5-4 Vocal
Pavement Lyrics


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It's the shouting, it's the shouting
it's the Dutchman, it's the Dutchman shout
get it away, I don't need your shaft

It's the shouting, it's the shouting
It's the shouting, it's the Dutchman shout
give it away, I don't need your shaft
(yes I do)

It's the shouting, it's the shouting




it's the shouting, it's the Dutchman shout
get it away, I don't need your shaft

Overall Meaning

The lyrical content of "5-4 Vocal" by Pavement is difficult to discern, as the lyrics consist only of a few repeated lines that don't seem to make much sense on their own. However, there are a few different interpretations that might shed some light on what the song is trying to say.


One possible interpretation is that the song is about power dynamics and control. The repeated lines of "It's the shouting, it's the shouting/It's the Dutchman, it's the Dutchman shout/Get it away, I don't need your shaft" suggest a struggle between two people, with one person (the Dutchman) exerting their power and the other person attempting to push them away. The reference to a "shaft" could be interpreted as a phallic symbol, suggesting that this is a struggle over masculinity and dominance.


Another possible interpretation is that the song is about the frustration of communication breakdowns. The repeated lines of "It's the shouting, it's the shouting/It's the shouting, it's the Dutchman shout/Give it away, I don't need your shaft" could be seen as an expression of exasperation at someone who is not listening or understanding. The repetition of the same lines over and over again could be a reflection of how frustrating it can be to try to communicate with someone who isn't paying attention.


Overall, the meaning of "5-4 Vocal" is open to interpretation, but the repeated lines suggest a struggle between two people, whether that struggle is over power or communication.


Line by Line Meaning

It's the shouting, it's the shouting
The loud and aggressive nature of someone or something is causing a disturbance


It's the Dutchman, it's the Dutchman shout
This disturbance is coming specifically from a Dutchman, or someone/something associated with Dutch culture


get it away, I don't need your shaft
I want this source of disturbance to be removed and I don't want any involvement with it


It's the shouting, it's the shouting
The same issue of loudness and aggression continues


It's the shouting, it's the Dutchman shout
The problem is still being caused by this same Dutch-associated source


give it away, I don't need your shaft
Despite claiming not to need it, there is a desire to possess the source of disturbance


(yes I do)
This desire for the source of disturbance is confirmed


It's the shouting, it's the shouting
The problem persists with the same characteristics


it's the shouting, it's the Dutchman shout
The source of disturbance remains the same


get it away, I don't need your shaft
Despite the desire to possess it, there is still a wish for the source of disturbance to be removed




Contributed by Savannah S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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