abilene
Dave Alvin and the Guilty Ones Lyrics
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Leavin' the great Northwest
Takin' her tonight
Back down south to Texas
She's been dancing' on tables
To pay rent and be able
To just get by and maybe stay clean.
Abilene, Abilene.
Well her daddy'd get drunk
Then he'd hit her hard
And her mama'd lie in bed
High on pills and talkin' to God
But like her beautiful tattoos
These old memories she can't lose
Since she ran away at fifteen.
Abilene, Abilene
There's a town ahead that you've never seen
Maybe it's better if you get off there and try to
Forget everything
Abilene.
Starin' out the window
At the long cold night
Ahead on the horizon
Is another string of bright lights
She's dreamin' of a man she's goin' to meet
In a bar on an Austin street
Maybe this one won't be so mean.
Abilene, Abilene
There's a town ahead that you've never seen
And maybe it's better if you get off there and try to
Forget everything
Abilene.
In a Texas bar there's a man sittin' alone
Thinkin' of a girl he swore he'd wait there for
But he's drinkin' beers and he's feelin' old
Rememberin' every lie he's told
'Til he changes his mind and he leaves.
Abilene, Abilene
There's a town ahead that you've never seen
Maybe it's better if you get off there and try to
Forget everything
Abilene, Abilene
Oh Abilene, Abilene.
The song "Out of Control" by Dave Alvin is a poignant commentary on the struggles of everyday life in America. The first verse talks about a drug deal in San Bernardino that the singer is involved in so he and "baby" can "get a little bump." The second verse is a reflection on the singer's father who worked as a steel worker at the now torn-down Fontana plant, and who smoked himself to an early grave. The third verse touches on the singer's ex-wife who works at a Sizzler making minimum wage and living with their children in a mobile home. The last verse is about the singer's own struggles as he talks about doing import and export to make ends meet, and his desire to escape reality by getting high in the mountains with his girlfriend.
The song's overall theme is that life can get out of control and people are just trying to survive. The singer is in a constant state of feeling like things are on the verge of spiraling out of control and is doing what he has to in order to keep going. The song's title provides a central metaphor for the struggles of everyday life.
Line by Line Meaning
I scored some speed in San Berdino
I purchased amphetamines in San Bernardino
So me and baby could get a little bump
So that my companion and I can stay up a little longer
And now she's in that motel room
And now my friend is in a motel room
Puttin on a show for some chump
Performing sexually for another person for pay
Yeah, well, baby?s gotta make a livin?
Well, my companion needs to make money
And I don't mind waitin out in the car
I willingly wait in the vehicle
?Cause I got some nine millimeter muscle
Because I possess some firepower
In case things go too far
To use as self-defense, if necessary
You know, I try to take it easy, man
I attempt to relax as best I can, buddy
And just go with the flow
And just let things happen as they will
But sometimes things can get a little bit
But occasionally things may become somewhat
Out of control
Out of hand
Well, my old man worked his whole life
My father worked his entire lifetime
In the Kaiser steel slag pit
In the slag heap at the Kaiser Steelworks
And I worked there for a while back when I was a kid
And I worked there for a period of time during my youth
But I got tired of all their shit
But I grew weary of their nonsense
But that was years ago, man
But that was many years ago, pal
Before they tore that Fontana plant down
Before the Fontana plant was demolished
And my old man smoked himself
And my father smoked so much
Into a six-foot hole in the ground
That it killed him and buried him in a grave six feet deep
And I got the same bad habit
And I also acquired that same addiction
And it'll probably take its toll
And it will likely have a significant impact
But sometimes it?s the only thing that keeps me
But sometimes it's the only thing that prevents me
From goin? out of control
From losing control
Well, my ex-wife?s workin? evenings
My ex-spouse is working late
At a Sizzler makin? minimum wage
At a Sizzler restaurant for very low pay
And she's cleanin? up other people?s houses
And she's performing cleaning duties at other people's residences
Every day just like some slave
Every day, similar to a slave
And she's livin? with the kids in a mobile home
And she's residing in a mobile home with the children
Just off the 60 freeway
Just off the Route 60 freeway
Some nights I go to see her
I visit her on some evenings
And sometimes she lets me stay
And occasionally she permits me to remain
Since she found Jesus
Since she discovered Jesus
She's always tryin? to save my soul
She's always trying to rescue my soul
Yeah, but every now and then she still likes to get
But every now and then, she still likes to become
A little out of control
A little wild
I used to work a little construction
I was once employed in the construction industry
But I never got along with my boss
But I never had a good relationship with my supervisor
So I do a little import-export
So I engage in trading goods across borders
Makin? enough just to cover my costs
Earning just enough to break even financially
And I'm losin' my hair and I'm losin' my teeth
And I'm losing my hair and teeth
But I'm tryin' to keep my grip
But I'm attempting to maintain my composure
And live to see one more day
And live to witness another day
Without makin' any stupid slips
Without making any foolish mistakes
You know I could have played the game, man
I could have followed the rules, friend
And just done what I was told
And just obeyed orders
But I guess I was born just a little bit
But I suppose I was born to be
Out of control
Reckless
Baby gets done in there, I'm gonna
Once my companion is finished in there, I'm going to
Take her for a little ride
Take her for a short journey
Cruise up into the mountains
Drive up into the mountains
Park the car and get a little high
Park the vehicle and consume some drugs
?Cause baby likes to look at the shootin? stars
Because my companion enjoys viewing the shooting stars
And make wishes as they fly by
And make wishes as they speed past
And I like lookin' down at the city
And I enjoy looking down at the city
From way up there in the sky
From the high vantage point
Then I pull baby close to me
Then I pull my companion near to me
When it starts gettin' cold
When the temperature begins to decline
Close my eyes for a little while and let the world
Rest my eyes briefly and allow the world
Spin out of control
To become wildly chaotic
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DAVE ALVIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind