I was walking in our town
I was walking through the store
I saw a pretty girl
She held open the door
I said 'I like you'
She said that she liked me
And we could be friends
In our special stupid way

I went to pacific cafe
There she was again
So I said 'hey
We should go swimming in capital lake'
We had a lot of fun but then it got real late
So I walked her home
And had dinner with her family

That's why we're running away
That's why we're running away
That's why we're running away
That's why we're running away
That's why we're running away
That's why I had dinner with her family

We went to her friend's house
To have a cup of tea
She said that it was true
She was in love with me
I knew right then we'd have to be alone
'Cause no one in this whole world could ever understand

That's why we're running away
That's why we're running away
That's why I had dinner with her family

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Beat Happening's song "Our Secret" tell the story of a young couple who meet by chance and embark on a relationship that society would view as unconventional. The singer initially encounters the girl in a store and expresses his interest in her, which she reciprocates. They then meet again at the Pacific Cafe, where they make plans to go swimming in Capital Lake. The date extends into dinner with the girl's family, which leads to the realization that their feelings for each other are deeper than just friendship.

However, the couple faces a challenge - the world may not be ready for their love. The girl confesses her love to the singer at her friend's house over a cup of tea, but they know they cannot be together in the public eye. They are forced to run away together to maintain their love, which is why the song's chorus repeats the line "That's why we're running away". The final line - "That's why I had dinner with her family" - takes on new meaning, as the singer's initial meeting with the girl's family is revealed as a precursor to their eventual elopement.

Overall, the lyrics of "Our Secret" express the desire of two young lovers to be together despite societal norms, and the lengths they are willing to go to maintain their bond.

Line by Line Meaning

I was walking in our town
I was taking a walk in our town

I was walking through the store
I entered the store while walking

I saw a pretty girl
I noticed an attractive girl

She held open the door
She opened the door for me

I said 'I like you'
I expressed my fondness for her

She said that she liked me
She reciprocated her liking towards me

And we could be friends
We could become friends

In our special stupid way
With our unique and peculiar approach

I went to pacific cafe
I went to Pacific Cafe

There she was again
I saw her once again

So I said 'hey
I greeted her saying

We should go swimming in capital lake'
We should go for a swim in Capital Lake

We had a lot of fun but then it got real late
We enjoyed ourselves, but soon it got late

So I walked her home
I escorted her home

And had dinner with her family
I had dinner with her family

That's why we're running away
That's why we are fleeing

That's why we're running away
That's why we are escaping

That's why we're running away
That's why we are running away

That's why we're running away
That's why we are fleeing

That's why we're running away
That's why we are escaping

That's why I had dinner with her family
That's why I had dinner with her family

We went to her friend's house
We visited her friend's residence

To have a cup of tea
To enjoy some tea

She said that it was true
She confirmed that it was true

She was in love with me
She was romantically enamored with me

I knew right then we'd have to be alone
I realized we needed privacy from others

'Cause no one in this whole world could ever understand
Because no one in the entire world could comprehend

Lyrics © SC PUBLISHING DBA SECRETLY CANADIAN PUB., BMG Rights Management
Written by: Bret Lunsford, Calvin Douglas Johnson, Heather Lewis

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@thebeatleswin1

3y↑16

I was walking in our town
I was walking through the store
I saw a pretty girl
She held open the door
I said 'I like you'
She said that she liked me
And we could be friends
In our special stupid way
I went to pacific cafe
There she was again
So I said 'hey
We should go swimming in capital lake'
We had a lot of fun but then it got real late
So I walked her home
And had dinner with her family
That's why we're running away
That's why we're running away
That's why we're running away
That's why we're running away
That's why we're running away
That's why I had dinner with her family
We went to her friend's house
To have a cup of tea
She said that it was true
She was in love with me
I knew right then we'd have to be alone
'Cause no one in this whole world could ever understand
That's why we're running away
That's why we're running away
That's why I had dinner with her family

All comments from YouTube:

@reptilian47

21w↑2

This and “What’s Important,” are my favorite songs from this band. So catchy.

@badassmother1426

3y↑22

I feel like I can sing too now. This song is self confidence booster magic.

@comradehermit9320

7y↑45

Those drums and that voice....

@bifftetherton7495

2y↑9

My jaw dropped when I heard this on Reservation Dogs. It fits perfectly and Calvin and the gang are beautiful.

@MadMan731

3y↑13

That album cover rules. I discovered this track thanks to the magic of Spotify.

@punkdee3457

3y↑7

I wish I could live inside of this album

@milliwatt6953

6y↑15

That drum fill is dope!

@mattlove1

A good application of the motorik beat. If you google "who invented the motorik beat" the top two hits are: The motorik beat was pioneered by Jaki Liebezeit, drummer with German experimental rock band Can. and Klaus Dinger: Pioneer of the 'motorik' beat | The Independent
Apr 10, 2008 — In the Seventies heyday of German experimental rock – a once-maligned genre dubbed "Krautrock" – the musician Klaus Dinger pioneered a ... so who knows. You can hear 5 1/2 minutes of an isolated motorik beat at: https://youtu.be/0VuMJRiPfIw, If that's not enough for you, there is a 20 1/2 minute example at: https://youtu.be/TOvhEeyQnNg. Happy listening!

