Coating of Arms
At the Drive-In Lyrics
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Suburban disturbance
Incoherent gourding
Coat of arms they came
Hack a knocking paranoia
In the walls, we heard family dying
While the band played on
Weren't you taking me home
Secret service, we deserve this
We lost the friends to the pavement
To the pavement
Substation, subconscious
Let's do our William tell routine
Let's do it
Chewing on the Goodyear's handcuffs
Are the wristwatch
The lyrics to "Coating of Arms" by At the Drive-In describe a chaotic scene of suburban violence and paranoia. The substation and suburban disturbance suggest a power struggle and tension in the community. The incoherent gourding and coat of arms refer to the symbols and traditions that are used to justify the violence and justify the actions of those involved. The hack a knocking paranoia creates a sense of fear and uncertainty that pervades the entire scene.
The next lines, "In the walls, we heard family dying, while the band played on," provide a chilling detail about the violence that is occurring in this suburban warzone. The juxtaposition of music and death suggests the surreal and disorienting nature of the experience. The lines "Told sky to leave to the east bay clone, weren't you taking me home" suggest that despite the violence and chaos surrounding them, the singer and their friends are still focused on their own individual desires and needs.
The final verses of the song further emphasize the disorienting and surreal nature of the scene. The secret service and William Tell routine suggest a confusion of identity and purpose, and the last line about chewing on handcuffs and watches creates a grotesque and unsettling image.
Overall, "Coating of Arms" is a song that captures the confusion, violence, and paranoia of a suburban warzone.
Line by Line Meaning
Substation submerging
The power plant is being submerged, possibly due to a flood or other natural disaster.
Suburban disturbance
Something is causing unrest or chaos in the quiet suburbia.
Incoherent gourding
People are acting finnicky and all over the place, like confused pumpkins being harvested.
Coat of arms they came
People have arrived, ready to assert their authority and control.
Hack a knocking paranoia
The fear and anxiety is palpable and almost overwhelming.
In the walls, we heard family dying
The chaos and violence outside is so loud that even inside, the sounds of family members dying can be heard.
While the band played on
Despite the chaos, some people are still trying to continue on as usual, perhaps by listening to music.
Told sky to leave to the east bay clone
Someone is being instructed to go to a specific location, possibly to escape or seek shelter.
Weren't you taking me home
As the chaos unfolds, someone is trying to confirm that they have a way to get home and escape the danger.
Secret service, we deserve this
The idea of a secret service reinforces the themes of authority and control, and for some reason they feel justified in causing chaos.
We lost the friends to the pavement
People have died or been hurt badly enough to be lying on the ground.
Substation, subconscious
The idea of the substation being submerged could be translated to a psychological level, perhaps an unconscious force that's causing chaos.
Let's do our William tell routine
The William Tell reference could suggest that people are taking aim against a certain target, similar to the way William Tell shot an apple off his son's head.
Let's do it
The people involved are being encouraged to take action, despite the danger or consequences.
Chewing on the Goodyear's handcuffs
People are feeling trapped, like they're being restrained or cannot escape a situation.
Are the wristwatch
The idea of a wristwatch could suggest the passage of time, perhaps the idea that everyone's time is limited and running out.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
Written by: ADAM AMPERAN, CEDRIC BIXLER, OMAR RODRIGUEZ, RYAN SAWYER, JIM WARD
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind