Piledriver Waltz
Arctic Monkeys Lyrics
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On the back of a raindrop
And did a swap for the sand in an hourglass
I heard an unhappy ending
It sort of sounds like you leaving
I heard the piledriver waltz
It woke me up this morning
You look like you've been for breakfast
At the Heartbreak Hotel
And sat in the back booth
By the pamphlets and the literature
On how to lose
Your waitress was miserable
And so was your food
If you're gonna try and walk on water
Make sure you wear your comfortable shoes
Mystery's flashing amber
Go green when you answer
But the red on the rest of the questionnaire
Never changes
I heard the news that you're planning
To shoot me out of a cannon
I heard the piledriver waltz
It woke me up this morning
You look like you've been for breakfast
At the Heartbreak Hotel
And sat in the back booth
By the pamphlets and the literature
On how to lose
Your waitress was miserable
And so was your food
If you're gonna try and walk on water
Make sure you wear your comfortable shoes
Oh, piledriver
The lyrics of Arctic Monkeys' "Piledriver Waltz" are laden with metaphors and vivid, even surreal imagery that cleverly convey the singer's feelings of confusion and uncertainty in the face of a potential breakup. The opening lines, "I etched a face of a stopwatch / On the back of a raindrop / And did a swap for the sand in an hourglass," suggest the fleeting nature of time and how even small moments and decisions can have a profound impact on our lives. The reference to the "piledriver waltz" in the chorus is particularly evocative, conjuring up an image of a powerful, chaotic dance that jolts the singer out of his sleep and into the harsh light of reality.
The second verse shifts to a more detailed description of the setting and the person he's singing about. The "Heartbreak Hotel" reference is a nod to the famous Elvis song and creates a sense of lost hope and desolation. The imagery of pamphlets and literature on how to lose, an unhappy waitress, and miserable food all combine to paint a bleak picture of a relationship that has gone sour. The line "If you're gonna try and walk on water / Make sure you wear your comfortable shoes" is a play on the saying, "if you want to walk on water, you have to get out of the boat." In the context of the song, it suggests that the person the singer is addressing is trying to achieve the impossible, but their efforts are doomed to fail.
Overall, "Piledriver Waltz" is a haunting and poignant meditation on love and loss that showcases the Arctic Monkeys' clever wordplay and evocative imagery.
Line by Line Meaning
I etched a face of a stopwatch
I carefully drew a picture of a stopwatch on the back of a tiny raindrop
On the back of a raindrop
On the small and delicate surface of a single raindrop
And did a swap for the sand in an hourglass
I exchanged the sand in an hourglass for this fragile raindrop with a stopwatch drawn on it
I heard an unhappy ending
I learned that our story has a sad conclusion
It sort of sounds like you leaving
It seems that you are the reason for this unhappy ending
I heard the piledriver waltz
I woke up to the rhythmic sounds of a machine constructing something
It woke me up this morning
It was the source of my alarm as I began my day
You look like you've been for breakfast
You appear to have just come from eating a morning meal
At the Heartbreak Hotel
At a place where people go when they are feeling sad and heartbroken
And sat in the back booth
You took a seat in the secluded, less noticeable part of the restaurant
By the pamphlets and the literature
Near the brochures and the informative texts
On how to lose
Containing advice or guidance on how to deal with failure or defeat
Your waitress was miserable
Your server seemed unhappy or discontent
And so was your food
The quality or taste of the food you received was not good
If you're gonna try and walk on water
If you are going to attempt a seemingly impossible task
Make sure you wear your comfortable shoes
Make sure you are well-prepared and equipped for the challenge ahead
Mystery's flashing amber
Something unknown or unclear is indicated by a flickering amber light
Go green when you answer
Respond in the affirmative when prompted to do so
But the red on the rest of the questionnaire
The other questions or parts of the survey are marked with red
Never changes
This aspect remains constant or consistent
I heard the news that you're planning
I was told that you are intending to do something
To shoot me out of a cannon
To launch me at great speed and force from a cannon
Oh, piledriver
An expression of frustration or exasperation with a noise or disturbance
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alex Turner
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
pax
on 505
yo this is sick
robin
on When the Sun Goes Down
DAMNNN THEY ARE GOOD GOOD
robin
on Old Yellow Bricks
damn looking at these comments remind me that there is so many things to understand about the lyrics
Birgit Eierhoff
on Do I Wanna Know
The sound goes into the blood. :)
Jeannie Smith
on Do I Wanna Know
I like it.