and they won't mind I've been a thousand times' suggests a cycle of monotony and the struggle to find significance in everyday actions. This repetition is a metaphor for the feeling of being stuck in a loop, where each day feels like a mere echo of the previous one.
The song also explores the idea of longing and desire. The line 'I'd want for anything' is a powerful expression of yearning for something more, something different. This desire is contrasted with the reality of the characters' lives, where they are 'fighting it out with our wives in the basement' and dealing with 'bags of bones out on the street.' These images evoke a sense of frustration and disillusionment with the current state of affairs. The mention of 'friends of, people I knew' further emphasizes the sense of loss and the passage of time, as relationships and connections fade away.
Cultural references, such as 'The man that flies really walks to work with me,' highlight the disparity between perception and reality. This line suggests that what we see on the surface is often not the full story, and there is a deeper, more complex reality beneath. The song's melancholic tone and introspective lyrics reflect Ernest Ellis's musical style, which often combines reflective storytelling with a haunting, atmospheric sound. 'Want For Anything' is a poignant exploration of the human condition, capturing the universal struggle to find meaning and fulfillment in a world that often feels repetitive and unchanging.