Polar Opposites
Iron Horse Lyrics
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It's the same on the weekends as the rest of the days
And I know I should go but I'll probably stay
And that's all you can do about some things
I'm trying to drink away the part of the day
That I cannot sleep away
Two one eyed dogs, they're looking at stereos
Hi-fi Gods try so hard to make their cars low to the ground
These vibrations oil its teeth
Primer gray is the color when you're done dying
I'm trying to drink away the part of the day
That I cannot sleep away
The lyrics of Iron Horse's song Polar Opposites seem to convey a feeling of resignation towards the paradoxical nature of the world. The first line "Polar opposites don't push away" suggests that things that are in opposition do not necessarily repel each other. It could be interpreted as the idea that things that are seemingly different from each other can still coexist harmoniously. The next line "It's the same on the weekends as the rest of the days" reinforces this idea that things that appear different on the surface share a common underlying reality.
The singer then admits that he knows he should leave a situation, but he may not be able to, suggesting a sense of powerlessness in the face of certain things in life. The last line "And that's all you can do about some things" reinforces the theme of resignation and acceptance of things beyond one's control. The next stanza is more cryptic, with lines about one-eyed dogs looking at stereos and "hi-fi gods" trying to make their cars low to the ground. Here, the lyrics seem to be painting a picture of a strange and surreal world, where even dogs and cars are not what they seem. The line "Primer gray is the color when you're done dying" is bleak, suggesting that there is no happy ending, but it is followed by the same resigned refrain "I'm trying to drink away the part of the day/That I cannot sleep away." This line is repeated, emphasizing the sense of frustration and powerlessness that seems to be at the heart of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Polar opposites don't push away
Despite being different in nature, two opposite things can coexist without repelling each other.
It's the same on the weekends as the rest of the days
There's no specific day or time when polar opposites behave differently; they stay the same throughout.
And I know I should go but I'll probably stay
Although I'm aware that I should leave, I'll most likely remain in my current state.
And that's all you can do about some things
Acceptance is the only thing you can do when there are things beyond your control.
I'm trying to drink away the part of the day
To escape from reality, I'm consuming alcohol and hoping it'll help me forget about my problems.
That I cannot sleep away
The troubles that haunt me and keep me awake at night cannot be ignored by sleeping them off.
Two one eyed dogs, they're looking at stereos
Two dogs with one eye each are staring at the music system, trying to sense the sound with their heightened abilities.
Hi-fi Gods try so hard to make their cars low to the ground
People obsessed with high-fidelity audio equipment strive to lower their cars' height to achieve better sound quality while driving.
These vibrations oil its teeth
The music's sound vibrations travel through the body of the car, which acts as a lubricant for the artist cones, allowing them to function better.
Primer gray is the color when you're done dying
The color of the car, once it's past its prime, and no long retains its original beauty and elegance is referred to as Primer Gray.
I'm trying to drink away the part of the day
Again, to forget about the stresses of the day, I'm relying on alcohol as a temporary escape.
That I cannot sleep away
My inner turmoil and unease prevent me from escaping into the oblivion of sleep.
Contributed by Brody R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.