Freeway
Kelsey Wild Lyrics
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The road to Orange County leaves an awful lot of leeway
Where everyone's a doctor or a specialist in retail
They'll sell you all the speed you want if you can take the blackmail
You know it
I know it
Why don't you
You got a lot of money, but you can't afford the freeway
You got a lot of money, but you can't afford the freeway
You got a lot of money, but you cannot get your bills paid
The sacrifice is worth it just to hang around the arcade
You found yourself a prophet, but you left him on the boardwalk
Another chocolate Easter bunny, hollowed out by your talk
You know it
I know it
Why don't you
Just show it?
You got a lot of money, but you can't afford the freeway
You got a lot of money, but you can't afford the freeway
Everything I do is wrong
But at least I'm hanging on
You got a lot of money, but you can't afford
You got a lot of money, but you can't afford
You got a lot of money, but you can't afford the freeway
Oh, you got a lot of money, but you can't afford the freeway
You got a lot of money, but you
Can't afford
You got a lot of money, but you
Can't afford
The lyrics to Kelsey Wild's song Freeway are a satirical commentary on the wealthy population's inability to find true fulfillment and escape the societal pressure to constantly accumulate more money and possessions. The first verse juxtaposes the idea of having a lot of money with the inability to afford the simplest things like the freeway. While this line may seem absurd, it speaks to the idea that the wealthy are constantly in pursuit of more, and even something as simple as a freeway can become a status symbol. The road to Orange County, a wealthy area in California, leaves an "awful lot of leeway" suggesting that even with all their money, they still don't really know where they are going or what they truly want in life. The line "they'll sell you all the speed you want if you can take the blackmail" refers to both the illegal drug trade and the idea that in order to maintain their status, the wealthy are susceptible to blackmail and corruption.
The second verse continues the commentary with the idea that even with all their money, the wealthy cannot get their bills paid. The sacrifice of real financial stability is worth it to them as long as they can continue to indulge in their vices like hanging around arcades. The line "you found yourself a prophet, but you left him on the boardwalk" suggests that even when they find something or someone who may offer true guidance or fulfillment, they are too easily distracted by their shallow pursuits to truly commit. The final lines of the song have a sense of resignation and resignation to the idea that everything the singer does is wrong, but at least they are "hanging on."
Line by Line Meaning
You got a lot of money, but you can't afford the freeway
Despite your wealth, you cannot afford the toll road to Orange County, which has plenty of space for wealthy people like you.
The road to Orange County leaves an awful lot of leeway
The freeway to Orange County offers free space for the wealthy to drive, without traffic, unlike regular roads.
Where everyone's a doctor or a specialist in retail
Most of the people in Orange County are either doctors or specialized retailers catering to the affluent.
They'll sell you all the speed you want if you can take the blackmail
Businesses in Orange County will offer you whatever luxury items you desire if you are willing to pay the high price and tolerate the possible extortion.
You know it
There is an understanding between the listener and the singer about the truth behind the subject matter.
I know it
The singer is aware of the listener's current situation.
Why don't you
The singer wonders why the listener hasn't acted upon their knowledge.
Just show it?
The singer suggests that the listener should prove their awareness by taking some sort of action.
You got a lot of money, but you cannot get your bills paid
Despite having wealth, you still struggle to pay your debts.
The sacrifice is worth it just to hang around the arcade
Even though you may be losing money, it is worth it to spend time at the arcade hanging out with friends.
You found yourself a prophet, but you left him on the boardwalk
You may have found someone who could have helped you, but you left them behind in pursuit of material possessions.
Another chocolate Easter bunny, hollowed out by your talk
You tend to overindulge and waste resources, leading to empty and meaningless results.
Everything I do is wrong
The singer feels like none of their actions are successful.
But at least I'm hanging on
Despite everything going wrong, the singer is still trying to persevere.
Contributed by Liam E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Jennifer Turek
Love her version