Singer / songwriter / bassist Napolitano formed the band Dream 6 with guitarist James Mankey in Los Angeles in 1982, releasing an eponymous EP in France on the Happy Hermit label in 1983. When they signed with IRS in 1986, labelmate Michael Stipe suggested the name Concrete Blonde, describing the contrast between their hard rock music and introspective lyrics. They were joined by drummer Harry Rushakoff on their eponymous debut album. Roxy Music drummer Paul Thompson replaced Rushakoff on Bloodletting and several tracks on Mexican Moon, while Rushakoff was in treatment for drug addiction. Rushakoff was kicked out of the band in 2002 for failing to show up for several rehearsals and shows. He was replaced by Gabriel Ramirez.
Their most popular album was 1990's Bloodletting. The band broke up in 1995, but reunited in 2001, releasing Group Therapy in 2002 and Mojave in 2004.
Caroline
Concrete Blonde Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She said you came and took your stuff away
All the poetry and the trunk you kept your life in
I knew that it would come to that someday
Like a sad hallucination
When I opened up my eyes
The train had passed the station
And you were trapped inside
I only wonder why, I wonder why
Oh Caroline
Oh Caroline
Oh, oh Caroline
Whoa, whoa, whoa Caroline
Well I hear you're using someone else's number
She said she saw you in the store today
It doesn't matter whose address you're listed under
I only know they'll never make you stay
Like a memory in motion
You were only passing through
That is all you've ever known of life, that's all you'll ever do
There's a dream I have where I sail away
Looking back I wave at you, and I wave goodbye
Oh Caroline
Oh Caroline
Oh Caroline
Oh (Caroline)
In another life I see you as an angel flying high
And the hands of time will free you
You will cast your chains aside
And the dawn will come and kiss away
Every tear that's ever fallen from your eyes
Behind those eyes I wonder
(Caroline)
Oh Caroline oh oh oh
(Caroline, Caroline)
Oh Caroline
Sometimes I wonder (Caroline)
Oh Caroline
Sometimes I, sometimes I wonder (Caroline)
(Caroline) oh Caroline
The lyrics of "Caroline" by Concrete Blonde tell the story of a woman named Caroline who has left the singer of the song. The first verse describes how Caroline has left with all her things, leaving behind only memories in the form of poetry and a trunk. The singer seems to have anticipated this, suggesting a sense of inevitability about their separation. The metaphor of a train passing the station suggests that their relationship has reached a point of no return, with Caroline "trapped inside" - this could mean she is trapped in her new situation, or that her ex-lover is still holding onto her mentally. The last line of the verse ("I wonder why") seems to suggest the singer is still trying to figure out why Caroline left.
In the second verse, the singer hears that Caroline is with someone else now, but it seems to make little difference who that person is - the point is that she won't stay with them any more than she stayed with the singer. The line "Like a memory in motion, you were only passing through" reflects a sense of transience about Caroline's life - perhaps she is always searching for something new, or is unable to settle down in one place. The dream sequence at the end of the verse is a tender moment, as the singer imagines Caroline flying away, free of the chains that bound her to them.
