Built to Spill would end up opening for Brand New in 2015. The student has outlearned the master.
Car
Brand New Lyrics
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I'll get the night off
You'll get the chance
To take the world apart
Figure out how it works
Don't let me know what you find out
I need a car, you need a guide
Who needs a map
I'm gonna need a nap
At best I'll be asleep when you get back
I wanna see it
When you find out what comets, stars, and moons are all about
I wanna see their
Faces turn their backs and head to slowly get smaller
I wanna see it
Now
I wanna see it
Now
I want specifics on the general idea
I want to think what I should know
Want you to do me what you show
I wanna see
Movies of my dreams
I wanna see
Movies of my dreams
I wanna see
Movies of my dreams
I wanna see
Movies of my dreams
I wanna see it
When you get stoned on the cloudy breezy desert afternoon
I wanna see it
Untame itself and break its own earth
I wanna see it
Now
I wanna see it
Now
The lyrics to Brand New’s “Car” seem to describe the excitement and thrill of exploration and discovery. The verse refers to the idea that the singer and someone else are sharing a car, with one taking the night off while the other navigates the world, uncovering its secrets and mysteries before returning with stories to share. The singer is content to rest and recharge in the car while the other takes on the role of guide and explorer.
The chorus amplifies this theme of exploration, expressing a desire to see the universe and all of its wonders. The singer is inspired by the idea of comets, stars, and moons and hopes to witness their movement and change firsthand. The repetition of “I wanna see it now” creates a sense of urgency and a longing to experience these marvels himself.
The second verse asks for more information about the general idea and the singer expects the other to give presentations or demonstrations. The chorus repeats the phrase, “I wanna see” but this time it’s in reference to movies of the singer’s dreams, indicating a desire to escape into a new reality. The final repetition of “I wanna see it now” is replaced by “I wanna see it untame itself, and break its own earth” signifying a desire to witness something wild and unpredictable.
Line by Line Meaning
You get the car
You can have the car
I'll get the night off
I'll take the night off
You'll get the chance
You'll have the opportunity
To take the world apart
To understand how the world works
Figure out how it works
Understand how things work
Don't let me know what you find out
Don't tell me what you learn
I need a car, you need a guide
I need transportation, you need direction
Who needs a map
A map is unnecessary
If I don't die or worse
If things don't go badly
I'm gonna need a nap
I'll need to take a nap
At best I'll be asleep when you get back
I'll probably be asleep when you return
I wanna see it
I want to witness it
When you find out what comets, stars, and moons are all about
After you learn about celestial objects
I wanna see their
I want to see the reactions of people
Faces turn their backs and head to slowly get smaller
As they walk away, becoming smaller in the distance
Now
Right away
I want specifics on the general idea
I want specific details about the general concept
I want to think what I should know
I want to learn what I need to know
Want you to do me what you show
I want you to demonstrate what you've learned
I wanna see movies of my dreams
I want to see my dreams come to life on screen
When you get stoned on the cloudy breezy desert afternoon
When you become intoxicated in the desert
Untame itself and break its own earth
Cause a disturbance in the natural world
Contributed by Ethan H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.