The record loosely follows various characters who will tell their story to anyone else in the bar who is willing to listen. "My Good Friend" portrays a man who takes advice from the records he listens to, while "Cold and Drunk" and "Remember Me" describe characters that seem to be hopeless, the latter of which tells the tale of a downtrodden veteran. With "Richard Parker", the narrator recounts a dream he had: a curious case of life imitating art. The man at the heart of "Beatrice" is willing to travel through the depths of Hell to find his long lost love, while "These Days" and "This Girl is Crazy" offer a chance to escape. And with "Tell the World" and "My Carolina Home", the narrators are longing for home, refusing to give up hope. The scenes change, but their stories remain. These are tales of despair and anger, but more importantly, these are ultimately stories of love and hope. By the end of the record on "New Year's Eve", the characters are ready to make a change, all with the help of their friends and families.
