I've been sitting up waiting for my sugar to show
I've been listening to the sirens and the radio
He said he'd be over three hours ago
I've been waiting for his car on the hill (Waiting for his car on the hill)
He makes friends easy
He's not like me
I watch for judgement anxiously
Now, where in the city can that boy be?
Waiting for a car
Climbing
Climbing
Climbing the hill

He's a real good talker, I think he's a friend
Fast tires come screaming around the bend
But there's still no buzzer
They roll on
And I'm waiting for his car on the hill
It always seems so righteous at the start
When there's so much laughter
When there's so much spark
When there's so much sweetness in the dark
Waiting for a car
Climbing
Climbing
Climbing the hill

Overall Meaning

Joni Mitchell's "Car on a Hill" tells the story of a woman waiting for her lover to arrive. As she anxiously waits for him to show up, she listens to the radio and the sound of the surrounding city. The lyrics lament the woman's feelings of uneasiness and self-doubt, as she compares herself to her partner, who is described as someone who makes friends easily.

The repeated phrase "waiting for his car on the hill" creates a sense of expectation and longing, while the use of climbing to describe the car's ascent only adds to the anticipation. The song's chorus is a testament to the woman's longing for her lover's arrival, where she waits with an eager heart for him to appear.

In the second verse, the woman describes her lover as a "real good talker" and likens him to a friend, but her anxiety heightens as fast tires come screaming around the bend, only to continue on their way without stopping. In the final verse, we hear the woman's lament for what could have been - for the "spark" and "sweetness" that were present when their relationship began.

Overall, "Car on a Hill" tells a story of a woman who is full of hope and expectation, but also full of doubt and insecurity. She waits eagerly for her lover to arrive, but as time passes, her excitement turns to uncertainty and disappointment.

Line by Line Meaning

I've been sitting up waiting for my sugar to show
I have been up and ready for a while now waiting very eagerly for my loved one to arrive.

I've been listening to the sirens and the radio
As I wait for my loved one, I am hearing the police and the radio that are coming from a distance.

He said he'd be over three hours ago
It has been three hours since my loved one promised to come over.

I've been waiting for his car on the hill (Waiting for his car on the hill)
I have been waiting with impatience for my significant other's car to arrive while it's presumable it is approaching the hill now.

He makes friends easy
My loved one has excellent social skills that make it easy to establish connections with new people or groups.

He's not like me
My lover has qualities that I do not possess.

I watch for judgement anxiously
I feel anticipatory apprehension about the decisions my loved one will make surrounding our relationship.

Now, where in the city can that boy be?
I am wondering where in the city my significant other could be at this moment.

Waiting for a car
I'm just waiting, and hoping that my lover's car approaches soon.

Climbing
Slowly making their way up the hill.

Climbing
Driving towards me slowly, still making their way up the hill.

Climbing the hill
My lover is ascending to the top of a descending road, headed to me.

He's a real good talker, I think he's a friend
I see my loved one as a close friend with excellent oratorical skills.

Fast tires come screaming around the bend
A car appears driving quite fast and takes the bend around the area I am waiting in.

But there's still no buzzer
The car passing by didn't seem to alert me with the relevant sounds.

They roll on
The vehicle moves on further down the street away from my location.

And I'm waiting for his car on the hill
I'm still waiting and hoping for my lover's arrival at the location I'm currently residing in.

It always seems so righteous at the start
Initially, everything seems to be perfect and righteous when the relationship is new.

When there's so much laughter
During the beginning of a relationship, there's usually lots of laughter, positive vibes, and happy moments.

When there's so much spark
At the beginning of a relationship, there's an intense affectionate feeling and attraction towards each other.

When there's so much sweetness in the dark
During the early stages of a relationship, there's much sweetness and love to be found even in the darkest of situations.

Waiting for a car
Still waiting for my lover's car to arrive even though they haven't shown up yet.

Climbing
My significant other's car is making its way up the hill.

Climbing
Still moving up the hill and getting closer to where I am waiting.

Climbing the hill
My lover's car is moving towards me and getting closer as they make their way up the hill.

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