Fire Truck
Andy Shauf Lyrics

A fire truck goes screaming by
The sudden sound and sight of a fire truck passing by evokes a memory or association.

And it reminds me of that night
The fire truck serves as a trigger for a specific night or event in the past.

When you said that you were coming home
Referring to a previous promise or expectation of someone's return.

Then I waited up 'til four in the morning
The artist stayed awake until the early hours, anticipating their arrival.

She says, 'I remember, and why the fuck would this be a good time to bring that up?'
The other person responds defensively, questioning the relevance and timing of discussing the past.

And I am silent, because I'm not sure
The singer remains quiet because they lack clarity or confidence in their own thoughts.

Sometimes I feel like I should never speak again
The personal doubt and self-criticism lead to a desire to refrain from speaking altogether.

She takes my hand and says, 'C'mon you know this one's my favorite song'
To divert attention from the tense conversation, she redirects their focus to a favorite song they both share.

(Doo-doo, doo, doo-doo, doo, doo-doo)
Musical interlude

And I can see it in my mind
The artist vividly recalls a fire, visualizing the flames reaching high into the night.

Those flames reaching so high
The fire's intensity and upward motion are described.

Into the night, and that poor family
The fire's impact is seen as it affects a less fortunate family.

Standing on the front lawn watching
The family is observed standing outside their house, witnessing the blaze.

And for some reason, I remember that feeling
The singer recalls experiencing an emotion during that particular moment.

Being almost jealousy
The feeling mentioned earlier is described as a sense of envy.

For a new beginning, but I should have known
The artist desired a fresh start, but now realizes their actions were already destructive.

That I was already burning it to the ground
Metaphorically, the artist was already causing irreversible damage before the fire.

But now that I'm dancing in the ashes, I just want it to be whole
Despite the devastation caused, the singer longs for a sense of completeness or restoration.

(Doo-doo, doo, doo-doo, doo, doo-doo)
Musical interlude

And somehow with all that distraction
Despite the chaos or commotion in their lives, the artist faces additional conflicts.

I still managed to pick a fight
Even amidst everything else, the artist instigated an argument or confrontation.

When she got home, and all she had were questions
Upon her return, the other person had inquiries or uncertainties.

About those flashing red lights
The questions revolve around the significance or implications of the flashing red lights.

And now the song is ending, Judy's leaving
As the song reaches its conclusion, Judy departs or exits.

And I'm getting one more right at last call
The singer decides to have one last drink before the bar closes.

Claire orders three shots, Charlie raises his up
In the company of Claire and Charlie, three shots are ordered and subsequently raised in a toast.

And we tip our heads back before we say goodnight
They tilt their heads back, consuming the shots, before bidding each other farewell.

Now that I'm standing in the ashes
Reflecting on the current state of being surrounded by ruin or residue.

I just want it to be whole
The artist desires completeness or unity, despite the destruction.

Now that I'm standing in the ashes
Reiterating the current state of being amongst the aftermath of devastation.

I can't help but sing along
Regardless of the circumstances, the singer finds themselves compelled to sing along or participate.

(Doo-doo, doo, doo-doo, doo, doo-doo)
Musical interlude

(Doo-doo, doo, doo-doo, doo, doo-doo)
Musical interlude

(Doo-doo, doo, doo-doo, doo, doo-doo)
Musical interlude

(Doo-doo, doo, doo-doo, doo, doo-doo)
Musical interlude

(Doo-doo, doo, doo-doo, doo, doo-doo)
Musical interlude