Perhaps the most popular use of the song would be the infamous ear-cutting scene from the film Reservoir Dogs.
Stuck In The Middle With You
Stealers Wheel Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I got the feeling that something ain't right
I'm so scared in case I fall off my chair
And I'm wondering how I'll get down the stairs
Clowns to the left of me
Jokers to the right, here I am
Stuck in the middle with you
And I'm wondering what it is I should do
It's so hard to keep this smile from my face
Losing control, yeah, I'm all over the place
Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you
Well, you started out with nothing
And you're proud that you're a self made man
And your friends, they all come crawlin'
Slap you on the back and say
Please, please
Trying to make some sense of it all
But I can see it makes no sense at all
Is it cool to go to sleep on the floor
'Cause I don't think that I can take anymore
Clowns to the left of me, jokers to the right
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you
And you started out with nothing
And you're proud that you're a self made man
And your friends, they all come crawlin'
Slap you on the back and say
Please, please
Well, I don't know why I came here tonight
I got the feeling that something ain't right
I'm so scared in case I fall off my chair
And I'm wondering how I'll get down the stairs
Clowns to the left of me
Jokers to the right, here I am
Stuck in the middle with you
Yes, I'm stuck in the middle with you
Stuck in the middle with you
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you
The lyrics to Stealers Wheel's song "Stuck in the Middle With You" depict a person who is unsure what to do, feeling trapped and surrounded by both clowns and jokers. The opening lines show a sense of discomfort as the singer doesn't know why he came to this place and has the suspicion that something is wrong. The line "I'm so scared in case I fall off my chair" highlights the sense of helplessness and vulnerability the singer is experiencing. The chorus repeats this idea of being stuck in a difficult situation, highlighting the sense of helplessness.
The middle part of the song talks about the singer's attempt to make sense of it all, but is unable to find a logical explanation. The line "trying to make some sense of it all, but I can see that it makes no sense at all" highlights this feeling. The last few lines repeat the earlier lyrics, reinforcing the sense of repetition and the feeling of being trapped.
Overall, the song's lyrics paint a picture of being trapped in a confusing and uncomfortable situation. The repeated chorus suggests a sense of hopelessness and powerlessness in the face of the situation.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I don't know why I came here tonight
The singer is uncertain about the reason for being in this situation.
I got the feeling that something ain't right
The singer senses that things are not as they should be.
I'm so scared in case I fall off my chair
The singer is afraid that a misstep could lead to disaster.
And I'm wondering how I'll get down the stairs
The artist is contemplating how to safely navigate a challenging physical environment.
Clowns to the left of me
The artist is surrounded by foolish and incompetent people on one side.
Jokers to the right, here I am
The singer is also surrounded by people who are unpredictable and irresponsible on the other side.
Stuck in the middle with you
The singer is trapped and unable to escape the situation.
Yes, I'm stuck in the middle with you
The artist reiterates their frustration.
And I'm wondering what it is I should do
The artist is unsure of how to proceed.
It's so hard to keep this smile from my face
Despite the difficulty of the situation, the artist is trying to maintain a positive attitude.
Losing control, yeah, I'm all over the place
Despite their efforts, the singer is struggling to maintain their composure.
Well, you started out with nothing
The artist is addressing someone who began with very little.
And you're proud that you're a self made man
The person in question has worked hard to achieve their success.
And your friends, they all come crawlin'
The singer is critical of the person's friends, who are only seeking to benefit from their success.
Slap you on the back and say, Please, please
These so-called friends are overly eager for validation and favors.
Trying to make some sense of it all
The artist is trying to understand this frustrating situation.
But I can see that it makes no sense at all
Despite their efforts, the artist cannot find any rational explanation for the situation.
Is it cool to go to sleep on the floor
The singer is so tired and frustrated that they are questioning social norms.
'Cause I don't think that I can take anymore
The singer has reached their breaking point.
Here I am, stuck in the middle with you
The artist is still trapped in the same frustrating situation as before.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Gerald Rafferty, Joe Egan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind