Jill Sobule (born January 16, 1965 in Denver, Colorado) is an American sing… Read Full Bio ↴Jill Sobule (born January 16, 1965 in Denver, Colorado) is an American singer-songwriter best known for the then-controversial song, I Kissed a Girl (not to be confused with the 2008 Katy Perry hit song of the same name) and for Supermodel from the soundtrack of the hit 1995 film Clueless. In 1990, she released her debut album Things Here Are Different. Over the next sixteen years, she would go on to record five more records, three EPs and a greatest hits compilation. Though her albums are often critically acclaimed, Sobule remains more of an underground artist, playing for fans across the United States in smaller, more personal settings.

In many of her songs, she incorporates humor into a narrative, some tracks ultimately becoming catchy anecdotes. Generally, her songs are unconventionally folk-like, using horn arrangements not found in tracks recorded by mainstream artists. Sobule also uses both satire and experience to sing about sexuality, depression, war, abandonment, and creed.

I Saw a Cop
Jill Sobule Lyrics

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Well I saw a cop and she pulled me over
Well I saw a cop and she pulled me over
She asked for my ID and proof of ownership
She had on dark aviators
She had on dark aviators
Her pants were tucked inside her leather boots

I was goin' really fast

Shoulda known it couldn't last
Shoulda known when everyone slowed down

Well I saw a cop and she pulled me over
Well I saw a cop and she pulled me over
That's the reason I'm not here with you

She shot me with a radar gun
She shot me with a radar gun
And you know I'll never be the same
She shot me with a radar gun
She looked like Angie Dickinson
Except her hair was black and in a braid

Well I was goin' awful fast
Underneath the overpass
I was tryin' to play the whole thing through

Well I saw a cop and she pulled me over
Well I saw a cop and she pulled me over
Now I think I'm really over you

Well I was goin' awful fast
Underneath the overpass
I was tryin' to play the whole thing through

Well I saw a cop and she pulled me over
Well I saw a cop and she pulled me over
Now I think I'm really over you

Yeah, now I think I'm really over you

Oh, now I think I'm really over you

Think about it. (spoken)

Overall Meaning

In Jill Sobule's song "I Saw a Cop," the singer expresses regret over a past relationship, which is symbolized by the encounter between her and a cop who pulls her over for speeding. The lyrics reveal the singer's vulnerability and sense of loss as she sings about how the encounter with the cop brought back memories of a love affair that ended badly.

The cop, with her dark aviators, pants tucked in leather boots, and hair in a braid, symbolizes a figure of authority, who enforces rules and regulations, just like her former lover who had imposed a sense of order on their relationship. The singer acknowledges that she was going too fast, much like how their relationship had progressed too quickly. And just as the cop decides to end the interaction by issuing a speeding ticket, the singer accepts that her love affair was a mistake and is now over.

Line by Line Meaning

Well I saw a cop and she pulled me over
The singer is describing her encounter with a cop who pulled her over.

She asked for my ID and proof of ownership
The cop asked the singer for her identification and proof of owning the vehicle.

She had on dark aviators
The cop was wearing dark aviators.

Her pants were tucked inside her leather boots
The cop was dressed in a certain way that the singer noticed her pants were tucked inside her leather boots.

I was goin' really fast
The singer admits to the cop that she was going really fast.

Shoulda known it couldn't last
The singer acknowledges that her actions were not acceptable and a consequence was inevitable.

Shoulda known when everyone slowed down
The singer suggests that she should have noticed the other cars slowing down and adjusted her speed accordingly.

That's the reason I'm not here with you
The singer explains to someone that the reason she was pulled over by the cop was the reason she couldn't be with that person at the moment.

She shot me with a radar gun
The cop used a radar gun on the singer's vehicle to determine her speed.

And you know I'll never be the same
The singer exaggerates the impact of the situation, suggesting that it's something she'll never forget.

She looked like Angie Dickinson
The singer compares the cop's appearance to that of the actress Angie Dickinson.

Except her hair was black and in a braid
The singer notes a particular difference between the cop and Angie Dickinson - the cop's hair was black and in a braid.

Underneath the overpass
The singer describes where she was driving really fast.

I was tryin' to play the whole thing through
The singer admits that she was trying to anticipate the consequences of her actions.

Now I think I'm really over you
The singer suggests that the experience of being pulled over by a cop has helped her move on from a relationship she was struggling with.

Think about it. (spoken)
The last line is a spoken suggestion to the listener to consider what the song means.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: JILL SOBULE, ROBIN EATON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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