Grounded
Pavement Lyrics


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Doctor's leaving for the holiday season
Got crystal ice picks, no gift for the gab
And in the parking lot, is the sedan he bought
He never, he never complains when it's hot

He foaled a swollen daughter in the sauna playing contract bridge
They're soaking up the fun or doing blotters I don't know which, which, which
Boys are dying on these streets

I know the medical world could knock you out
To sell the coins that you jayed last Thursday, hey
Dine by candlelight, and hold your savings tight
You never, you never know when the bridge falls apart

He spoke of latent causes, sterile gauzes, and the bedside morale




He traipse around the table talking sentences so incomplete, plete, plete
Boys are dying on these streets

Overall Meaning

The song Grounded by Pavement is a standout track from their 1995 album Wowee Zowee. The lyrics to this song are intriguing and have left listeners puzzled over its meaning. The song starts with the doctor's departure for the holiday season while he leaves behind his sedan in the parking lot. The lyrics suggest that the doctor has crystal ice picks rather than a gift for the gab. The line 'He never complains when it's hot' is a description of the doctor's trait of not complaining about the difficult circumstances he goes through.


The lyrics then shift to a sauna scene where the doctor's swollen daughter is playing contract bridge. The lines 'They're soaking up the fun or doing blotters I don't know which' suggest that something dubious is occurring, and the singer cannot determine what it is. The following line, 'boys are dying on these streets,' is repeated throughout the song, which the songwriters use as a comment on the issues happening outside of this scene.


In the third and final part of the song, the lyrics take on a different tone, with the singer speaking about the medical world's ability to knock people out. The line 'Dine by candlelight and hold your savings tight' could suggest a warning to be cautious about how we are living our lives. The singer then talks about the doctor's incomplete sentences while discussing latent causes and sterile gauzes around the table. The line 'boys are dying on these streets' is repeated at the end once again.


Overall, the song Grounded by Pavement's lyrics suggest a warning about the dangers of living life and the idea that young boys are dying on the streets in various situations. However, the meaning of these lyrics is open to interpretation, and everyone can have their take on what the songwriter intended to convey.


Line by Line Meaning

Doctor's leaving for the holiday season
The doctor is going on vacation


Got crystal ice picks, no gift for the gab
The doctor has tools but lacks communication skills


And in the parking lot, is the sedan he bought
The doctor's car is in the parking lot


He never, he never complains when it's hot
The doctor doesn't complain about the weather


He foaled a swollen daughter in the sauna playing contract bridge
The doctor's daughter was born in a sauna during a game of bridge


They're soaking up the fun or doing blotters I don't know which, which, which
The people around the daughter are either having fun or doing drugs


Boys are dying on these streets
Young men are losing their lives in this area


I know the medical world could knock you out
The medical industry can be overwhelming


To sell the coins that you jayed last Thursday, hey
To have enough money to sell valuable items


Dine by candlelight, and hold your savings tight
Be frugal and save money


You never, you never know when the bridge falls apart
You don't know when things will fall apart


He spoke of latent causes, sterile gauzes, and the bedside morale
The doctor discussed underlying causes, sterile bandages, and patient morale


He traipse around the table talking sentences so incomplete, plete, plete
The doctor speaks in incomplete sentences


Boys are dying on these streets
Young men are losing their lives in this area




Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Written by: STEPHEN MALKMUS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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