Big Trucks
Pedro the Lion Lyrics
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Push you around like that?
You should have beat him down
Down to the ground for that
He said son, you're still young
And you always jump the gun
There's real people in the big, big trucks
That you flip off when they get in your way
To the big, big sign that says 'oversize load'
Do you really think they can go as fast as you
In your '87 Trans Am
They know you're in such a terrible rush
But they're going just as fast, as fast as they can
Dad, dad, I really don't understand
What driving big trucks has to do with that man
You shoulda taught him a lesson
About being rude, about talking to you with such an attitude
He said son, you're still young
And you always jump the gun
There's real people in the big, big trucks
That you flip off when they get in the way
They're so high that you pay no mind
To the sign that says 'oversize load'
Do you really think they can go as fast as you
In your '87 Trans Am
They know you're in such a terrible rush
But they're going just as fast, as fast as they can
The lyrics to Pedro the Lion's song "Big Trucks" speak to the generational gap between a father and son. The son is agitated that his father did not stand up to a man who disrespected him. He urges his father to have been more assertive and even violent towards the man. The father, however, tries to teach his son a lesson about empathy and consideration for others- particularly those who are driving large trucks. He reveals to his son that the people driving these big trucks are real people, just like them, and they have to drive with caution and care due to the weight and size of their vehicles. The father also calls attention to the fact that the son often flips these truck drivers off when they get in his way, ignoring signs that indicate that the drivers are carrying oversize loads.
The message behind "Big Trucks" is multi-faceted. It speaks to the importance of understanding and empathizing with others, particularly those who are different from us. The song also touches on the theme of learning from our elders and accepting their wisdom, even when we don't fully comprehend it. The father is trying to impart a lesson to his son, one that may take years or even decades to fully understand. The father is urging his son to possess a level of emotional maturity that he may not yet have.
Line by Line Meaning
Dad, dad, why did you let that man
Questioning why the father let the man push him around
Push you around like that?
Asking how the father allowed the man to treat him disrespectfully
You should have beat him down
Suggesting the father should have taken action against the man
Down to the ground for that
Expressing anger towards the man's behavior and advocating for physical retaliation
He said son, you're still young
Father is acknowledging his son's lack of understanding due to his young age
And you always jump the gun
Father implying that his son tends to act impulsively without fully considering the situation
There's real people in the big, big trucks
Father wants his son to realize that the drivers of large trucks are real people
That you flip off when they get in your way
Son has shown disrespect to truck drivers when they impede his driving
They're so high that you pay no mind
Son has not considered the difficulties truck drivers face due to the size of their vehicle
To the big, big sign that says 'oversize load'
Reference to warning signs that indicate large trucks may require additional space or precautions on the road
Do you really think they can go as fast as you
Son's assumption that his car is faster than a truck, ignoring the difference in vehicle size and weight
In your '87 Trans Am
Referring to the son's car, a sleek and sporty model from the 1980s
They know you're in such a terrible rush
Truck drivers are aware that other drivers may be impatient or in a hurry
But they're going just as fast, as fast as they can
Truck drivers are limited by many factors such as the size of their trucks, load weight, road conditions, and speed limits
Dad, dad, I really don't understand
Son still struggling to comprehend why his father didn't confront the rude man
What driving big trucks has to do with that man
Son is confused as to how truck driving is related to the rude man's behavior
You shoulda taught him a lesson
Son believes that his father should have taken the opportunity to educate the rude man
About being rude, about talking to you with such an attitude
Son believes that the man's behavior was inappropriate and disrespectful, and his father should have pointed that out to him
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: DAVID SHANNON BAZAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind