"Back On My Feet" by Elvis Costello is a song that tells the story of several individuals facing different challenges in life but finding strength and resilience to overcome them. The lyrics paint a picture of rainy and gloomy weather, symbolizing the difficult times the characters are going through. The song starts by mentioning a man sitting on a park bench, lonely and isolated. He yearns for brighter days, represented by the clouds rolling back, and a man in an old mack (a raincoat) reveals his presence. However, the man goes under and feels the weight of his struggles. The next verse introduces another character, a man who carries a brown paper bag and whispers and wisecracks to himself. He looks for hope and fulfillment, screaming at the sky. Both men express their lack of need for love but admit to the sweetness of temptation. They long for someone to lend them a helping hand until they can stand on their own again. The song then shifts focus to a girl walking by, carefree and laughing at the traffic. She stands on an imaginary soapbox, confident and defiant. Like the previous characters, she too claims not to need love, but acknowledges that temptation is sweet. As the song progresses, it describes the resilience of these individuals. They declare that they will be fine again and will stand up without needing anyone's pity. They understand that they will have to face life's challenges and uncertainties, but they are determined to kick off the puzzlement and find their footing once more. The final lines of the song describe seeing life through someone else's perspective, possibly the protagonist himself. He lives and dies by a simple titan (a symbol of strength and power), showing his struggles and triumphs. He pulls down the shade and the picture made is in glorious cinemascope, implying that despite the hardships, there is still beauty and hope to be found. Overall, "Back On My Feet" conveys a message of resilience, determination, and the ability to face and overcome hardships. The characters portrayed in the song may be down on their luck, but they refuse to stay defeated, finding strength in themselves to rise above their circumstances.