@bluestate69

5y↑12

I love this song, and that's whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy I'm here.

@gazsibb

spine tingly brilliant!

@72daystar

6y↑11

First heard them on Brave New Waves CBC 1991? Maybe... found them again in music library at StFXU on CFXU while doing a Alt-rock show.

@reuireuiop0

6y↑2

Yet another album I've been wondering for years what was on it. Never got further than Pavement until I did a listen back to TV Personalities ("I know where Syd Barret lives" // ... And don't the kids just love it !) and then one track led to another. ... very good un !

@desolatesoul2304

10y↑1

<3 One of my favorites.

@MatiasValmore

8y↑7

I love Beat Happening. Is very very good <3 <3 <3

@ModernPlague

11y↑16

I first heard this catchy, strange, DIY little ditty on disc 4 of _Left of the Dial: Dispatches from the 80's Underground_....Thanks for the upload!

@joshwhite2174

SAME

@theklaw8515

Love Left of the Dial discs!

@felijordani

5y↑2

Só os beat happeninzero aqui!

@thebeatleswin1

3y↑16

I was walking in our town
I was walking through the store
I saw a pretty girl
She held open the door
I said 'I like you'
She said that she liked me
And we could be friends
In our special stupid way
I went to pacific cafe
There she was again
So I said 'hey
We should go swimming in capital lake'
We had a lot of fun but then it got real late
So I walked her home
And had dinner with her family
That's why we're running away
That's why we're running away
That's why we're running away
That's why we're running away
That's why we're running away
That's why I had dinner with her family
We went to her friend's house
To have a cup of tea
She said that it was true
She was in love with me
I knew right then we'd have to be alone
'Cause no one in this whole world could ever understand
That's why we're running away
That's why we're running away
That's why I had dinner with her family

@mattlove1

It's not "Pacific Cafe" it's "the Smithfield Cafe." It was an Olympia landmark, as is the Capital Lake.

@zsantschi

11y↑12

Postal Service covered this last Monday in Dallas. If you know your music trivia... that was kind of ironic. K Records vs Sub Pop... different sides of the mountains.

@martinbramah2224

10y↑7

Excellent.

@gamelamelan

'sup martin ;-)

@amixofeverything

11y↑2

Really? Ha ha. That is kind of cool. Both are still great labels, although I think Sub Pop is now half-owned by a major label. Both still put out great Indie Rock.

@Fortwentt

this is great.

@GebbzSteelo

9y↑9

tru classique

@katesteve5652

7y↑30

we should go swimming in capital lake we had a lot of fun so it got real late so i walked her ehooooommeeeeeeeeee and had dinner with her family

@72daystar

7y↑7

That's why - we're running away, that's why - we're running away, that's why - we're running away, that's why - we're running away, that's why -- we're running away.... That's whhhhhhhhyyyyyyyy— I had dinner with her family...

@lvodniza

7y↑4

we went to her friends house to have a cup of tea. She said that it was true, she was in love with me. I knew right then, we had to be alone, cuz no one in this whole woooorld could ever understaaaand.

@MadihaA123

7y↑22

damn their cooking was that bad huh

@NinetiesYouth

5y↑24

Can I please be 18 again?

@xXEvangelXx

5y↑2

god yes

I wanna cry

@blazebo9112

4y↑1

Hey weren’t you the guy with the cobain picture

@AlbertoVO5

4y↑2

No. So don't fuck it up now.

@juliusebola9389

Yes. Yes you can.

@NinetiesYouth

@AlbertoVO5 too late...

2 More Replies...

@dominiccruz7469

2y↑1

12 oz mouse vibe from that cover, too.

@reptilian47

21w

Lmao true. That’s what it reminded me of.

@FuckinEmoDude

3y↑2

Reservation Dogs brought me here. Who else came here because of that show? If you did, we should be friends for have the same taste in music.

@marketville

3y↑3

The Shaggs

@reptilian47

21w

The Shaggs if their music was conventional

@leodukes4749

Hi lol

@kentaursheppard7572

5y↑2

Band fucking sucks and I love it

@juzepe.1

@lizcolee2631

3y↑2

Reservation Dogs ♥️

@joeydanielski962

3y↑1

Yeah! That kinda blew my mind when I heard it on there. Really amazing show.

@owen1686

3y↑1

Shat blood wtf

@qweraws6829

go to the er thats really bad

@jawadalshakeel3989

3y↑3

Reservation dogs brought me here

@treyehallmusic

7y↑4

im cringing......

@voce_simul

7y↑5

care to elaborate on that?

@treyehallmusic

7y↑2

They are ok but the singer ruins it.... he cannot sing. I did this for a school project. I am not particularly interested in indie and pop. ):

@Oksa_L

7y↑32

But this is the punk DIY attitude to the fullest. This is an aesthetic. If everyone singed the same way the world would be a boring place.

@treyehallmusic

7y↑13

... you are right i guess, it would be a boring place. I guess this is just not my kind of music. (:

@HitmanJenkins1

7y↑12

tbh whilst Calvin is a terrible vocalist I really can't imagine their songs being sung any other way. Along with the primitive instrumentation it adds to the coy, childlike nature that emminates from their music.

22 More Replies...

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