Kid You're On Your Own
AUGUSTINES Lyrics


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Dashboard jesus in a taxi cab
Never heard a word the driver said
Your in the backseat hanging on by a thread
The sun goes down but don't come back up again

Kid you're on your own
On your own
Cold summer rain falling down so slow
Voices carry from the street below
4th floor apartment couple is at it again
This polluted city makes my head a mess

Kid you're on your own
On your own

Come back come back
And tell me this is it, you got to
Come back 'cause all I ever wanted was to be something
Here everyone ya love slips through your hands like sand

And why cant someplace just feel like home?
That cage follows you wherever I go
And why are you there bleeding in my dreams
Well baby all things fade away it seems

Kid you're on your own
You're on your own

Come back come back
And tell me this is it, you got to
Come back
'Cause all I ever wanted was to be something
Here everyone you love slips through your hands like sand

Don't let it make you hang your head
Falling down again again again
Don't let it make you hang your head
Everyone feels faraway

Come back come back
And tell me this is it, you got to
Come back




'Cause all I ever wanted was to be something
Here everyone ya love slips through your hands like sand

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Augustines’ song “Kid You’re On Your Own” paint a vivid picture of a person feeling lost and alone in a big city. The metaphor of the “dashboard jesus in a taxi cab” represents the feeling of being so adrift and out of control that you’re grasping for whatever spiritual or emotional anchor you can find. The driver’s voice is muffled and unheard, adding to the sense of disconnection and confusion. The image of hanging on by a thread is another powerful representation of feeling like you’re just barely keeping it together.


The rain falling down slowly adds to the already heavy atmosphere, as the person hears the fighting of a couple in a nearby apartment. The city, which is supposed to be exciting and full of opportunities, becomes “polluted” with the singer’s disappointment and longing for something more. The repeated refrain of “Kid you’re on your own” echoes the sense of solitude and vulnerability that the person is feeling.


Despite all of this, the singer implores the person to “come back” and reassure him that this is it, that they’ve finally found what they were looking for. The desire to “be something” and to feel like they belong somewhere is a universal yearning, and the fact that “everyone you love slips through your hands like sand” adds to the poignancy of the lyrics.


Overall, Augustines’ “Kid You’re On Your Own” is a powerful meditation on the difficulties of finding one’s place in the world, especially in a bustling city that can feel isolating and overwhelming.


Line by Line Meaning

Dashboard Jesus in a taxi cab
The character is seeking a higher power, but it seems distant and out of reach.


Never heard a word the driver said
The character is disconnected from the present, possibly lost in thought or worry.


Your in the backseat hanging on by a thread
The character feels powerless and vulnerable, just barely holding themselves together.


The sun goes down but don't come back up again
The character feels stuck or hopeless, unable to see a bright future ahead.


Kid you're on your own
The character is being reminded that they have to find their own way in life, without relying on others or external guidance.


Cold summer rain falling down so slow
The character is feeling a sense of melancholy or despair, amplified by the weather.


Voices carry from the street below
The character is aware of the world around them, but feels disconnected or separate from it.


4th floor apartment couple is at it again
The character is surrounded by other people's drama, but feels helpless to stop it or escape it.


This polluted city makes my head a mess
The character feels overwhelmed by their environment, which is affecting their mental state.


Come back come back / And tell me this is it, you got to
The character is seeking validation or reassurance, hoping that someone else can confirm their path in life.


Cause all I ever wanted was to be something / Here everyone ya love slips through your hands like sand
The character is struggling to find their purpose or identity, and feels like they can't hold onto the people they care about.


Don't let it make you hang your head / Falling down again again again / Don't let it make you hang your head / Everyone feels faraway
The character is encouraging themselves to stay resilient, even when things are tough and they feel disconnected from others.




Contributed by Elizabeth P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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