Yeah Sapphire is the sixth track from the fourth The Hold Steady album Stay Positive, coming after Lord, I'm Discouraged and before Both Crosses.
Lyrics[]
Yeah Sapphire I'm sick and tired and I'm fried and you gotta believe me. Yeah Sapphire if I cross myself when I come would you maybe receive me ? Yeah Sapphire you were feisty at first but I broke you and showed you the tempo. Sacramento. It swung at us first but it ended up going down gentle.
Sapphire, if Cheyenne's too small, We'll haul it all back to St. Paul. I was just about to call you when you called.
Yeah Sapphire. I know the last time we touched I came on a bit rough please forgive me. Yeah Sapphire. After you left it was a big sketchy mess. They almost killed me.
Sapphire, if Cheyenne's too small, We'll haul it all back to St. Paul. I was just about to call you when you called.
Sapphire, if St. Paul don't call we've always got Aberdeen. Because dreams they seem to cost money but money costs some dreams.
It went just like you predicted. I swear there must be something in your dreams. It all went down exactly like your visions. I know you said don't call until I'm clean. I'm not drunk I'm cut I'm gushing blood I need someone to come and pick me up.
I was a skeptic at first but these miracles work.
Analysis[]
"Yeah Sapphire" is the introduction of the murder story being told from the point of view of the victim and a female acquaintance named Sapphire. It seems that the victim and Sapphire had a relationship that had ended because of the victims use of alcohol, drugs or both. "The last time we touched I came on a bit rough, please forgive me" suggests that the victim had some sort of physical altercation with Sapphire that ended the relationship. "I know you said don't call until I'm clean" suggesting that Sapphire left him because of his drinking problem. The victim is calling Sapphire after the fight before his death. He has already been cut and is bleeding to death and in need of someone to pick him up. At the end of the song the victim becomes enlightened ("the last one had enlightened eyes" - Both Crosses) that Sapphire's visions are in fact true.