The chorus, which consists mainly of repeating Caroline's name, is a mournful lament for what has been lost. The song suggests that Caroline has moved on, but the singer is still holding onto the hope that she might come back one day. The final line of the song - "Behind those eyes I wonder" - shows that even though the relationship is over, the singer is still thinking about Caroline and wondering what made her leave.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I hear you're driving someone else's car now
I heard that you're driving a vehicle that belongs to someone else
She said you came and took your stuff away
According to her, you took your belongings and left
All the poetry and the trunk you kept your life in
You stored your life in a trunk filled with poetry and other items
I knew that it would come to that someday
I always expected that things would end up this way
Like a sad hallucination
You haunt me like a painful vision in my mind
When I opened up my eyes
I woke up one day
The train had passed the station
Opportunity had gone by and left me behind
And you were trapped inside
You were stuck in a life you didn't want to be in
Yet I never wonder where you went
I don't worry about where you've gone
I only wonder why, I wonder why
I just wonder why this happened
Oh Caroline
Referring to the person named Caroline
Whoa, whoa, whoa Caroline
An expression of surprise or admiration for Caroline
Well I hear you're using someone else's number
I heard you're using a phone number that belongs to someone else
She said she saw you in the store today
According to her, she saw you at a store earlier today
It doesn't matter whose address you're listed under
It doesn't matter whose address you have associated yourself with
I only know they'll never make you stay
I know that no one can make you stay in one place
Like a memory in motion
You are like a memory that is constantly moving
You were only passing through
You were just passing by in my life
That is all you've ever known of life, that's all you'll ever do
Moving on from one thing to the next is all you've ever known and will ever do
There's a dream I have where I sail away
I have a dream where I sail away and leave everything behind
Looking back I wave at you, and I wave goodbye
In that dream, I wave goodbye to you as I leave
In another life I see you as an angel flying high
I imagine you in another life, where you are an angel flying in the sky
And the hands of time will free you
Time will heal your pain and let you move on
You will cast your chains aside
You will break free from whatever is holding you back
And the dawn will come and kiss away
A new day will come, and it will make everything better
Every tear that's ever fallen from your eyes
All the tears you've ever cried will be wiped away
Behind those eyes I wonder
I wonder what's behind your eyes and what you're truly feeling
(Caroline) oh Caroline
A repeated reference to the person named Caroline
Sometimes I wonder (Caroline)
Sometimes I wonder about you and your life
Sometimes I, sometimes I wonder (Caroline)
I often wonder about you and your life
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Johnette Lin Napolitano
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Vitor Rodrigues
Lyrics
Well, I hear you're driving someone else's car now
She said you came and took your stuff away
All the poetry and the trunk you kept your life in
I knew that it would come to that someday
Like a sad hallucination
When I opened up my eyes
The train had passed the station
And you were trapped inside
Yet I never wonder where you went
I only wonder why, I wonder why
Oh Caroline
Oh Caroline
Oh, oh Caroline
Whoa, whoa, whoa Caroline
Like a memory in motion
You were only passing through
That is all you've ever known of life, that's all you'll ever do
There's a dream I have where I sail away
Looking back I wave at you, and I wave goodbye
Oh Caroline
Oh Caroline
Oh Caroline
Oh (Caroline)
In another life I see you as an angel flying high
And the hands of time will free you
You will cast your chains aside
And the dawn will come and kiss away
Every tear that's ever fallen from your eyes
Behind those eyes I wonder
Oh Caroline oh oh oh
(Caroline, Caroline)
Oh Caroline
Sometimes I wonder (Caroline)
Oh Caroline
Sometimes I, sometimes I wonder (Caroline)
(Caroline) oh Caroline
Panhandle VooDoo Child
Never will understand why this band didnโt get more attention!!! Some of best riffs and vocals Iโve heard in my 50 years!!!
Emmanuel C.
entiรจrement d' accord.
Daniel McGregor
Had the same thought. It's almost angelicly hypnotizing.
Markus Antonio
Iโm so glad this has 16,000 thumbs up. Thatโs great to see. These guys deserve the recognition.
Sean
You must have listened to rap too much
Eric Walter
Agreed!
Michael Biggins
One could say Concrete Blonde never "made it"; but to sensitive, passionate souls they are a gift from the heavens and we will be forever grateful for their music and lyrics which evoked the ineffable .......
S B
Yes
Mark Gurrier
Yes. I saw Concrete Blonde play in New Haven, in the 80's. Then, saw her with Pretty and Twisted. Years later, after moving to Tucson, got to see her do a live acoustic solo set. Small venue. Maybe 20-30 people there. All types, all ages, Goth, collegiate, old, young. To your point, the appeal is to a certain kind of person, who cannot be labeled. But, maybe sensitive is the right term. Yes. We are/were lucky to have "discovered" Concrete Blonde.
James Musisca
yes 100%