Elevate Me Later
Pavement Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well, you greet the tokens and stamps
Beneath the fake oil burnin' lamps
In the city we forgot to name
The concourse is four-wheeled shame
And the courthouse's double-breast
I'd like to check out your public protests
Why you complaining? Ta!
Those who sleep with electric guitars
Range rovin' with the cinema stars
And I wouldn't want to shake their hands
'Cause they're in such a high protein land
Because there's forty different shades of black




So many fortresses and ways to attack
So why you complaining? Ta!

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Elevate Me Later by Pavement are a series of seemingly disconnected images and ideas, creating a patchwork of phrases that are both obscure and yet full of meaning. The opening lines describe a bustling, anonymous place, with tokens and stamps serving as currency beneath artificial lighting that burns oil. The reference to a city forgotten to be named emphasizes the anonymity and lack of individuality in this place, enhancing the sense of alienation and dislocation. The second pair of lines introduce another urban structure, the courthouse, suggesting that the singer is a kind of observer or outsider of this environment. The "double-breast" reference may allude to the two opposing sides of a debate, raising the possibility that the singer might be interested in hearing both sides of an argument.


The lines "Why you're complaining? Ta! You sleep with electric guitars" shifts the mood of the song from observation to assertion. The tone becomes a little sarcastic as the singer implies that those around him are overly focused on complaining about their lives rather than making any changes. The mention of electric guitars adds a layer of rebellion or defiance, reinforcing the sense that the singer identifies with people who are outsiders or independent thinkers. The song continues with more lyrical vignettes, referencing movie stars and a world of wealth that seems inaccessible to the singer. The repeated refrain of "So why you complaining? Ta!" functions as a kind of challenge, daring listeners to stop dwelling on their problems and instead embrace the possibilities of the world around them.


Line by Line Meaning

Well you greet the tokens and stamps
You arrive at the place of transportation where you have to buy tokens and stamps


Beneath the fake oil burnin' lamps
Under the artificial light fixtures that imitate burning oil


In the city we forgot to name
In the unnamed town that we've forgotten the name of


The concourse is four-wheeled shame
The street is crowded with cars and it's a disgrace


And the courthouse's double-breast
The legal institution with two main departments


I'd like to check out your public protests
I'm interested in observing your peaceful demonstrations


Why you're complaining? Ta!
Why are you griping? Come on!


You sleep with electric guitars
You dream about playing the electric guitars


Range rovin' with the cinema stars
Roaming around with the famous movie actors in a Range Rover


And I wouldn't want to shake their hands
I have no desire to shake hands with them


'Cause they're in such a high protein land
Because their wealth and status enables them to consume a lot of protein


Because there's 40 different shades of black
Because the world contains many different types of darkness and despair


So many fortresses and ways to attack
There are many strongholds and methods of aggression


So why you complaining? Ta!
So why are you whining? Come on!




Lyrics © WORDS & MUSIC A DIV OF BIG DEAL MUSIC LLC
Written by: Stephen Joseph Malkmus

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