Carrot Rope
Pavement Lyrics
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It's my second hand wonder, a thing that recovers the doubt
Slim door,
Like a rainstorm, you've got to do what you want and say it
Slim door,
It's all right to shake, to fight, to feel
You go down, down, down, down
Slim door,
It's all right to shake, to fight, to feel
You go down, down, down, down
Harness your hopes to the folks with the liquor with the ropes. Red, red ropes, periscopes
They've got everything will ever need stored under the chair
Simmer, simmer, simmer down
Simmer, simmer, simmer down
Don't waste your precious breath explaining that you are worthwhile
Simmer, simmer, simmer down
Simmer, simmer, simmer down
Be patient and I'll let you see my
Carrot rope, feed my thrill,
I got beat by weather
Carrot rope, feed my thrill,
I got beat by weather
Carrot rope, feed my thrill,
It's time to get me off of the ground,
The wicket keeper is down
the wicked keep us down?
Hey little boy, would you like to know what's in my pocket or not
It's no ploy, it's no gimmick,
It's the chance of a lifetime to see something that's never seen by mere mortals
Except me
And myself
And sweet I, so what do you say?
Would you like to play 20 questions with me?
A little, little Christian lie,
A little, little Christian lie
Debating if it's time to drop the bomb on you, my dear
A little, little Christian lie,
A little, little Christian lie
Let's get down to brass tacks and start it
A carrot rope, feed my thrill,
I got beat by weather
A carrot rope, feed my thrill,
I got beat by weather
Carrot rope, feed my thrill
It's time to get me off of the grounds
The wicket keeper is down,
The wicked keeper is down
And he gets me off of the grounds
Leg
The lyrics to Pavement's song "Carrot Rope" are a mix of abstract imagery and themes of self-reliance and perseverance. The opening lines suggest that the subject of the song has a second-hand item that helps them recover from doubt. The mention of a slim door seems to be a metaphor for a narrow opportunity or pathway that one must take, even if it feels like a rainstorm of uncertainty. The following lines suggest that the subject has designed this opportunity for themselves and that they have the strength to "shake, fight, and feel." The repeated "down, down, down" refrain may either be describing a descent or a release of emotions.
The rest of the song jumps between seemingly unrelated themes, such as harnessing hopes to those with "liquor with the ropes" and a playful conversation about playing 20 questions. The line "A little, little Christian lie" suggests a moral dilemma for the subject of the song, who is debating whether to reveal some truth that may be hurtful to a loved one. The repeated refrain of "carrot rope, feed my thrill" seems to be a call to push through obstacles and find excitement in life, even if one has been "beat by weather." The last line of the song, "The wicked keeper is down" may be a reference to the subjects finally overcoming their obstacles and taking control.
Line by Line Meaning
It's my second hand wonder, a thing that recovers the doubt
I have something old and reliable that helps me overcome uncertainty
Slim door,
A small entrance,
Like a rainstorm, you've got to do what you want and say it
Life is unpredictable, so you should be true to yourself and speak your mind
It's of my design assembled at the cut
I created it myself and put it together carefully
It's all right to shake, to fight, to feel
It's okay to be emotional and to express yourself physically and verbally
You go down, down, down, down
You're spiraling downward
Harness your hopes to the folks with the liquor with the ropes. Red, red ropes, periscopes
Put your trust in the people who have the power and influence, even if they're dangerous
They've got everything will ever need stored under the chair
They have access to all the resources you'll ever need, kept secretly hidden
Simmer, simmer, simmer down
Calm down and relax
Don't waste your precious breath explaining that you are worthwhile
Don't bother trying to prove your worth to others
Be patient and I'll let you see my Carrot rope, feed my thrill,
Wait and I'll reveal something exciting and thrilling to you
I got beat by weather
I was defeated by the elements
It's time to get me off of the ground, The wicket keeper is down
It's time to rise above and take advantage of the situation
Hey little boy, would you like to know what's in my pocket or not
Hey, do you want to see what I have in my pocket or not?
It's no ploy, it's no gimmick, It's the chance of a lifetime to see something that's never seen by mere mortals
It's not a trick, it's a rare opportunity to see something incredible
Except me And myself
The only people who have seen it are me and myself
So what do you say? Would you like to play 20 questions with me?
Do you want to guess what it is?
A little, little Christian lie, Debating if it's time to drop the bomb on you, my dear
I'm deciding whether to reveal a small lie or a big secret to you
Let's get down to brass tacks and start it
Let's get serious and start talking
The wicked keeper is down
The evil mastermind has been defeated
And he gets me off of the grounds
And he helps me rise above my problems
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Devilish_stuff
Lyrics:
I want to say
It's my second-hand wonder
A thing that recovers the doubt
Slim like a rainstorm (door)
It's of my design assembled at the cut (you've got to do what you want and say it)
Slim door (down)
It's all right to shake, to fight, to feel
Slim door
It's all right to shake, to fight, to feel (down, down, down, down, down)
Harness your hopes to the folks
With the liquor, with the ropes
Red, red ropes, periscopes
They've got everything you will ever need
Stored under the chair
Simmer, simmer, simmer down
Simmer, simmer, simmer down
Don't waste your precious breath
Explaining that you are worthwhile
Simmer, simmer, simmer down
Simmer, simmer, simmer down
Be patient and I'll let you see my
A carrot rope, feed my thrill
I got beat by weather
A carrot rope, feed my thrill
I got beat by weather
A carrot rope, feed my thrill
It's time to get me off of the ground
The wicket keeper is down
Hey little boy, would you like to know
What's in my pocket or not
It's no ploy, it's no gimmick
It's the chance of a lifetime to see
Something that's never seen by mere mortals (except me)
And myself
And sweet I, so what do you say?
Would you like to play 20 questions with me?
A little, little Christian lie
A little, little Christian lie
Debating if it's time
To drop the bomb on you, my dear
A little, little Christian lie
A little, little Christian lie
Let's get down to brass tacks and start it
A carrot rope, feed my thrill
I got beat by weather
A carrot rope, feed my thrill
I got beat by weather
A carrot rope, feed my thrill
It's time to get me off of the grounds
The wicket keeper is down
The wicket keeper is down
And he gets me off of the ground
(Leg)
@0Ambiental0
[Spiral:] I want to say:
[SM:] It's my second hand wonder, a thing that recovers the doubt
[Spiral:] Slim door,
[Mark:] Like a rainstorm, you've got to do what you want and say it
[SM:] It's of my design assembled at the cut
[Spiral:] Slim door,
[SM:] It's all right to shake, to fight, to feel
[Mark:] You go down, down, down, down
[Spiral:] Slim door,
[SM:] It's all right to shake, to fight, to feel
[Mark:] You go down, down, down, down
[SM:] Harness your hopes to the folks
with the liquor with the ropes,
Red, red ropes, periscopes
They've got everything will ever need
stored under the chair
Simmer, simmer, simmer down
Simmer, simmer, simmer down
Don't waste your precious breath
explaining that you are worthwhile
Simmer, simmer, simmer down
Simmer, simmer, simmer down
Be patient and I'll let you see my
Carrot rope, feed my thrill,
I got beat by weather
Carrot rope, feed my thrill,
I got beat by weather
Carrot rope, feed my thrill,
It's time to get me off of the ground,
The wicket keeper is down
[SM:] Hey little boy, would you like to know what's in my pocket or not
It's no ploy, it's no gimmick,
It's the chance of a lifetime to see
something that's never seen by mere mortals
[Mark:] Except me
[Spiral:] And myself
[SM:] And sweet I, so what do you say?
Would you like to play 20 questions with me?
[SM:] A little, little Christian lie,
A little, little Christian lie
Debating if it's time
to drop the bomb on you, my dear
A little, little Christian lie,
A little, little Christian lie
Let's get down to brass tacks and start it
A carrot rope, feed my thrill,
I got beat by weather
A carrot rope, feed my thrill,
I got beat by weather
Carrot rope, feed my thrill
It's time to get me off of the grounds
The wicket keeper is down,
The wicked keeper is down
And he gets me off of the grounds
@Aizubunny
Lyrics
Spiral: I want to say:
SM: It's my second hand wonder,
a thing that recovers the doubt
Spiral: Slim door,
Mark: Like a rainstorm, you've got to do
what you want and say it
SM: It's of my design assembled at the cut
Spiral: Slim door,
SM: It's all right to shake, to fight, to feel
Mark: You go down, down, down, down
Spiral: Slim door,
SM: It's all right to shake, to fight, to feel
Mark: You go down, down, down, down
SM: Harness your hopes to the folks
with the liquor with the ropes,
Red, red ropes, periscopes
They've got everything will ever need
stored under the chair
Simmer, simmer, simmer down
Simmer, simmer, simmer down
Don't waste your precious breath
explaining that you are worthwhile
Simmer, simmer, simmer down
Simmer, simmer, simmer down
Be patient and I'll let you see my
Carrot rope, feed my thrill,
I got beat by weather
Carrot rope, feed my thrill,
I got beat by weather
Carrot rope, feed my thrill,
It's time to get me off of the ground,
The wicket keeper is down
(the wicked keep us down?)
SM: Hey little boy, would you like to know
what's in my pocket or not
It's no ploy, it's no gimmick,
It's the chance of a lifetime to see
something that's never seen by mere mortals
Mark: Except me
Spiral: And myself
SM: And sweet I, so what do you say?
Would you like to play 20 questions with me?
SM: A little, little Christian lie,
A little, little Christian lie
Debating if it's time
to drop the bomb on you, my dear
A little, little Christian lie,
A little, little Christian lie
Let's get down to brass tacks and start it
A carrot rope, feed my thrill,
I got beat by weather
A carrot rope, feed my thrill,
I got beat by weather
Carrot rope, feed my thrill
It's time to get me off of the grounds
The wicket keeper is down,
The wicked keeper is down
And he gets me off of the grounds
@advilbrewer
That thought never occurred to me in the countless times I've heard this album. This song is the end of Pavement. They left on a good note. When I hear it, I feel like they are saying to me, "Thanks for listening, I hope your life turns out great." And I usually feel like it just might once this song finishes.
@anyon1789
you made me sad
@kamrandiamonddarrell6527
yeay, its really spiritual. What a great end to the best event taht happened for the Alt Rock
@marcuslavaggi-bowen6539
They did release “Spit on a Stranger” and then “Major Leagues” from this album after “Carrot Rope”, but with all that said, this is still the last track on their last album, which only makes all this all the more fitting :(.
When it fades out at the end, you’re also seeing and hearing the end of this great band fade away with it :(.
@drone7890
Now I feel sad when I listen to this lol
@olderloverxx
Listening to this today first time in over 10 years. I thought this was the first track.
How wrong I was. Middle age anxieties.
@oooBUBU7ooo
I think it's the perfect finale for Pavement's studio career.
The fact that it's an upbeat song with slightly creepy undertones in a mostly dark album, Mark and Spiral singing with Steve for the first time, the reference to Harness Your Hopes in the lyrics, the way the ending of the verse recalls the chorus for Shady Lane... I think it has a strong "ending credits" quality, haha. I find it hard to believe Spiral had to fight to have it as the album closer!
@Oxycontent
Dude. Pavement.
@cassh7925
It’s like….everywhere!
@MilkcanRocks
I know