Pontiac
Carter Vail Lyrics
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I should have kissed you then
Your hair was longer
I pulled away from it
And moved to the city
Over the Tappan Zee Bridge
You like the colors
I can't see anything
I'll be your coffee
I'll be your poster child
Walking like Jesus
When all the stores are closed
You think of drowning
Out in your parents pool
The water's freezing
It was September
I think I know you
I was here before the start of the storm
It's all around you now you're coming back home
Now you're coming back
You own that glimmer
I should have told you then
Now more than ever
The broken pieces fit
Scars and confetti
Sawmill and pontiac clips
You kept Valhalla
I still want everything
I'll be your sweater
You be my wailing wall
Fighting like Ghandi
When all the lines are down
You dream of flying
Over the Zuiderzee
The sky was yellow
I still remember
I think I know you
I was here before the start of the storm
It's all around you now you're coming back home
Now you coming back
I think I know you
We were here before the start of the storm
It's all around us now we're coming back home
The lyrics of "Pontiac" by Carter Vail depict the longing for a past love that has been lost. The song's narrative is about a love that was not expressed and was left unconsummated. The opening lines convey the sense of regret and missed opportunity. The singer laments the fact that he should have kissed her when he had the chance, but instead pulled away. The subsequent lines reveal that the two went their separate ways, with the singer moving to the city and the woman staying behind. The feeling of distance between them is evoked by the verse "you like the colors, I can't see anything", suggesting that their perspectives have changed in different directions.
The second verse continues the theme of missed opportunities and unrequited love. The singer offers to be everything the woman needs, from coffee to a poster child, yet cannot seem to bridge the gap between them. The woman is described as dreaming of drowning in her parents' pool, with the image of the water being freezing in September evoking a sense of hopelessness. The singer, on the other hand, remembers the good times they shared, all the while recognizing that they were fleeting moments.
The chorus repeats the longing for the past love, with the lyrics "I think I know you, I was here before the start of the storm, it's all around you now you're coming back home." The storm can be interpreted as a symbol of the tumultuous feelings surrounding their relationship. Despite their distance and missed opportunities, the singer knows that they shared a connection, and that connection is still present even after they've gone their separate ways.
Line by Line Meaning
You leaned in closer
You moved closer to me
I should have kissed you then
I regret not kissing you when you moved closer to me
Your hair was longer
Your hair was longer than it is now
I pulled away from it
I moved away from you and your hair
And moved to the city
I relocated to the city
Over the Tappan Zee Bridge
I crossed over the Tappan Zee Bridge to get to the city
You like the colors
You are fond of colors
I can't see anything
I can't see anything that interests me
I'll be your coffee
I'll be the person who provides you with coffee
I'll be your poster child
I'll be your model or shining example
Walking like Jesus
Walking with the same grace and poise as Jesus
When all the stores are closed
During a time when all the stores are closed
You think of drowning
You entertain thoughts of drowning
Out in your parents pool
In your parents' swimming pool
The water's freezing
The water is extremely cold
It was September
It was September at the time
I think I know you
I feel like I know you
I was here before the start of the storm
I was present before things got chaotic
It's all around you now you're coming back home
The chaos is surrounding you now as you come back home
Now you're coming back
You are returning now
You own that glimmer
You possess that shine or sparkle
I should have told you then
I regret not telling you that you possess that shine
Now more than ever
Presently, more than ever before
The broken pieces fit
The scattered pieces now fit together
Scars and confetti
A mix of pain and celebration
Sawmill and pontiac clips
References to places and things that hold significance
You kept Valhalla
You held on to the memory of Valhalla
I still want everything
I still desire everything
You be my wailing wall
You can be the person I pour out my emotions to
Fighting like Ghandi
Fighting for your cause with non-violent resistance like Gandhi
When all the lines are down
When communication and connections are lost
You dream of flying
You dream of being in the sky
Over the Zuiderzee
Above the body of water called the Zuiderzee
The sky was yellow
The sky had a yellowish hue
I still remember
I remember that moment vividly
We were here before the start of the storm
We were present before things got chaotic
It's all around us now we're coming back home
The chaos is surrounding us now as we come back home
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Carter Vail
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind