"He Won't Answer" by Grieves tells the story of a troubled individual who is grappling with personal struggles and a sense of displacement. The song explores themes of isolation, abandonment, and the desire to escape from a difficult past. The lyrics depict a person who is walking in the rain, carrying a letter from his mother. However, he refuses to reply or communicate with her, indicating a strained relationship. The protagonist feels misunderstood and pushed away by others, resulting in a feeling of being an outcast. This is conveyed through the lines, "You can label him another problem typecast, and stay the hell away from him like everybody else has." The individual decides to escape his troubled past by hitting the road, using it as a coping mechanism. He carries emotional baggage, symbolized by the war club in his soul. The mention of swinging the club and the urge to ask about his whereabouts emphasize his tumultuous journey. The lyrics suggest that the protagonist is unable to go back home, perhaps due to the strained relationship with his family. The idea of not being able to return home creates a sense of loss and despair. The lines, "And life gets so cold and you can never go back home," reflect the protagonist's yearning for a sense of belonging and a place to call home. The chorus poses the question, "Where would you go if you could never go home? What would you say if they never even asked you?" These questions highlight the protagonist's feelings of displacement and the lack of understanding from others. Towards the end of the song, the protagonist appears to have reached a breaking point. He sees the end of the road as the solution to his troubles and plans to face death head-on. The lyrics, "He leaps from the guardrail and... dives into traffic," imply a drastic and potentially fatal decision. The song also touches upon the protagonist's broken family dynamic. The repeated lines, "Daddy was a rolling stone, Mama never gave two shits about a broken home," reveal a sense of neglect and abandonment from his parents. This background helps to contextualize the protagonist's struggles and his desire to escape his past. Overall, "He Won't Answer" by Grieves delves into themes of isolation, abandonment, and the search for belonging. It paints a picture of a troubled individual who finds solace in escaping from his problems but ultimately faces a perilous fate.
