3-5 Of A Mile In Ten Seconds
Jefferson & Airplane Lyrics


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Do away with people blowin' my mind
Do away with people wastin' my precious time
Take me to a simple place
Where I can easily see my face
Maybe baby, I'll see that you were kind
Know I love you baby, yes I do
Know I love you baby, yes I do
Do away with people laughin' at my hair
Do away with people frownin' on my precious cares
Take me to a circus tent
Where I can easily pay my rent
And all the other freaks will share my cares
Know I love you baby, yes I do
Know I love you baby, yes I do

Do away with things that come on obscene
Like hot rods, pre-cleaned real fine nicotine
Sometimes the price is sixty-five dollars
Prices like that make a grown man holler
'Specially when it's sold by a kid who's only fifteen




Know I love you baby, yes I do
Know I love you baby, yes I do

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jefferson & Airplane's song 3-5 Of A Mile In Ten Seconds express a desire to escape the complexities and superficialities of society. The singer wants to get away from people who occupy an excessive amount of time and space in his life, whether they are negative or just unnecessary. He wants to find a simple place where he can easily see his own face, implying a need for self-reflection and introspection. The singer longs to be surrounded by people who share his "freaks," suggesting a desire for a community that will support and understand his quirks and idiosyncrasies.


The song advocates for a rejection of materialism and conformity, with references to hot rods, pre-cleaned items, and exorbitant prices that only make "a grown man holler." The circus tent serves as a metaphor for an inclusive space that welcomes all kinds of people, including those who might be considered "freaks" by mainstream society. The singer's declaration of love in the chorus emphasizes the importance of interpersonal connections that are based on kindness, understanding, and acceptance of one another's differences.


Overall, 3-5 Of A Mile In Ten Seconds can be interpreted as a call for a return to simplicity, authenticity, and community in the face of societal pressures to conform and prioritize material possessions.


Line by Line Meaning

Do away with people blowin' my mind
I want to eliminate people who confuse me


Do away with people wastin' my precious time
I want to get rid of people who waste my valuable time


Take me to a simple place
I want to go to a peaceful location


Where I can easily see my face
A location where I can reflect on my own identity


Maybe baby, I'll see that you were kind
Perhaps I will realize that you were a nice person after all


Know I love you baby, yes I do
I am deeply and truly in love with you


Do away with people laughin' at my hair
I want to avoid people who make fun of my hairstyle


Do away with people frownin' on my precious cares
I don't want people to judge my important issues


Take me to a circus tent
I want to visit an unconventional place


Where I can easily pay my rent
A place where I can afford to live


And all the other freaks will share my cares
I will be surrounded by fellow misunderstood individuals


Do away with things that come on obscene
I want to avoid offensive or inappropriate items


Like hot rods, pre-cleaned real fine nicotine
For example, overpriced cars or tobacco products


Sometimes the price is 65 dollars
These items can be extremely expensive


Prices like that make a grown man holler
The cost can be frustrating and overwhelming


'Specially when it's sold by a kid who's only 15
It's especially concerning when such expensive items are sold by minors




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MARTY BALIN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

@kimxkarma

LYRICS

Do away with people blowing my mind
Do away with people wasting my precious time
Take me to a simple place
Where I can easily see my face
Baby, baby I can see that you're fine
Know I love you baby, yes I do
Know I love you baby, yes I do

Do away with people laughing at my hair
Do away with people climbing on my precious prayers
Take me to a circus tent
Where I can easily pay my rent
And all the other freaks can share my cares
Know I love you baby, yes I do
Know I love you baby, yes I do

Do away with things that come on obscene
Like hot rods real clean real fine nicotine
Sometimes the price is 65 dollars
Prices like that make a grown man holler
'Specially when it's sold by a kid that's only 15
Know I love you baby, yes I do
Know I love you baby, yes I do

✌🏾



All comments from YouTube:

@golden.lights.twinkle2329

Great band! Saw them live at the Roundhouse, Chalk Farm, London in 1967. The Doors also appeared.

@metrostationrocks

one of the best albums from the 60's. they are one of the best bands in the world.

@michaelericks200

poetperson I agree

@aJordansmith007

Grace Slick is the voice for me. I love Jefferson Airplane and always will!!!!

@RonaldVaughan

You ought to have heard those wild LEVI'S commercials.....

@Methilde

I prefer when she is singing alone, White Rabbit, Martha, Lather....

@andreaforbes7094

I love Marty Balin's voice. And when he and Grace Slick sing together.

@seanoneil277

@@andreaforbes7094 Marty Balin's voice had a very unique smoothness, and great pitch. Young Grace Slick was pretty impressive, but usually it's Marty's vocals that make a whole JA album knit together for me. Luckily for all of us, both of them sang in the same band!

I heard this album for the first time when I was in college in the 80s and it was one of my favorite albums to listen to for at least the next 10 years. Some of the songs I'd heard on the radio growing up, but not the whole album. Friends had older siblings who had this album, but I never heard it played.

I also love the wiry sound of Jorma Kaukonen's guitar in the first few JA albums.

@eoj2495

Every track on this album is fantastic. My old mono copy I got in 1967 long gone

@danielkincaid5783

RIP Marty Balin.

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