East Los Angeles
AUGUSTINES Lyrics


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The crowd began to wave
From the freeway overpass
We joined the parade
Right behind the marching band

Then you said "Wave back, cause these are the best days of your life"
And I said "I know, I can′t feel anything"
And up, up on the Ferris wheel
I can see L.A. and all the freeways
I can see your face
So close to me
And I can dream my dreams
And light the night
Like a drive in movie screen, oh

On a hot summer day
We laughed in the Polaroid
Counted all the ways
To slow down our time machine
And in my mind
All I could think was that love is war
And you know I'd surrender anything

And up, up on the Ferris wheel
I can see L.A. and all the freeways
I can see your face
So close to me
And I can dream my dreams
And light the night
Like a drive in movie screen





Oh no, I don′t want to be another scar on a bar stool
In East Los Angeles

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to AUGUSTINES's song “East Los Angeles” describe a moment of joy and nostalgia as the singer reminisces about a beautiful day spent with someone they love. The first verse sets the scene for the memory: the singer and their companion are marching in a parade while standing atop a freeway overpass. The second verse takes us on a Ferris Wheel ride, where the singer can see the bright lights of LA's freeways and their companion's face. The bridge of the song recalls a Polaroid picture taken on a long-ago summer day, and the lines "all I could think was that love is war / and you know I'd surrender anything" convey the sense of surrendering to love in spite of the pain it can cause.


The chorus repeats the events of the day and adds a new element to the story: the singer doesn't want to end up as a “scar on a bar stool” in East Los Angeles. This momentary melancholy adds depth to the song and suggests that, while the day itself was beautiful, it may have been a departure from the singer's usual life. The lyrics overall are poetic and impressionistic, conjuring vivid images of a sunny day in LA and a moment of bittersweet reflection.


Line by Line Meaning

The crowd began to wave
The people on the overpass started waving at us


From the freeway overpass
We were driving on a freeway overpass at the time


We joined the parade
We became part of the parade that was passing by


Right behind the marching band
We were following the marching band in the parade


Then you said "Wave back, cause these are the best days of your life"
You encouraged me to enjoy the moment and appreciate the experience


And I said "I know, I can′t feel anything"
I was expressing my inability to fully enjoy the moment, despite wanting to


And up, up on the Ferris wheel
We were now on a Ferris wheel ride


I can see L.A. and all the freeways
From the Ferris wheel, we had a great view of Los Angeles and its freeways


I can see your face
I could see your face and appreciate your company


So close to me
We were in close proximity to each other


And I can dream my dreams
I could indulge in my personal dreams and aspirations


And light the night
I could feel like I was illuminating the darkness of my future


Like a drive in movie screen, oh
I could make my dreams feel cinematic, like a classic drive-in movie


On a hot summer day
It was a hot summer day when we shared this experience


We laughed in the Polaroid
We took a picture together and laughed at the instant result


Counted all the ways
We discussed and appreciated all the little things that made the moment special


To slow down our time machine
We wanted to prolong the happiness by feeling like time had slowed down


And in my mind
In my thoughts and feelings, I compared love to war


All I could think was that love is war
I held the belief that love is a fight or struggle


And you know I'd surrender anything
Despite this belief, I was willing to give up anything for love


Oh no, I don′t want to be another scar on a bar stool
I didn't want to be just another nameless person in a bar, struggling with life


In East Los Angeles
Specifically in East Los Angeles, where poverty and gang violence are prevalent issues




Writer(s): Nathan Thomas Martinez, William Mccarthy

Contributed by Riley T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

@tobiasfries9716

Still one of the best

@ChronisRedFog

The crowd began to wave
From the freeway overpass
We joined the parade
Right behind the marching band

You said
"Wave back, cause these are the best days of your life."
And I said
"I know, I can't feel anything"

And up, up on the Ferris wheel
I can see L.A. and all the freeways
I can see your face
So close to me
And I can dream my dreams
And light the night
Like a drive in movie screen
(ya know....)

On a hot summer day
We laughed in the Polaroid
Counted all the ways
To slow down our time machine
And in my mind all I could
Think was that love is war
And you know I'd surrender anything


And up, up on the Ferris wheel
I can see L.A. and all the freeways
I can see your face
So close to me
And I can dream my dreams
And light the night
Like a drive in movie screen

Oh no, I don't want to be another
Scar on a bar stool
In East Los Angeles

@PapistWitness

What a shame that this song is so obscure.

@jamespoole8549

Anyone got the chords to play this on guitar?

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