Voices
Carroll Jim Lyrics

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Bob drives taxis when the meter runs
Bobby hears the music when it's done
He hears the voices
He hears the voices

Wheels on rain, lightning from the storm
Bobby takes the gas
Pedal to the floor

The voices
He hears the voices

[Chorus:]
Coming from the traffic
Coming from the cube
Like the cry of babies
Passing through a tube
Voices run inside you

Jill breathes carbon trailing from the bus, it's like
Staring in the eyes of Lazarus
The voices
She hears the voices

Like a starving whisper no one ever heard
Like an epileptic hummingbird
The voices
She hears the voices

[Chorus:]

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Carroll Jim's song "Voices" paint a picture of two individuals, Bob and Jill, who are constantly bombarded by the sounds of the city around them. Bob is a taxi driver who hears voices even when the music has stopped playing, while Jill experiences the carbon emissions from the buses and hears whispers that no one else can hear. The phrase "he/she hears the voices" is repeated throughout the song, emphasizing the power and persistence of the sounds that can sometimes be overwhelming in a busy and noisy city.

The chorus compares the voices in the urban atmosphere to various sounds, including traffic and crying babies passing through a tube. The repetition of the phrase "voices run inside you" suggests that these sounds are not simply external auditory sensations but are also churning within one's own mind and psyche. The verse about Jill also contains a more surreal image of staring into the eyes of Lazarus, a biblical figure who was raised from the dead, further highlighting the bizarre and otherworldly quality of the sensory overload experienced in a city.

Overall, "Voices" is a song that delves into the sensory and emotional experiences of city life. It captures the way that the constant barrage of sounds can create a unique and disorienting world for those living in urban environments.

Line by Line Meaning

Bob drives taxis when the meter runs
Bob is a taxi driver who works only when the taxi meter is running.

Bobby hears the music when it's done
Bobby hears the leftover sound of the music after it has stopped playing.

He hears the voices
Bobby hears mysterious, haunting voices.

Wheels on rain, lightning from the storm
In the midst of a storm, wheels spin on the wet pavement and lightning strikes.

Bobby takes the gas, Pedal to the floor
Bobby presses the gas pedal hard, causing the car to accelerate quickly.

The voices, He hears the voices
Bobby continues to hear the strange, unsettling voices while driving.

Coming from the traffic, Coming from the cube
The voices seem to be coming from the busy traffic and the office buildings of the city.

Like the cry of babies, Passing through a tube
The voices sound like the wailing cries of babies that are being carried through a narrow tube.

Voices run inside you
The haunting voices seem to be coming from inside the listener's mind or soul.

Jill breathes carbon trailing from the bus, it's like
Jill inhales the tailpipe emissions from the bus, which feels like a heavy burden.

Staring in the eyes of Lazarus, The voices
Jill feels as though she is encountering something miraculous or frightening, like coming face to face with the biblical character Lazarus. Despite this, she continues to hear the ominous and mysterious voices.

She hears the voices
Jill is also tormented by the strange, haunting voices.

Like a starving whisper no one ever heard, Like an epileptic hummingbird
The voices are likened to a desperate, unheard whisper and an erratic, uncontrollable hummingbird.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: SALVATORE P. ERNA

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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