Hubcap
Sleater-Kinney Lyrics

The lyrics to Sleater-Kinney's song Hubcap are about feeling stuck and constrained by societal norms and expectations, and the struggle to break free from those limitations. The first verse describes the ways in which people are often silenced and discouraged from expressing themselves, whether it be through writing or speaking out. The lines "keep you quiet, keep you blind, don't rock the boat don't read the sign" convey the idea that society tries to control us and keep us in line, discouraging us from pushing boundaries or questioning the status quo. The chorus, "you're my co-pilot not my god pilot," suggests that relationships (whether they be romantic or otherwise) should be partnerships of equals, not power struggles where one person holds all the control.

The second verse focuses on the desire for a certain kind of lifestyle, one that is often associated with success and stability: the "suit and tie," the "shiny smile," the "calm belief" and "piece of mind." However, the singer realizes that in order to obtain these things, they would have to give up a part of themselves and make compromises they're not comfortable with. The lines, "I'll trade you for it then run then fly" suggest that the singer is willing to make sacrifices for success, but they won't be content with just settling, they'll keep pushing forward until they can truly soar.