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Death Valley '69
Sonic Youth Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Groooooahhh!

Coming down
Sadie, I love it
Now now now
Death valley '69

You're right
You're right
You're right
You're right
You're right you were right
I was on the wrong track
We're deep in the valley
How deep in the gully
And now in the canyon
And now in the canyon
Out in the yonder way out in the yonder
She started to holler
She started to holler
I didn't wanna
I didn't wanna
I didn't wanna
I didn't wanna
But she started to holler
So I had to hit it
Hit it
Hit it
Hit it
Deep in the valley
In the trunk of an old car
In the back of a Chevy
I got sand in my mouth you got sand in your mouth
And you got sun in your eyes I got sun in your eyes
Blind blinded
And you wanted to get there
But I couldn't go faster I wanted to get there
But you couldn't go faster
So I started to hit it you couldn't go faster
So I started to hit it
I started to hit it hit it
Hit it
Hit it
Hit it
Hit it
Hit it
Hit it
Hit it
Hit it

Coming down
Sadie, I love it
Now now now
Death valley '69
Death valley '69
Death valley '69
Death valley '69
Ieieieioooooaoaoaieeih!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Sonic Youth's song Death Valley '69 revolve around a road trip to Death Valley, California, infamous for its extreme heat, barren landscape, and ghost towns. The first stanza describes the singer's excitement and anticipation for the trip. However, things take a sinister turn in the second verse, where they are deep in the valley, and the woman with whom he is traveling began to holler. He hits her, suggesting that he sexually assaulted her, and repeats it several times in the next few lines, seemingly unrepentant. The situation is bleak, with sand in their mouths and sun in their eyes, leaving them blinded. The last stanza is a repetition of the chorus, with the line "ieieieioooooaoaoaieeih!" indicating a scream of pain or intense pleasure.


The song is an exploration of the darker elements of human nature, including violence, sexual assault, and the desolation of a barren landscape. The desert setting represents an existential void, where the singers' actions become meaningless and devoid of moral consequences. At the time of its release, the song received mixed reviews, with some critics condemning the lyrics' violent and nihilistic themes. Others praised its unique sound, a blend of noise rock, punk, and avant-garde experimentation, which would influence many artists in the years to come.


Line by Line Meaning

Groooooahhh!
The sound of an intense, emotional reaction to the events that follow in the song.


Coming down
Referring to the physical experience of descending into Death Valley, which is characterized by extreme heat and isolation.


Sadie, I love it
Addressing Sadie, a woman who is present in the song, expressing love and appreciation for the dangerous and intense situation they find themselves in.


Now now now
Emphasizing the urgency and intensity of the situation, possibly indicating fear or excitement on the part of the singer.


Death valley '69
Referring to the specific time and place of the events being described in the song, suggesting that they are personally significant to the singer.


You're right
Acknowledging that someone else was correct about something.


You're right
Repeating the acknowledgement from the previous line, possibly to emphasize the importance of the person's correctness.


You're right
Repeating it again.


You're right
Repeating it again.


You're right you were right
Acknowledging that someone was correct in the past and remains correct now, showing respect for their opinion and knowledge.


I was on the wrong track
Admitting that the singer was mistaken or confused about something, and that the person who was correct helped them see the right path.


We're deep in the valley
Referring to the physical location of the events, and emphasizing the isolation and danger they are experiencing.


How deep in the gully
Asking a question to emphasize the danger and uncertainty of their location.


And now in the canyon
Describing a further descent into a dangerous and isolated location.


And now in the canyon
Repeating the previous line, possibly to emphasize the intensity of the experience.


Out in the yonder way out in the yonder
Referring to a distant or unknown location, emphasizing the uncertainty and danger of their situation.


She started to holler
Describing a sudden and intense reaction from a person in the song, possibly indicating fear or danger.


She started to holler
Repeating the previous line, possibly to emphasize the intensity of the situation.


I didn't wanna
Expressing reluctance or hesitation on the part of the singer in response to the person's reaction.


I didn't wanna
Repeating the previous line, possibly to emphasize the singer's reluctance or fear.


I didn't wanna
Repeating the previous line again, emphasizing that the singer was reluctant or fearful about what happened next.


I didn't wanna
Repeating the line one more time, showing that the reluctance was strong and persistent.


But she started to holler
Reiterating why the singer was hesitant or fearful, namely because of the other person's strong reaction.


So I had to hit it
Going along with the other person's demands, even if the singer was afraid or didn't want to.


Hit it
Emphasizing the physical action that took place, possibly involving violence or sex.


Hit it
Reiterating the previous line, emphasizing that the singer was forced to comply with the other person's demands.


Hit it
Repeating the previous line again, emphasizing the sense of pressure, fear, or manipulation the singer may have felt.


Deep in the valley
Referring again to the physical location of the events, perhaps to emphasize the sense of isolation or danger.


In the trunk of an old car
Describing a specific detail of the events that took place, emphasizing the physical discomfort or danger involved.


In the back of a Chevy
Referring again to the physical location where the singer was, emphasizing the sense of confinement or vulnerability involved.


I got sand in my mouth you got sand in your mouth
Describing a physical experience of being in the desert, perhaps to emphasize the harshness and difficulty of their situation.


And you got sun in your eyes I got sun in your eyes
Referring to a physical discomfort, possibly to underscore the severity of the situation.


Blind blinded
Emphasizing that the situation was so extreme that it had a disorienting or blinding effect on the people involved.


And you wanted to get there
Describing the other person's goals or desires, perhaps to contrast with the singer's reluctance or fear.


But I couldn't go faster
Explaining why the other person's desires could not be fully or easily met, perhaps due to physical restrictions or limitations.


But you couldn't go faster
Reiterating the previous line, possibly to underscore the sense of frustration or danger involved.


