My favorite thing to do with music is get into the songwriters head. Here's my take on 10 lb. Test. I could be overanalyzing it and completely wrong, but here goes:
It's obviously about more than just fishing and Rodney has used a great metaphor to express what he really means. At first I thought it was about a girl that got away and ran off with some city-boy with money and the narrator was going to seek revenge with a "knife," metaphorically speaking. He was going to go out and say f' the world and was just looking for somewhere to direct his anger. But after listening over and over, the theme that comes to mind is reflective frustration with a hint of optimism.
I think the Zebcos and $10 lures line is about guys who's daddy's and granddaddy's made a lot of money and now they are living the easy life while other people still have to struggle and work hard to get by. They buy these expensive "lures" that don't get wet, meaning they don't have to work hard and have probably forgotten the hard work it took for them to have such a life. Then, the narrator draws a comparison to his grandfather who is still "running trot lines." He's done alright for himself but is still working hard. It reminds me of REK's line about the work of a bull never being done. He talks about the fish running to him every morning, meaning he works hard and reaps the rewards that he sows.
And this is where the narrator focuses the attention back on himself. He looks at those guys drinking vodka on the rocks and wearing the expensive "lures" and looks at his grandfather (two ends of the spectrum of "success") and realizes he's not even close to being on either side. So then he starts beating himself up thinking about what he's doing wrong. Is he trying to hard? Is he not trying hard enough? Even when he tries, the "line" breaks when the fish is just about to the boat. The guy can't catch a break. He can't win for losing.
This is where, I think, the chorus comes in to instill some optimism. Just a side note, this is one of the hardest things to do for a lot of songwriters. Nothing stirs creativity more than turmoil and its real easy to get going in a sad, depressive mood, but I think a lot of songwriters stop here and that is their mistake. They just continue in the sad, woe is me state of mind. This is also where a lot of my songs end up as well. Everyone likes a song of tumult that they can identify with but they don't want to feel suicidal in the end. The chorus is about a man realizing that no matter what he wants, he's going to have to earn it. To be the man that his grandfather is, he's going to have to work and persevere no matter what comes. He can't give up the dream and desire. There is no such thing as a perpetually sharp knife. Ginsu, Smith & Wesson, and CutCo. can make all the claims they want, but the laws of nature will eventually catch up. Things won't always go your way. Like Jack likes to say, "bad shit happens to good people." That's the sharpening of the knife. The blade needs abrasion to get sharp again and the mid-life crisis that he's going through is just the thing he needs to get his ass in gear. You guys know me, I'm a believer in God's word and I'm a firm believer that He humbles us to lift us up. That's what I believe the song is about. It's about putting up with the shit in life that isn't fair, continuously sharpening the knife, looking for fish to fry (opportunities), and one day, you're gonna catch those sons of bitches and they are going to die and you are going to fry them and enjoy every ounce of the fruits of your labor.
Anyway, if I'm wrong RP, forgive me. That's just my take. I think it's brilliantly composed. I'm not just saying that to kiss ass. I'm known as a music snob and I'll be the first to tell you if something sucks (privately, of course) but I really like your use of imagery, metaphor, and emotion. I told Mike a while back that good songs with staying power are ones that stir up the theater of your mind and the emotions of your heart. Lots of guys out there selling thousands of records are lacking this very thing but this song has it and I feel that this song will really get things going for you guys. Keep sharpening the knives, using bad for good, and f' all those rich boys who think you can catch fish without casting a line and getting your lure wet.
