Double Takes
Christine Fellows Lyrics


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We met in the emergency ward,

Getting our stomachs pumped.

Suffered the indignities two curtains apart.

Overhead the cop who brought you in say,
"Next time, son, you might not be so lucky."

And I laughed out loud.

You counted all the times you crashed your car

I showed you the scars on my arms.

We stuttered and stopped right there

Till I got a brilliant idea

And kicked my legs right out from under me

Trying to kick up my heels

And you laughed and said,

"You tried so hard."

The first time we said goodnight

I could hardly speak let alone sleep

Took a deep breath, let it out and then

Looked straight at you and said,

"I don't think life just happens to you

More likely in spite of you.





It's a marvelous thing."

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Christine Fellows's song "Double Takes" describe the unlikely meeting of two people in the emergency ward, both having their stomachs pumped. Despite the embarrassing and uncomfortable situation, the two begin to connect over shared experiences of recklessness and self-destructive behavior. They stutter and stop, struggling to find the right words until the singer of the song kicks their legs out from under them in a playful attempt to lighten the mood. This moment of vulnerability leads to the first time the two say goodnight, and the singer shares a moment of insight with their newfound companion.


On one level, the song reflects on the ways in which people experience life's challenges and obstacles. The two characters in the song have both faced near-death experiences, but rather than dwelling on the negative aspects of these events, they find a way to laugh and connect over their shared experiences. The line "I don't think life just happens to you, more likely in spite of you" suggests that we have agency in how we deal with the challenges that come our way.


On another level, the song explores the idea of connection and intimacy. The two characters in the song are essentially strangers, yet they are able to bond over their shared experiences and a mutual willingness to be vulnerable and open with one another. In this sense, the song celebrates the power of human connection and the ways in which we can find meaning and purpose in even the most unexpected of circumstances.


Line by Line Meaning

We met in the emergency ward,
We first crossed paths while we were both getting our stomachs pumped in the emergency ward.


Getting our stomachs pumped.
We were both in the hospital getting our stomachs pumped, probably due to overindulgence in something.


Suffered the indignities two curtains apart.
We were separated by curtains while being treated in the hospital, which was a bit embarrassing.


Overhead the cop who brought you in say,
While we were there, we heard the cop who brought you in say something from overhead.


"Next time, son, you might not be so lucky."
The cop warned you that next time you might not be so lucky, which I found funny and laughed out loud.


And I laughed out loud.
I found the cop's warning funny and couldn't help but burst out laughing.


You counted all the times you crashed your car
You started counting all the times you've crashed your car, which I found interesting.


I showed you the scars on my arms.
I showed you the scars on my arms for some reason, which made the situation more intimate or personal.


We stuttered and stopped right there
Our conversation stuttered and we paused for a moment.


Till I got a brilliant idea
Until I had a sudden inspiration or idea.


And kicked my legs right out from under me
I kicked my legs out from under me in an attempt to be playful or funny.


Trying to kick up my heels
I was trying to kick up my heels, which is a playful phrase meaning to have fun or enjoy oneself.


And you laughed and said,
You laughed and made a comment about what I had just done.


"You tried so hard."
You told me that I tried hard to be funny, which may or may not have been successful.


The first time we said goodnight
The first time we said goodbye to each other.


I could hardly speak let alone sleep
I was so enamored with you that I had trouble speaking and sleeping when we said goodbye.


Took a deep breath, let it out and then
I took a deep breath and exhaled, preparing to say something important.


Looked straight at you and said,
I made direct eye contact with you before saying what was on my mind.


"I don't think life just happens to you
I shared a personal belief of mine with you.


More likely in spite of you.
I believe that life happens more in spite of our actions than because of them.


It's a marvelous thing."
Even though life may seem out of our control, I find it to be a wonderful and awe-inspiring thing.




Contributed by Max R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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