Advertising On Police Cars
Matthew Good Band Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Hey Mr. Chips
How's the wife?
And are the kids still poison?
Do you still eat them?

Been under the gun
Been running the gun
Say how'd this world get so fucking fun all of a sudden?
(All of a sudden)

Here's a quarter for the phone
Why don't you call someone and find out how it is we can all belong to something that no one wants any part of?
One day you'll wake up
And they'll be

Advertising on police cars
And your death will sell you out as someone smart
Somewhat smart
Baby, don't get out of bed

Just lay back down your pretty head
They're advertising on police cars
Police cars
Police cars

Hey, Mr. Chips
Had me a notion
Like a burning sky dropped to the ocean
A bitter pill

Is it better still
To lay undone your guts for show?
To reconstruct the song of your bones?
To turn it up?

When it calls to you will you wake up?
They're

Advertising on police cars
And your death will sell you out as someone smart
Somewhat smart
Baby, don't get out of bed

Just lay back down your pretty head
They're advertising on police cars




Police cars
Police cars

Overall Meaning

The song 'Advertising On Police Cars' by Matthew Good Band is an intriguing piece that offers commentary on the state of society and the constant bombardment of advertising. The chorus of the song is a warning of what could happen in the future, a dystopian future where death is advertised on police cars. The lyrics, "your death will sell you out as someone smart, somewhat smart," suggest that in this future, death is not just another inevitable part of life, but rather something that is glorified and marketed for profit.


The song's first verse is directed towards 'Mr. Chips,' who is asked about his family and if he still eats his kids. The line is a metaphor and represents the lack of care in today's society. The line "Been under the gun, Been running the gun," refers to the pressure and chaos of the modern world that we live in. The following line, "Say how'd this world get so fucking fun all of a sudden?" is open to interpretation, but could be a comment on the state of the world, and how despite its chaos, people continue to find ways to enjoy themselves.


The chorus is a warning about the future, where even a person's death is no longer sacred, but rather something that is marketed and sold for profit. The line "One day you'll wake up, and they'll be advertising on police cars," is a warning to the listener to be aware of the direction our society is heading.


Line by Line Meaning

Hey Mr. Chips
Addressing someone by name, maybe sarcastically or ironically.


How's the wife?
Asking about someone's spouse, maybe as a customary greeting.


And are the kids still poison?
Asking about someone's children, maybe in a joking or judgmental way.


Do you still eat them?
Making a disturbing and absurd comment, maybe as a provocation or to express disgust.


Been under the gun
Feeling pressured or threatened, maybe by a specific situation or person.


Been running the gun
Being active or aggressive, maybe in a confrontational or dangerous way.


Say how'd this world get so fucking fun all of a sudden?
Expressing surprise or irony about the current state of affairs, maybe with a cynical or sarcastic tone.


Here's a quarter for the phone
Offering some small amount of help, maybe with sarcasm or resentment.


Why don't you call someone and find out how it is we can all belong to something that no one wants any part of?
Asking a rhetorical question that challenges the status quo or the mainstream culture, maybe with a critical or rebellious attitude.


One day you'll wake up
Predicting a future awakening or realization, maybe with a sense of urgency or hopelessness.


And they'll be
Introducing a consequence or development that follows from the previous statement.


Advertising on police cars
Pointing out the irony or absurdity of commercializing law enforcement, maybe as a symptom of a dystopian society.


And your death will sell you out as someone smart
Suggesting that even one's death can be turned into a marketable product, maybe as a critique of consumerism and commodification.


Somewhat smart
Qualifying the previous statement, maybe as a way of acknowledging its ambiguity or irony.


Baby, don't get out of bed
Advising someone to stay passive or avoid reality, maybe as a form of escapism or nihilism.


Just lay back down your pretty head
Repeating the previous statement, maybe as a way of reinforcing its message or tone.


Police cars
Summing up the song's theme and title, maybe as a way of emphasizing its critique of authority and control.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MATTHEW GOOD

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions