Cartwheel
Lucy Dacus Lyrics
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Firefly juice on your skin
You're glowing like an atom bomb
This natural thing that you've undone
Outgrew older sister's clothes again
Won't admit you're growing tall and thin
You like your body pulling at the seams
You're not prepared for what the future brings
Curse words and empty cups
Cracked blacktop curling up
Heatwave by midday
Heat lightning on a summer night
And I remember when you used to call
Holed up in the closet in the hall
Scared you wouldn't live to 45
The same age as your father when he died
You'd say, "We need to talk
Sneak out, meet me on your block"
I'd sit by you, silent on the curb
What to say when there is not a word?
Spell broke at daybreak
Light another candle on the cake
Cartwheel and a broken wrist
Skin scarred and sun-kissed
When you told me 'bout your first time
A soccer player at the senior high
I felt my body crumple to the floor
Betrayal like I'd never felt before
I thought back to many years ago
A late night promise on the telephone
We'd build a house of twigs and vines
Grow old together just to pass the time
Now there's only past and present day
I can't believe a word you say
The future isn't worth its weight in gold
The future is a benevolent black hole
In "Cartwheel," Lucy Dacus describes a moment in time where she reflects on the past and present with a close friend. The song takes on a nostalgic tone as she remembers how they grew up together, but now they seem to be growing apart. Dacus begins the song with beautiful imagery, comparing her friend to a firefly with glowing skin. Yet, despite her radiance, her friend is struggling with growing up. While the friend is outgrowing her older sister's clothes, she does not want to admit that she is growing tall and thin. Dacus then touches on her friend's fascination with their changing body, as she likes the feeling of her body "pulling at the seams." However, she is also afraid of what the future holds.
The song's chorus features Dacus reminiscing about how she and her friend used to hang out, using curse words and drinking from empty cups. They would sit on the curb and talk about the future, which they were both scared of. Dacus also recalls a time when her friend called her in the middle of the night, afraid that she would die at the same age as her father. They would sit in silence, not knowing what to say to each other. Dacus then brings up a moment of betrayal, where her friend tells her about her first time with a senior high soccer player, leaving her feeling hurt and disappointed. The song ends with Dacus acknowledging that the future may not be as hopeful as they once thought and that the present is more important than ever.
Line by Line Meaning
Here and there and gone again
You move through life in a cyclical manner, constantly changing your surroundings.
Firefly juice on your skin
You have a childlike innocence and glow about you.
You're glowing like an atom bomb
You have a powerful presence and energy that can be both beautiful and destructive.
This natural thing that you've undone
Your innate qualities are a force to be reckoned with and cannot be hidden or denied.
Outgrew older sister's clothes again
You are growing and changing physically and emotionally, leaving behind your past self.
Won't admit you're growing tall and thin
You are in denial about your growth and change, struggling with your body image and identity.
You like your body pulling at the seams
You embrace the discomfort and challenge that comes with growth and change, finding beauty in the process.
You're not prepared for what the future brings
You are afraid of the unknown and uncertain future, feeling unprepared for what may come.
Curse words and empty cups
You are surrounded by negativity and emptiness, struggling to find positivity and fulfillment.
Cracked blacktop curling up
You witness decay and deterioration, a reminder of the inevitable end to all things.
Heatwave by midday
You experience extreme conditions, a metaphor for the intensity of life.
Heat lightning on a summer night
You witness beauty and power in nature's displays, a reminder of the complexity of existence.
And I remember when you used to call
You reflect on the past and the nostalgia of a lost connection.
Holed up in the closet in the hall
You feel trapped and confined, seeking escape and freedom.
Scared you wouldn't live to 45
You fear mortality and the brevity of life, a common anxiety for many people.
The same age as your father when he died
Your fear is grounded in personal experience, a reminder of life's fragility.
You'd say, "We need to talk
You desire communication and honesty, a need for connection and understanding.
Sneak out, meet me on your block"
You crave adventure and spontaneity, a desire to break free from the mundane.
I'd sit by you, silent on the curb
You feel a sense of comfort and peace in each other's presence, an unspoken connection.
What to say when there is not a word?
You struggle to articulate your thoughts and feelings, seeking comfort in silence.
Spell broke at daybreak
You experience sudden change and awareness, a shift in your perspective and understanding.
Light another candle on the cake
You celebrate life and the passage of time, cherishing the moments as they come.
Cartwheel and a broken wrist
You take risks and embrace the unknown, even if it may lead to pain and hardship.
Skin scarred and sun-kissed
You have experienced both pain and beauty, a testament to the complexity and richness of life.
When you told me 'bout your first time
You share intimate details about your life, seeking connection and understanding with another person.
A soccer player at the senior high
You recall specific details about your past, a reminder of the importance of memory.
I felt my body crumple to the floor
You experience deep emotional pain and betrayal, feeling physically affected by the intensity of your emotions.
Betrayal like I'd never felt before
You feel a profound sense of loss and hurt, realizing the depth of your connection and trust with another person.
I thought back to many years ago
You reflect on the past and seek to understand the events that led to this moment of internal turmoil.
A late night promise on the telephone
You recall a moment of connection and intimacy, a reminder of the power of shared experience.
We'd build a house of twigs and vines
You dream of a life of simplicity and beauty, a return to nature and the natural world.
Grow old together just to pass the time
You desire companionship and connection, seeking comfort in the shared experience of aging and growing old together.
Now there's only past and present day
You feel stuck in time, unable to move forward from your hurt and pain.
I can't believe a word you say
You feel deep distrust and betrayal, unable to trust another person with your emotions and heart.
The future isn't worth its weight in gold
You feel deeply pessimistic about the future, seeing only darkness and despair ahead.
The future is a benevolent black hole
You feel the future is a mystery and unknown, but hold onto the hope that something good may emerge from it.
Lyrics Ā© WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Lucy Dacus
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Maria Sori
Lyrics:
Here and there and gone again
Firefly juice on your skin
You're glowing like an atom bomb
This natural thing that you've undone
Outgrew older sister's clothes again
Won't admit you're growing tall and thin
You like your body pulling at the seams
You're not prepared for what the future brings
Curse words and empty cups
Cracked blacktop curling up
Heatwave by midday
Heat lightning on a summer night
And I remember when you used to call
Holed up in the closet in the hall
Scared you wouldn't live to 45
The same age as your father when he died
You'd say, "We need to talk
Sneak out, meet me on your block"
I'd sit by you, silent on the curb
What to say when there is not a word?
Spell broke at daybreak
Light another candle on the cake
Cartwheel and a broken wrist
Skin scarred and sun-kissed
When you told me 'bout your first time
A soccer player at the senior high
I felt my body crumple to the floor
Betrayal like I'd never felt before
I thought back to many years ago
A late night promise on the telephone
We'd build a house of twigs and vines
Grow old together just to pass the time
Now there's only past and present day
I can't believe a word you say
The future isn't worth its weight in gold
The future is a benevolent black hole
a
Here and there and gone again
Firefly juice on your skin
You're glowing like an atom bomb
This natural thing that you've undone
Outgrew older sister's clothes again
Won't admit you're growing tall and thin
You like your body pulling at the seams
You're not prepared for what the future brings
Curse words and empty cups
Cracked blacktop curling up
Heatwave by midday
Heat lightning on a summer night
And I remember when you used to call
Holed up in the closet in the hall
Scared you wouldn't live to 45
The same age as your father when he died
You'd say, "We need to talk
Sneak out, meet me on your block"
I'd sit by you, silent on the curb
What to say when there is not a word?
Spell broke at daybreak
Light another candle on the cake
Cartwheel and a broken wrist
Skin scarred and sun-kissed
When you told me 'bout your first time
A soccer player at the senior high
I felt my body crumple to the floor-
Betrayal like I'd never felt before
I thought back to many years ago
A late night promise on the telephone
We'd build a house of twigs and vines
Grow old together just to pass the time
Now there's only past and present day
I can't believe a word you say
The future isn't worth its weight in gold
The future is a benevolent black hole
Laura Joyce Morales
Here and there and gone again
Firefly juice on your skin
You're glowing like an atom bomb
This natural thing that you've undone
Outgrew older sister's clothes again
Won't admit you're growing tall and thin
You like your body pulling at the seams
You're not prepared for what the future brings
Curse words and empty cups, cracked blacktop curling up
Heatwave by midday, heat lightning on a summer night
And I remember when you used to call
Holed up in the closet in the hall
Scared you wouldn't live to 45
The same age as your father when he died
You'd say, "We need to talk
Sneak out, meet me on your block"
I'd sit by you, silent on the curb
What to say when there is not a word?
Spell broke at daybreak
Light another candle on the cake
Cartwheel and a broken wrist
Skin scarred and sun-kissed
When you told me 'bout your first time
A soccer player at the senior high
I felt my body crumple to the floor
Betrayal like I'd never felt before
I thought back to many years ago
A late night promise on the telephone
We'd build a house of twigs and vines
Grow old together just to pass the time
Now there's only past and present day
I can't believe a word you say
The future isn't worth its weight in gold
The future is a benevolent black hole
Shark Park
I think we all can agree that we all liked this one.
Maria Sori
Lyrics:
Here and there and gone again
Firefly juice on your skin
You're glowing like an atom bomb
This natural thing that you've undone
Outgrew older sister's clothes again
Won't admit you're growing tall and thin
You like your body pulling at the seams
You're not prepared for what the future brings
Curse words and empty cups
Cracked blacktop curling up
Heatwave by midday
Heat lightning on a summer night
And I remember when you used to call
Holed up in the closet in the hall
Scared you wouldn't live to 45
The same age as your father when he died
You'd say, "We need to talk
Sneak out, meet me on your block"
I'd sit by you, silent on the curb
What to say when there is not a word?
Spell broke at daybreak
Light another candle on the cake
Cartwheel and a broken wrist
Skin scarred and sun-kissed
When you told me 'bout your first time
A soccer player at the senior high
I felt my body crumple to the floor
Betrayal like I'd never felt before
I thought back to many years ago
A late night promise on the telephone
We'd build a house of twigs and vines
Grow old together just to pass the time
Now there's only past and present day
I can't believe a word you say
The future isn't worth its weight in gold
The future is a benevolent black hole
Ponce
This is officially my country's national anthem, thanks Lucy šš
kendall nicole
this song is heart-wrenchingly beautiful. i now understand why phoebe was crying.
kril
i love how it feels like you're getting lost in a black hole at the end
Sydney Daum
this is such a great song!!!!!
irene
i literally need cpr after listening to this part: 1:34
a
Here and there and gone again
Firefly juice on your skin
You're glowing like an atom bomb
This natural thing that you've undone
Outgrew older sister's clothes again
Won't admit you're growing tall and thin
You like your body pulling at the seams
You're not prepared for what the future brings
Curse words and empty cups
Cracked blacktop curling up
Heatwave by midday
Heat lightning on a summer night
And I remember when you used to call
Holed up in the closet in the hall
Scared you wouldn't live to 45
The same age as your father when he died
You'd say, "We need to talk
Sneak out, meet me on your block"
I'd sit by you, silent on the curb
What to say when there is not a word?
Spell broke at daybreak
Light another candle on the cake
Cartwheel and a broken wrist
Skin scarred and sun-kissed
When you told me 'bout your first time
A soccer player at the senior high
I felt my body crumple to the floor-
Betrayal like I'd never felt before
I thought back to many years ago
A late night promise on the telephone
We'd build a house of twigs and vines
Grow old together just to pass the time
Now there's only past and present day
I can't believe a word you say
The future isn't worth its weight in gold
The future is a benevolent black hole
Laura Joyce Morales
Here and there and gone again
Firefly juice on your skin
You're glowing like an atom bomb
This natural thing that you've undone
Outgrew older sister's clothes again
Won't admit you're growing tall and thin
You like your body pulling at the seams
You're not prepared for what the future brings
Curse words and empty cups, cracked blacktop curling up
Heatwave by midday, heat lightning on a summer night
And I remember when you used to call
Holed up in the closet in the hall
Scared you wouldn't live to 45
The same age as your father when he died
You'd say, "We need to talk
Sneak out, meet me on your block"
I'd sit by you, silent on the curb
What to say when there is not a word?
Spell broke at daybreak
Light another candle on the cake
Cartwheel and a broken wrist
Skin scarred and sun-kissed
When you told me 'bout your first time
A soccer player at the senior high
I felt my body crumple to the floor
Betrayal like I'd never felt before
I thought back to many years ago
A late night promise on the telephone
We'd build a house of twigs and vines
Grow old together just to pass the time
Now there's only past and present day
I can't believe a word you say
The future isn't worth its weight in gold
The future is a benevolent black hole
WhiskeredRacer8
Pretty fire keep doin whatchu doing