Pete, thanks for the reply and happy holidays to you and yours.
I honestly think that in this song, the emotional overrides the physical.
The verses you quoted, while dripping with imagery. are just a long metaphor to convey the not only barren , but searing emptiness that life can deal you.
Hence the line "I received your letter yesterday, about the time the doorknob broke" "When you asked how I was doing, was that some kind of joke?"
Again, just one mans opinion.
Maybe this version can provide a bit of clarification.
https://www.youtube....h?v=TMz0iOTfjmM