So I started to hit it
Taking action to try to fulfill the other person's desires, perhaps in a desperate attempt to maintain control or safety.


You couldn't go faster
Repeating the previous line, stressing that the situation was difficult or impossible to control or escape.


So I started to hit it
Reiterating the previous line, perhaps to underscore the anxiety or desperation the singer felt.


Hit it
Emphasizing the physical action taken to try to fulfill the other person's desires.


Hit it
Repeating the previous line, possibly to emphasize the physicality or violence of the situation.


Hit it
Repeating the previous line again, perhaps to emphasize the sense of repetition or desperation involved.


Hit it
Repeating the previous line one more time, possibly to underscore the sense of violence or danger that pervades the song.


Coming down
Returning to the recurrence of the phrase at the beginning, perhaps to emphasize that the events described in the song have a cyclical or repetitive quality.


Sadie, I love it
Repeating the line from earlier, possibly to stress that the singer has a complex emotional response to the situation.


Now now now
Repeating the earlier line, possibly to emphasize that the situation is ongoing or immediate.


Death valley '69
Repeating the title of the song, possibly to emphasize the thematic significance of Death Valley and 1969 as elements of the story.


Death valley '69
Repeating the title again, possibly as a final emphasis or punctuation to the narrative of the song.


Death valley '69
Repeating the title one more time, possibly as a final statement of the song's central message or theme.


Ieieieioooooaoaoaieeih!
An incantatory or emotional cry to conclude the song, perhaps to underscore the intensity and significance of the events described.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KIM A. GODRON, LEE M. RANALDO, LYDIA LUNCH, ROBERT BERT, THURSTON J. MOORE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@PrimitiveInTheExtreme

💀 Coming down
Sadie, I love it
Now, now, now
Death valley '69

You're right, you're right
You're right, you're right
You're right (You were right)
I was on the wrong track
We're deep in the valley
How deep in the gulley
And now in the canyon
Way out in the yonder
She started to holler
She started to holler
I didn't wanna, I didn't wanna
I didn't wanna, I didn't wanna
But she started to holler
So I had to hit it
Hit it, hit it, hit it

Deep in the valley
In the trunk of an old car
In the back of a Chevy
I got sand in my mouth (You got sand in your mouth)
And you got sun in your eyes (I got sun in my eyes)
Blinded, and you wanted to get there
But I couldn't go faster (I wanted to get there)
And it couldn't go faster (But you couldn't go faster)
So I started to hit it (You couldn't go faster)
So I started to hit it
I started to hit it
Hit it, hit it
Hit it, hit it
Hit it, hit it, hit it

Coming down
Sadie, I love it
Now, now, now
Death valley '69

Death valley '69
Death valley '69
Death valley '69 💀



@edwardbrumbaugh8461

@@supervisedreactions6156

The difference in mood between the two times they meet is very different. You can tell almost right away when he gets real answers to his questions this time.
I think they were being genuinely friendly to him the second time. I don't want to rewatch it for whatever you referenced as a "kinda lie" I remember that it starts with just the singer Thurston and when they talk about it says something like he wasn't the one who did anything he just danced around him in circles during a mosh pit accident or something equally dumb. Obviously joking don't think he expects anybody to believe him

Speculating: since Lee shows up later on towards the end driving a golf cart I can guess someone clued him in who was there and he drives down and makes a point to get involved when it seems like the interview wasn't planned to include that.

wuar was obviously having fun with them this 2nd time. They both fake like they're going to do something very exaggerated to hurt the record again and wuar loves it. He even hams it up to joke over-react

He gets his "doot doot" and they hug it out at the end. He's stoked on it and they're very open to him being there.. Most importantly they include him in the fun this time not make sport of him. I don't think it has to be an official statement. They gave him exactly the type of experience they should have rightfully given the first time which was probably what wuar wanted most.



All comments from YouTube:

@krabbshaq3751

insane how tight their playing got since 1985

@jormungandr6247

😊😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫

@PrimitiveInTheExtreme

💀 Coming down
Sadie, I love it
Now, now, now
Death valley '69

You're right, you're right
You're right, you're right
You're right (You were right)
I was on the wrong track
We're deep in the valley
How deep in the gulley
And now in the canyon
Way out in the yonder
She started to holler
She started to holler
I didn't wanna, I didn't wanna
I didn't wanna, I didn't wanna
But she started to holler
So I had to hit it
Hit it, hit it, hit it

Deep in the valley
In the trunk of an old car
In the back of a Chevy
I got sand in my mouth (You got sand in your mouth)
And you got sun in your eyes (I got sun in my eyes)
Blinded, and you wanted to get there
But I couldn't go faster (I wanted to get there)
And it couldn't go faster (But you couldn't go faster)
So I started to hit it (You couldn't go faster)
So I started to hit it
I started to hit it
Hit it, hit it
Hit it, hit it
Hit it, hit it, hit it

Coming down
Sadie, I love it
Now, now, now
Death valley '69

Death valley '69
Death valley '69
Death valley '69 💀

@Hadley-hb8ll

omg!

@saintmartins

When i first saw the video back in the "olden dayz" then learned what the song & video was about, it scared the daylights out of me......but also excited a then teenage me.

@DGLifeForever

Love this song, love SY, there was a certain comfort following them it was a shock to the system when they split up and it still hurts today thinking they aren’t together anymore, but the music lives on.

@k2xplorer77

Oh my goodness, this is even better than the album version and an excellent recording! I can't wait for the vinyl release in August!

@benniecameron6441

Ive been a Fan since 1990. Sonic Youth is one of those bands that made the cut from high school till the end.

@dds4585

expecting sonic youth to stay forever with me too:)

@pingpongpaddlehead

Yes i got high and cut school too

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