Rugged Country

## Rugged Country (Demo 2)

"**Rugged Country**" is a song by the band Japanese Breakfast. It was released as part of the album *Psychopomp* on April 1st 2016.

## Background

Rugged Country was first written and released on June 22nd 2013 as part of the June project. Later during the sessions for Psychopomp it was re-recorded for the album. Sometime between the original and the final versions, a second demo of the song was created which expanded on the lyrics of the original.

In an interview with She Shreds Magazine, Michelle Zauner said of the song:

> *“Rugged Country is about a time in high school I watched a friend beat up a girlfriend of mine for no reason, it was the first act of violence I’d ever witnessed and it was something we all handled so poorly. We were so young and it was so complicated because the guy was a friend of ours and just so out of character. It was really frightening to think someone could just snap like that and do that to someone.”*
>
>

## Official Versions

* Psychopomp Version - 2:53
* Demo 2 - Unknown
	+ Cassette Rip - 4:02
* "Day 22" Demo - 1:14

## Song Credits

### Writing and Production

* **Written by:** Michelle Zauner
* **Produced by:** Michelle Zauner & Ned Eisenberg

## Lyrics

* Psychopomp Version
* Demo 2 Version
* June "Day 22" Demo Version

**Verse 1**

666 sixteen-year-old kids huddled around the grocery lot

"He punched out my teeth", so you said, so did the evidence

The blood and the dent on the car door from your head

**Pre-Chorus**

And this is where I bring you

With every laurel I've hung from your neck

It will be the noose that hangs you

Yes, it will be the noose that hangs you

**Chorus**

'Cause I was lonely here and it's lonely still

In the rugged country where the weeds grow fierce

Quicker than the crop I keep running from

In this rugged country

**Post-Chorus**

I'm the rugged one

I'm the rugged one

I'm the rugged one

I'm the rugged one

**Pre-Chorus**

And this is where we lost you

Despite every effort to bring you back

Yeah, the hope's the one that haunts you

And the home's the rope that's wrapped around your neck

And it will be the noose that hangs you

Yes, it will be the noose that hangs you

**Chorus**

And it's a heavy hand where I wear your death

As a wedding ring in the rugged country

I tend to your man in the home you had

Oh, in this rugged country

**Post-Chorus**

I'm the rugged one

I'm the rugged one

I'm the rugged one

I'm the rugged one

**Verse 1**

666 sixteen-year-old kids huddled around the grocery lot

"He punched out my teeth", so you said, so did the evidence

The blood and the dent on the car door from your head

**Pre-Chorus**

And this is where I bring you

With every laurel I've hung from your neck

It will be the noose to hang you

Yes, it will be the noose that hangs you

**Chorus**

'Cause I was lonely here and I'm lonely still

In the rugged country where the weeds grow fierce

Quicker than the crop we are running from

In the rugged country

I'm the rugged one

**Pre-Chorus**

And this is where we lost you

Despite every effort to bring you back

Yeah, the hope you hold will hang you

And the home's the rope that's wrapped around my neck

And it will be the noose to hang you

And it will be the noose to hang you

**Chorus**

And it's a heavy hand where I wear your death

As a wedding ring in the rugged country

And I tend your man in the home you had

In the rugged country

I'm the rugged one

**Post-Chorus**

I'm the rugged one

I'm the rugged one

I'm the rugged one

I'm the rugged one

**Verse 1**

Six, six, six

Sixteen year old kids hudled around the grocery lot

"He punched out my teeth," so you said

So did the evidence; the blood and the dent in the car door from your head

**Chorus**

I'm still ashamed don't say to be quiet

More embarrassing is that I forgave him

## References

1. ↑ She Shreds SXSW: Japanese Breakfast - She Shreds Magazine, Archived March 18 2016