Angel Carver Blues / Mellow Jazz Docent
Pavement Lyrics


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When they fall in
They fall in from the roof
They grab on to me tightly
As if I knew the way
When I fight for something
I fight because I care
When I fight with you
I fight but I don't care

Everybody wants the questions to be asked
The questions are the answers
To questions in themselves
Ask me if I really need it
Ask me if you want to get hit
Hit it





Ask me if you want to be...fucked.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Pavement's song Angel Carver Blues / Mellow Jazz Docent are cryptic and open to interpretation. The first verse sets the stage for a chaotic situation where people are falling from the roof and grabbing onto the singer for safety. The singer is lost and doesn't know the way but they feel responsible for these people's safety. The lyrics may be a metaphor for the pressures and responsibilities of adult life, where the singer is the one expected to take care of those who are lost or struggling.


The second verse is a bit more difficult to decipher, but it seems to center around the idea that answers can be found within the questions themselves. The singer seems to be challenging the listener to ask them a difficult or provocative question. They are prepared for a fight, but also seem disinterested in the outcome. There is a sense of disillusionment and apathy in their tone that suggests they have become disconnected from their own desires and motivations.


Overall, the lyrics to Angel Carver Blues / Mellow Jazz Docent are a blend of surreal imagery and existential questioning. They invite the listener to dig deeper and try to uncover the hidden meanings behind the words.


Line by Line Meaning

When they fall in
Referring to people falling in love, starting with 'when they fall in'


They fall in from the roof
Their love seems to come out of nowhere, like it falls from above.


They grab on to me tightly
The person falling in love holds onto the singer tight, as if they expect them to guide them through the emotional labyrinth of a new relationship


As if I knew the way
The singer is being held tightly by someone who expects them to know how to navigate a romantic relationship.


When I fight for something
The singer is shifting focus to their own behavior now, whether it be their desires or their degree of interest in someone else's love life.


I fight because I care
This line suggests that the singer is passionate and invested in what they're fighting for.


When I fight with you
The singer has shifted their focus onto fighting with someone else, presumably a romantic partner.


I fight but I don't care
The singer continues to fight despite a lack of interest in reconciling the issue.


Everybody wants the questions to be asked
This line appears to suggest that everyone wants their love-related questions answered.


The questions are the answers
The song implies that romantic questions can conceivably have answers that answer one another.


To questions in themselves
This line suggests that the questions themselves are the only thing that can lead to a resolution or an answer.


Ask me if I really need it
The singer appears to be challenging someone to ask them if they legitimately need someone or to ask for what purpose they crave affection.


Ask me if you want to get hit
This line could be seen as a warning to someone who wants to get too close or who asks too many personal questions.


Hit it
The song appears to end abruptly with this command. It could be interpreted as an 'OK' or as a less-romantic suggestion.


Ask me if you want to be...fucked.
This final line is suggestive and is almost certainly addressed to a prospective romantic partner.




Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Scott Kannberg, Stephen Joseph Malkmus

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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