Volcano
Don Henley Lyrics

Now I don't know
The singer is uncertain and feels overwhelmed

I don't know
The singer is reiterating their uncertainty

I don't know where I'm a gonna go
The singer is unsure about the future and what will happen amidst chaos

When the volcano blow
The moment when everything becomes uncertain and unpredictable

Ground she's movin' under me
The earth is shifting below the artist's feet, signifying change and instability

Tidal waves out on the sea
The singer acknowledges the scale of the disaster that is coming

Sulfur smoke up in the sky
The atmosphere is filled with harmful gases

Pretty soon we learn to fly
The artist is figuratively expressing the need to be quick to adapt and overcome

Now my girl quickly say to me
The artist is receiving a warning or advice from someone close to them

Mon you better watch your feet
The artist's loved one is warning them to be careful and mindful

Lava come down soft and hot
The danger is not immediately visible, but is incredibly dangerous

You better lava me now or lava me not
A playful reference to the danger, and a call to action to live and love fully before it's too late

No time to count what I'm worth
The singer is acknowledging that material possessions have no value in the face of disaster

'Cause I just left the planet earth
The singer is figuratively expressing that they have lost their place in the world as they knew it

Where I go I hope there's rum
The singer is finding humor in a desperate situation and seeking comfort in small things

Not to worry soon come
The artist is reassuring themselves that everything will be okay, even if it doesn't seem like it at the moment

Don't want to land in New York City
The artist is expressing that they don't want to go back to the same old life, even if it seems safer

Don't want to land in Mexico (no no no)
The singer is rejecting any familiar place, since it has now become a symbol of danger

Don't want to land on no Three Mile Island
The singer is referencing the nuclear disaster at Three Mile Island and expressing fear of a similar disaster

Don't want to see my skin aglow (no no no)
The artist wants to avoid anything that could harm them or expose them to radiation

Don't want to land in Commanche Sky Park
The artist is rejecting a specific location, but it's unclear why

Or in Nashville, Tennessee (no no no)
The artist is rejecting any place, even if it doesn't have a specific danger associated with it

Don't want to land in no San Juan airport
The singer wants to avoid flying, even if it seemingly gets them to safety

Or the Yukon Territory (no no no)
The artist is rejecting any place, even if it's remote and seemingly safe

Don't want to land no San Diego
The singer is rejecting another specific location or place

Don't want to land in no Buzzards Bay (no no no)
The singer doesn't want to land anywhere dangerous, even if it's not immediately obvious

Don't want to land on no Ayatollah
The singer is rejecting anything associated with the Ayatollah, Iran's leader at the time of the song's release

I got nothing more to say
The artist has expressed everything they need to and has nothing else to add

Just a one more, I don't know (he don't know)
The artist continues to be uncertain and overwhelmed

I don't know (I don't know, man)
The singer is admitting that they don't have the answers

I don't know where I'm a gonna go
The singer is still uncertain about the future

When the volcano blow
The moment when everything becomes uncertain once again