Pastry Sharp
Califone Lyrics


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By the time I filter down to you
A finger for an invitation
Too sane to find the feel
Cotton blood in a jewelry box
The last to leave, the last to come
The elevator waits to take you down
She throws a prayer you'll never catch
And I'm not holding on
Baby's in the engine room, alright
Got the trap door by the feathers
Dressing for your date with the dumb anyway
The last to leave, the last to come
The elevator waits to take you down
She throws a prayer you'll never catch
And I'm not holding on
Drunken sailor ripe
Heart attack station




Sharp as pastry
Now for baby to find

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Califone's song Pastry Sharp are an enigmatic and poetic description of a situation where the singer is seemingly filtering down to a person they want to connect with. The opening lines, "By the time I filter down to you / A finger for an invitation," describe a feeling of distance and a need for a way into the other person's world. The phrase "Too sane to find the feel" suggests a sense of rationality or boundaries that is making it difficult for the singer to connect with their desire. The line "Cotton blood in a jewelry box" is abstract but evocative, perhaps speaking to a hidden or hard-to-reach aspect of the other person, while "The last to leave, the last to come" creates a sense of urgency and missed opportunities.


The mention of the elevator waiting to take the other person down suggests a physical distance between the two, but the following line "She throws a prayer you'll never catch" adds a mystical or spiritual dimension to the story. The singer seems resigned to not being able to hold onto the other person, even as they observe the sense of purpose or urgency with which the other person is moving. The line "Baby's in the engine room, alright" creates a sense of danger or excitement, while "Got the trap door by the feathers / Dressing for your date with the dumb anyway" suggests a willingness to take risks or participate in something questionable. The final lines "Drunken sailor ripe / Heart attack station / Sharp as pastry / Now for baby to find" further add to the sense of unease or potential for disaster, as well as a sense of deliciousness or temptation.


Overall, the lyrics of Pastry Sharp are open to interpretation, but they create a vivid and evocative mood of longing, danger, and potentially sweet rewards. The song seems to be about the difficulty of connecting with someone or achieving a desired outcome, and the sense of loss or regret that can come with missed chances.


Line by Line Meaning

By the time I filter down to you
It takes me some time to reach you


A finger for an invitation
A subtle way of asking you to come closer


Too sane to find the feel
Being too practical to understand emotions


Cotton blood in a jewelry box
A beautiful appearance covers the darkness within


The last to leave, the last to come
Always being the last one arriving and leaving


The elevator waits to take you down
Waiting for something drastic to happen


She throws a prayer you'll never catch
Wishing for something you cannot achieve


And I'm not holding on
Letting go of the past and moving on


Baby's in the engine room, alright
Metaphorically referring to someone doing all the hard work


Got the trap door by the feathers
Being in a dangerous situation with no escape


Dressing for your date with the dumb anyway
Putting effort into something that is not worth it


Drunken sailor ripe
Being foolish and reckless


Heart attack station
A stressful environment


Sharp as pastry
Being dangerous and harmful


Now for baby to find
Time to move on and find someone better




Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Temistoclas Hugo Rutili

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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