Blitzen Trapper is an experimental rock/folk sextet which formed in Portlan… Read Full Bio ↴Blitzen Trapper is an experimental rock/folk sextet which formed in Portland, Oregon, United States in 2000. The band consists of Eric Earley (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Erik Menteer (guitar, keyboards), Marty Marquis (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Michael Van Pelt (bass), Drew Laughery (keyboards) and Brian Koch (drums, vocals).

In various combinations and guises, the group had already played a long time together before the "crystalization event" in July 2000 on the slopes of the famous volcano Mt. Hood. Since then they have performed for audiences of all ages and socioeconomic groups, mostly playing close to home and for many years distributing recordings like itinerant madmen, for free.

Join the Last.fm group here! - http://www.last.fm/group/Blitzen+Trapper

Rebel
Blitzen Trapper Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ooh
Ooh

The headlights of my daddy's car are dimmer than the moon
And the radio is playin' low, it's Johnny Cash in June
But I know these hills, these twisted roads, I know their every turn
As the city sits below and like a distant fire it burns

'Cause I'm a rebel to the one I love
Her heart so far from me
Yeah I'm a rebel to the one I love
Just a man who's lost at sea

I was born in east Los Angeles, my father walked the beat
So, out of spite, I turned to petty crime upon the streets
'Til I met this girl at the pool hall
Man, you know she knocked me off my feet
And I swore to change my wicked ways and win her heart to me

So we married in the month of May and we moved up in the hills
And like my old man I joined the police force to pay the bills
But when a crooked sergeant called me in yeah, and I wouldn't play the game
Well, he took my badge and he took my gun and he sent me off in shame

'Cause I'm a rebel to the one I love
Her heart so far from me
Yeah I'm a rebel to the one I love
Just a man who's lost at sea

So I tried my hand at selling cars, but I couldn't make a poor man buy
Then I drove a truck, but I hated all those long and dusty miles
So now I sell that cocaine, honey, yeah up in the hills of Hollywood
And the one I loved has left me, and in truth, I knew she would

'Cause I'm a rebel to the one I love
Her heart so far from me
Yeah I'm a rebel to the one I love
Just a lover lost at sea

'Cause I'm a rebel to the one I love
Her heart so far from me

Yeah I'm a rebel to the one I love
Just a man who's lost at sea

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Blitzen Trapper's song "Rebel" tell the story of a man who has always felt like an outsider, rebelling against societal expectations and norms. The opening lines set the scene of a dimly lit car ride with the radio playing Johnny Cash. The familiarity of the hills and twisted roads symbolize the comfort and understanding he finds in his rebellious nature, while the distant fire burning in the city represents his longing for something more.

The chorus reveals the essence of his rebellion - it is directed towards the one he loves. He feels disconnected from her, as if her heart is far from his reach. This internal struggle reflects his inability to conform to the expectations of a traditional relationship, leaving him feeling lost at sea, searching for a sense of belonging.

The second verse takes us back to the singer's roots in East Los Angeles. His father's occupation as a police officer becomes a defining factor in his life as he rebels against it by engaging in petty crime. However, his perspective changes when he meets a girl at a pool hall. She knocks him off his feet, leading him to swear off his wicked ways and attempt to win her heart. They get married and move to the hills, where he joins the police force to provide for their new life.

But his rebellious nature resurfaces when a corrupt sergeant demands that he compromises his integrity. Refusing to play the game, he loses his badge and his gun, leaving him in shame and without direction. This loss prompts a series of attempts at different careers, none of which fulfill him. Ultimately, he turns to selling cocaine in Hollywood Hills, resigned to the fact that the one he loves has left him. He recognizes this as a predictable outcome, hinting at his self-awareness of the consequences of his rebellious nature.

Overall, "Rebel" explores the complexities of rebellion, love, and the search for identity. It paints a poignant picture of a man who, despite his efforts, cannot escape his true nature and the consequences it brings.

Line by Line Meaning

The headlights of my daddy's car are dimmer than the moon
The car my father drives has headlights that are less bright than the moon

And the radio is playin' low, it's Johnny Cash in June
The radio is playing Johnny Cash's music softly, reminiscent of the month of June

But I know these hills, these twisted roads, I know their every turn
I am familiar with the hills and winding roads, I know them intimately

As the city sits below and like a distant fire it burns
While the city is situated below, it appears like a distant burning fire

'Cause I'm a rebel to the one I love
I consider myself a rebel when it comes to the person I love

Her heart so far from me
Her heart feels distant and disconnected from mine

Yeah I'm a rebel to the one I love
In the eyes of the person I love, I am seen as a rebellious figure

Just a man who's lost at sea
I am merely a man who feels adrift and lost, akin to being lost at sea

I was born in east Los Angeles, my father walked the beat
I was born in east Los Angeles, where my father worked as a police officer

So, out of spite, I turned to petty crime upon the streets
As an act of spite, I resorted to engaging in minor criminal activities on the streets

'Til I met this girl at the pool hall
Until I encountered this girl at the pool hall

Man, you know she knocked me off my feet
She had an overwhelming effect on me, leaving me feeling captivated

And I swore to change my wicked ways and win her heart to me
I made a promise to reform my immoral behavior and win her affection

So we married in the month of May and we moved up in the hills
We got married in May and relocated to the hills

And like my old man I joined the police force to pay the bills
Following in my father's footsteps, I became a police officer to support us financially

But when a crooked sergeant called me in yeah, and I wouldn't play the game
However, things took a turn when a corrupt sergeant summoned me and I refused to engage in his illicit activities

Well, he took my badge and he took my gun and he sent me off in shame
As a consequence, he confiscated my badge and firearm, and I was dismissed from the force with disgrace

So I tried my hand at selling cars, but I couldn't make a poor man buy
Subsequently, I attempted to sell cars, but I struggled to convince financially struggling individuals to make a purchase

Then I drove a truck, but I hated all those long and dusty miles
I then took up truck driving, but I despised the arduous and monotonous journeys

So now I sell that cocaine, honey, yeah up in the hills of Hollywood
As a result, I resorted to selling cocaine in the affluent hills of Hollywood

And the one I loved has left me, and in truth, I knew she would
The person I loved has departed from my life, a fate I anticipated deep down

Just a lover lost at sea
Now, I am simply a forlorn lover, feeling adrift like one lost at sea

'Cause I'm a rebel to the one I love
In relation to the person I love, I am perceived as a rebellious figure

Her heart so far from me
Her heart feels distant and disconnected from mine

Yeah I'm a rebel to the one I love
I consider myself a rebel when it comes to the person I love

Just a man who's lost at sea
I am merely a man who feels adrift and lost, akin to being lost at sea

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Eric Earley

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS