American Car
Escaping the Circus: Longing, Love, and the Allure of an American Car
Lyrics
My circus train pulls through the night
Describes the speaker's journey, symbolized by a circus train, moving through the night.
Full of lions and trapeze artists
Mentions the contents of the train, including lions and trapeze artists, suggesting a mix of excitement and danger.
I'm done with elephants and clowns
Expresses a desire to move on from traditional circus elements like elephants and clowns.
I want to
Indicates a pause, leaving the next line open for a new direction or desire.
Run away and join the office
Reveals the unconventional desire to escape to an office setting instead of the typical circus life.
Aimless sister, you're surrounded
Addresses someone called "aimless sister," noting their surroundings and expressing amazement at their appearance.
Angel-faced and I'm astounded
Describes the person as angel-faced, emphasizing their beauty and the speaker's astonishment.
How sweet you are
Expresses admiration for the sweetness of the addressed person.
In your long, black American Car
Introduces the motif of a "long, black American Car" and its significance in the narrative.
And you know just where to find me
Suggests that the person addressed knows where to find the speaker, creating a sense of connection.
If I don't know who you are
Presents a condition—if the speaker doesn't recognize the addressed person, they will be reminded.
You will remind me
Continues the theme of recognition and connection between the speaker and the addressed person.
There's a girl down in the bar
Introduces another character, a girl in a bar, with a flaming star tattoo on her shoulder.
A flaming star upon her shoulder
Highlights a distinctive feature of the girl, emphasizing her uniqueness or significance.
Slugging hot pink frozen drinks
Describes the girl's action of drinking hot pink frozen drinks, adding a vivid and colorful detail.
To put the foot down on her smolder
Suggests the girl's intention to cool down or control her passionate or intense emotions.
Easy, Cowboy, what's the rush now?
Addresses someone as "Cowboy" and advises against rushing, hinting at a potential romantic encounter.
She may cleave me like a snowplow.
Uses the metaphor of being cleaved like a snowplow, possibly indicating the potential impact of a romantic connection.
How sweet you are
Reiterates admiration for the addressed person's sweetness.
All the lazy days are gone.
Reflects on the passing of carefree days and acknowledges the persistence of life's challenges.
Still the grind is grinding on.
Highlights the continuous struggle or monotony in the speaker's life despite the changes.
Throw the memories in a drawer.
Suggests a deliberate attempt to forget or set aside memories by placing them in a drawer.
Lock myself behind a door.
Expresses a desire for solitude or introspection by locking oneself behind a door.
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