Andrew Goodwins analysis on "Send Me On My Way" by Rusted Root

"Send Me On My Way" by Rusted Root Analysis

This song was composed and sang by a American band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania called "Rusted Root" who are known for their unique fusion of acoustic, rock, world and other styles of music, with a strong percussion section that draws from African, Latin American, and Native American influences. This can be seen and heard very strongly in the video. 

The song itself was a major hit, it was released in 1994 and reached number 72 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1995  and was used in over 13 major films, most notable films are Matilda (1995) and Ice Age (2002).

The music video reflect strongly the bands genre, opting for more of a world music and percussion feel to it rather than rock, it also has folk characteristics, such as the use of the instruments, like the acoustic guitar as well as the flute and the way in which the song is performed, also the costume which looks very "folky" and hippy, reinforcing the world, folk pop genre this band is known for. 

The video itself, includes the band performing on mountains in an arid area, dancing and performing the song, this is inter-cut with a short "story" of a boy who sees a door standing alone next to the road, he then opens it, finds a old Indian who is seen praying to his god, the boy takes an interest in this and gains the Indians trust, slowly as the video progresses the boy becomes free from the modern day society, this is seen most profound where the boy is seen wearing wings, clearly suggesting that he is now free to become whatever he likes. 

There are many links between the visuals and the lyrics in this song, as well as many interpretations at what the song is about. The lyrics can be found here. For me, the lyrics reinforce the visuals very much, without the lyrics it would be impossible to understand the visuals. The lyrics don't directly illustrate the visuals, they more compliment the visuals, they seem to make the video more understandable, in order to understand the lyrics you would have to read the lyrics on their own without the music. 

 In the video there are some cult symbols, such as the eye of illumination, this represents the idea of freedom and enlightenment. At the point where he says 

"I may see you, I may tell you to run" which links back to the idea visuals, as cults are often small groups of people with their own beliefs, and this can be linked to the lyrics as its, in a way, telling them to spilt off from the normal world and be unique and an individual.

 UNFINISHED.