Adam Green (born May 28, 1981 in Mount Kisco, New York) is an American sing… Read Full Bio ↴Adam Green (born May 28, 1981 in Mount Kisco, New York) is an American singer-songwriter.

Green attended Emerson College briefly in 1998 before leaving to concentrate on his music, going on to co-found the anti folk group The Moldy Peaches with Kimya Dawson. In 2004 The Moldy Peaches went on hiatus and both Green and Dawson embarked on solo careers.

Green released several albums on Rough Trade Records. Among his better known songs are "Jessica" (about singer Jessica Simpson), "Novotel", "Friends of Mine", "Dance with Me", "Carolina" and "Emily", and, in Britain, his cover of The Libertines track "What a Waster".

Prior to Jacket Full of Danger in 2006, all of Green's albums had been released on the 22nd of the month. His latest album was released on March 18, 2008 and is titled Sixes & Sevens. Titles include "Morning After Midnight", "Twee Twee Dee", and "Drowning Head First", the latter a duet between Green and his girlfriend.

In January 2008, The Moldy Peaches began having a resurgence in popularity, due to their music being included in the hit indie film Juno.

Gemstones
Adam Green Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Gemstones cracking, cause we're just too strong
Drum-sized yearning 'cause the pressure's gone
Supervised love, crucified stuvs
Simmering red in the sex farm clubs
There's an exit to this desert
Dangling freely from the shingles in the snow
She's a show off, Xanax Zoloft
Blank faced footprints of the zebras in the glen

Cavemen humping in the sterling space pod
Drumstick pumpkin in the Starbucks courtyard
Gigolos dance, stepping on toes
Benedryl nights in the okay holes

There's an exit to this desert
Dangling freely from the shingles in the snow
She's a show off, Xanax Zoloft
Blank faced footprints of the zebras in the glen

Let's break into the labyrinth of lies
Let's dive off the end of his eyes
Hollywood hills, peppermint pills
I can still taste the grime that you stuffed in my gills

Oh Johnny, can't you set a place for Holly?
She's a wild one, she'll be staying for a spell
Till they find her, then they drag her down
To Barcelona! Down to Barcelona!
I'm a very funny boy, but I know not to say 'cha cha cha'
Dunkin' Donuts, give me Dunkin' Donuts!

She's a very funny girl
But I love that crazy bitch, alright!

Overall Meaning

The song "Gemstones" by Adam Green is a surreal and absurdist piece that seems to be exploring themes of human relationships, desire, and detachment. The opening lines "Gemstones cracking, cause we're just too strong / Drum-sized yearning 'cause the pressure's gone" suggest a sense of crisis, where even something as indestructible as a gemstone can be destroyed by overwhelming strength. This is followed by "Supervised love, crucified stuvs / Simmering red in the sex farm clubs", which seems to allude to the commodification of love and sex, and the resulting dehumanization of individuals.

The chorus "There's an exit to this desert / Dangling freely from the shingles in the snow / She's a show off, Xanax Zoloft / Blank faced footprints of the zebras in the glen" is cryptic but evocative. It creates a surreal, dreamlike image of an escape from an empty, barren landscape, and a woman who is both vulnerable and strong, with the help of the tranquilizer Xanax and the antidepressant Zoloft. The image of "blank faced footprints of the zebras in the glen" is both haunting and enigmatic, suggesting perhaps hidden trauma or a desire for a more natural and free existence.

The rest of the lyrics continue this disjointed, stream-of-consciousness narrative with lines like "Cavemen humping in the sterling space pod / Drumstick pumpkin in the Starbucks courtyard / Gigolos dance, stepping on toes / Benedryl nights in the okay holes". These seem to be fragments of memories or fantasies, representing a kind of chaos or confusion in the singer's mind. The final lines "Oh Johnny, can't you set a place for Holly? / She's a wild one, she'll be staying for a spell / Till they find her, then they drag her down / To Barcelona! Down to Barcelona!" create a kind of climax or resolution, with the singer addressing someone named Johnny and a woman named Holly, who is apparently in trouble. The reference to Barcelona suggests a kind of exotic and dangerous location, but the final lines "I'm a very funny boy, but I know not to say 'cha cha cha' / Dunkin' Donuts, give me Dunkin' Donuts! / She's a very funny girl / But I love that crazy bitch, alright" seem to undercut any sense of seriousness, and return the song to its absurdist tone.

Line by Line Meaning

Gemstones cracking, cause we're just too strong
We are powerful enough to break through the hard shells of valuable gemstones.

Drum-sized yearning 'cause the pressure's gone
Our deep desires feel like the sound of drums because we no longer have to resist them.

Supervised love, crucified stuvs
Our relationships are monitored and micromanaged, stifling our desires and leading to pain.

Simmering red in the sex farm clubs
In underground clubs where people come together for sexual pleasure, there is an intense, passionate energy.

There's an exit to this desert Dangling freely from the shingles in the snow She's a show off, Xanax Zoloft Blank faced footprints of the zebras in the glen
There is a way out of this barren, lonely place. It hangs above us, an escape in the form of a suspended bridge. A woman is showing off her confidence despite taking medications that make her feel empty. The contrast between her and the lifeless footprints of zebras is striking.

Cavemen humping in the sterling space pod Drumstick pumpkin in the Starbucks courtyard Gigolos dance, stepping on toes Benedryl nights in the okay holes
In futuristic places where technology seems to have advanced a lot, there are still primitive acts of sex happening. A pumpkin with a drumstick planted in it is the last remnant of the Halloween season, juxtaposed with the sterile environment of a Starbucks café. Male prostitutes are dancing carelessly, causing discomfort to others. People are taking sleeping pills to cope with the lack of excitement.

Let's break into the labyrinth of lies Let's dive off the end of his eyes Hollywood hills, peppermint pills I can still taste the grime that you stuffed in my gills
Let's uncover the web of deceit and get out of here. We'll take a leap of faith and explore the unfamiliar, potentially dangerous territory. The glamorous, profitable movie industry is corrupted and fake, and the drugs that are consumed in such environments leave an unpleasant aftertaste.

Oh Johnny, can't you set a place for Holly? She's a wild one, she'll be staying for a spell Till they find her, then they drag her down To Barcelona! Down to Barcelona! I'm a very funny boy, but I know not to say 'cha cha cha' Dunkin' Donuts, give me Dunkin' Donuts! She's a very funny girl But I love that crazy bitch, alright!
Johnny is asked to make a space for a daring and impetuous woman called Holly, who will stay for a while. She will be apprehended by authorities and taken to Barcelona. The artist identifies as a lighthearted entertainer but knows enough not to get too involved. He craves Dunkin' Donuts' products. Holly is quirky and amusing, and the artist has a soft spot for her despite her outrageous behavior.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Adam Green

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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