Jelle Paulusma is a Dutch musician, singer and songwriter who gained promin… Read Full Bio ↴Jelle Paulusma is a Dutch musician, singer and songwriter who gained prominence in the Dutch indie scene as the frontman of the band Daryll-Ann (1988-2004, reunion tour in 2014), with which he recorded six studio albums and toured internationally in the 1990s.

After the split of Daryll-Ann, Paulusma resurfaced with an experimental and rather dark solo album entitled Here We Are (2006).

The second Paulusma studio album, 2008's iRecord, was generally received by music critics as a pleasant surprise: a lush, more melodic, graciously arranged album with a distinct sixties/westcoast pop feel. Further Paulusma albums saw the light of day in 2011 (Up On The Roof, on PIAS), 2014 (Pulling Weeds, on Excelsior Recordings) and early 2019 (Somehow Anyhow, also on Excelsior).

Back Of Your Car
PAULUSMA Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You know I nearly stayed home tonight,
I've been burning the candle both ends.
I've been a-trailing my paws in the sticky dark ponds
of some special old friends,
water and wine,
casting my line
back, forth,
out there again.

And so I scraped on my face
with some hair of the dog from the night before,
And I'm amazed at the grace of the barman,
the poise of his steady free pour,
vodka and gin,
that's when my rovin' eye
bumps into yours.

I'm gonna write down my number
on the back of your hand,
and in the morning you'll remember
just how lovely I am!
You've got a face like a story,
and a smile I could steal
and pretend that I've borrowed,
so come on and call me
tomorrow

So I've been biding my time in this booth
by the ever-revolving back door
I've seen a lot of fishes jump here
to know something good when it slithers on shore,
lemon and lime,
barman calls time
so I'm heading for home.

I'm gonna write down my number
on the back of your hand
and in the morning you'll remember
just how lovely I am!
You've got a face like a story,
and a smile I could steal
and pretend that I've borrowed,
so come on and call me
tomorrow

The good ones get away so easy
The bad ones tug the line to tease me
So come on, make it hard for me to run

I'm gonna write down my number
on the back of your hand
and in the morning I'll remember
just how lucky I am!
You've got a face like a story,
and a smile I could steal

and pretend that I've borrowed,
so come on and call me tomorrow.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of PAULUSMA's song "Back Of Your Car" depict a night filled with uncertainty and anticipation. The singer contemplates staying at home but decides to venture out into the night, living life to the fullest. They have been burning the candle at both ends, indulging in the pleasures of life and spending time with old friends who may not necessarily be the best influences. The reference to "trailing my paws in the sticky dark ponds" suggests a sense of getting caught up in less than desirable situations.

As the night progresses, the singer finds themselves at a bar, seeking solace in the company of strangers. They partake in alcoholic beverages, using them as a means to cope with the challenges of the night. The encounter with the barman stands out to them, admiring their graceful pour and the atmosphere created by their presence. At that moment, their eyes meet someone else's, igniting a sense of connection and attraction.

The singer's confidence rises, and they decide to take a chance by writing their number on the back of the other person's hand. It is an act of vulnerability, hoping that the individual will remember them the next morning and recognize their worth. The singer is captivated by the other person's enigmatic face and stolen smile, often connecting the idea of borrowing and borrowing emotions. They eagerly await a call the following day, hoping that this encounter leads to something more meaningful.

Overall, "Back Of Your Car" tells a story of seeking connection and craving recognition amidst a night of indulgence and uncertainty. It explores the fleeting nature of encounters and the desire to find something genuine amidst temporary pleasures.

Line by Line Meaning

You know I nearly stayed home tonight
I almost chose to stay home tonight

I've been burning the candle both ends
I have been exhausting myself from overworking

I've been a-trailing my paws in the sticky dark ponds of some special old friends
I've been indulging in unhealthy or questionable activities with familiar people

Water and wine, casting my line back, forth, out there again
Engaging in drinking and seeking attention or affection from others

And so I scraped on my face with some hair of the dog from the night before
I used alcohol as a remedy to alleviate my hangover

And I'm amazed at the grace of the barman, the poise of his steady free pour
I find the bartender's skills and fluidity in pouring drinks impressive

Vodka and gin, that's when my rovin' eye bumps into yours
After consuming vodka and gin, I notice and make eye contact with you

I'm gonna write down my number on the back of your hand, and in the morning you'll remember just how lovely I am!
I will leave my contact information on your hand, and when you wake up, you'll recall how charming I am

You've got a face like a story, and a smile I could steal and pretend that I've borrowed, so come on and call me tomorrow
Your face tells a captivating story, and your enchanting smile makes me want to imitate its joy. So please, call me tomorrow

So I've been biding my time in this booth by the ever-revolving back door
I've been patiently waiting in this booth near the constantly moving back entrance

I've seen a lot of fishes jump here to know something good when it slithers on shore
I have witnessed many opportunistic individuals taking advantage of the situation when something favorable presents itself

Lemon and lime, barman calls time so I'm heading for home
After having a drink with lemon and lime, the bartender signals the end of business, and I'm leaving for home

The good ones get away so easy
The desirable individuals often escape easily

The bad ones tug the line to tease me
The problematic individuals intentionally play with my emotions to provoke me

So come on, make it hard for me to run
Challenge me to not give up easily

I'm gonna write down my number on the back of your hand, and in the morning I'll remember just how lucky I am!
I will leave my contact information on your hand, and when I wake up, I'll realize how fortunate I am

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: HippolytaCMPaulusm

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS