Worse Than Detroit
Robert Plant Lyrics


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Operator, give me Central Central
Help me try to get my baby on the line
Information, hear me calling, calling
Find that number, give it to me one more time
It's been so long since I saw her
Anything I'd give to hear the little girl of mine
Whatever it takes, got to make it, make it
Please connect me now before I lose my mind

Because I don't know, no, I don't know what I'm gonna do
No, I don't know, no, I don't know what I'm gonna do
Tastes so good, sweet as honey, honey
All she carries is impossible to use
It's built for speed, man, watch her coming, coming
Moves so fast in someone else's shoes
Looks so fine, Lord, watch them running
Anything she wants you feel obliged to do
Keep your hands in your pockets

She can shift more gold than the king of Peru
But I don't know, no, I don't know what I'm gonna do
No, I don't know, no, I don't know what I'm gonna do
Somebody, somebody, somebody, somebody, yeah
Somebody, somebody, somebody, somebody, yeah

Man drinks whisky, drive him crazy in time
Woman sits and cries as day will follow day
Man need lovin', keep him happy sometime
Woman gets some when the honeydripper's on his way

But I don't know, no, I don't know
What I'm gonna do
But I don't know
But I don't know
No, I don't know, no, I don't know, no, I don't know
Yes, no, yes, no, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah
Yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah, yeah-yeah

She can do it, she can do it, she can do it, babe
Oh yes, she's sweet as honey, sweet as honey




Sweet as honey, oh yeah
She's sweet as honey - oh yeah!

Overall Meaning

The song "Worse Than Detroit" by Robert Plant is an emotional track about a guy trying to get in touch with his long-lost lover. The lyrics depict the painful struggle of not being able to connect with someone he loves, and how it feels overwhelming to be stuck in that situation. As the song begins, the singer is trying to reach his girlfriend by making a call to the central operator. He pleads with the operator to connect him with his beloved before he loses his mind. The rawness of his emotions comes through in the longing that he expresses to hear his lover's voice again.


The song goes on to convey the charisma of the woman he's talking about. Her beauty and capability are depicted through lyrics like "She can shift more gold than the king of Peru" and "All she carries is impossible to use". Yet, her fast-paced lifestyle is seemingly not compatible with the singer's more simple and slower way of life. He is also trying to convey that he is unsure of how to deal with the situation as he says, "No, I don't know what I'm gonna do". The chorus repeats this line to emphasize his distress, highlighting the struggle of not knowing how to solve the problem.


Overall, the song is an exploration of the deep pain and anguish one may experience when separated from a loved one. It's a reminder that love isn't always easy; sometimes it can be incredibly complicated, and the pain of losing someone can be immense.


Line by Line Meaning

Operator, give me Central Central
Requesting the phone operator to connect him to the central station.


Help me try to get my baby on the line
Asking for assistance to get connected with his sweetheart.


Information, hear me calling, calling
Trying to call the information desk to get the contact number.


Find that number, give it to me one more time
Asking the operator to repeat the phone number of his lover.


It's been so long since I saw her
Not having seen his love for a long time.


Anything I'd give to hear the little girl of mine
Willing to do anything to hear the voice of his sweetheart.


Whatever it takes, got to make it, make it
Determined to do whatever it takes to talk to his lover.


Please connect me now before I lose my mind
Begging the operator to connect him before he goes insane from waiting too long.


Because I don't know, no, I don't know what I'm gonna do
Feeling lost and unsure of what to do because he can't be with his lover.


Tastes so good, sweet as honey, honey
Describing his lover's sweetness and appeal.


All she carries is impossible to use
She has material possessions that he cannot take advantage of.


It's built for speed, man, watch her coming, coming
His lover is energetic and comes at him like a speeding car.


Moves so fast in someone else's shoes
She moves quickly even when walking in someone else's shoes, implying that she is capable of achieving anything.


Looks so fine, Lord, watch them running
His lover is attractive and many people are attracted to her.


Anything she wants you feel obliged to do
Being so in love with her, he feels compelled to do anything she asks of him.


Keep your hands in your pockets
Suggesting caution and advising others not to be swayed by her beauty.


She can shift more gold than the king of Peru
Comparing her ability to manipulate people with the wealth of a powerful king.


Somebody, somebody, somebody, somebody, yeah
Repeating 'somebody' in a series to emphasize the importance of finding a connection to his lover.


Man drinks whisky, drive him crazy in time
Men drink whisky, which causes them to go crazy over time.


Woman sits and cries as day will follow day
Women often cry as they await their lover's return and each day feels long and endless.


Man need lovin', keep him happy sometime
Men need love and attention to keep them happy over time.


Woman gets some when the honeydripper's on his way
Implying that women seek love and affection from other men while their lover is away, often a 'honeydripper.'


But I don't know
Repeating the phrase 'I don't know' to emphasize his confusion and helplessness.


Yes, no, yes, no, yeah, yeah, yeah
A rapid sequence of 'yes' and 'no' indicating his indecisiveness.


She can do it, she can do it, she can do it, babe
Acknowledging the fact that his lover can do anything she sets her mind to.


Oh yes, she's sweet as honey, sweet as honey
Repeating how sweet and mesmerizing she is.


Sweet as honey, oh yeah
Repeating how sweet and attractive she is, with emphasis.


She's sweet as honey - oh yeah!
Concluding the song by reiterating how truly captivating his lover is.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ROBBIE BLUNT, ROBERT A PLANT

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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