Topanga Canyon Freaks
Steve Wynn Lyrics


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We're gonna raise up the ghosts of the Topanga Canyon freaks
Getting stronger from the heat and burnt from the meat that we didn't eat last week
You want hallucinations and signs? Go and have mine. We've got a lot of work to do
Sometime around 9 as the moon begins to shine, we're gonna come looking for you

Gonna take you back to '72, that's what I'm gonna do in a tequila-soaked backseat.
Gonna die a little each day and make our own way to the heroes down the street
Got scars and designs and holes in my mind and the cameras begin to roll
We're gonna save up time, build up our minds and then we're gonna save your soul.

got a side-door entry to the 21st Century for the Topanga Canyon freaks
Gonna take a little ramble on a midnight gamble that it all won't go to the meek
We'll take it by land, roll the taco stand and wait until the guns are drawn
Turn on the charm, defuse the alarm and move on

It's 2001 but before we're done we're gonna take it back to '69
The streets are clean but the money's lean and we got a lot of Thunderbird wine
We'll wait outside of your drive, look for signs of life and then we'll drive away
We don't fuss but from the looks of us you'll know we're ready to play.

Your mom was 17 when it started to get mean by Mulholland Drive
Now you're 22 and there's not much you wouldn't do to feel more alive




We got the faded old photos and nowhere to go but we drive until we drop
We just push the line an inch at a time until we're forced to stop

Overall Meaning

The song "Topanga Canyon Freaks" by Steve Wynn seems to be an exploration of the counterculture of Southern California in the late 1960s and early 1970s, particularly in the Topanga Canyon area. The "freaks" mentioned in the title and throughout the song seem to be the hippies, artists, and other nonconformists who made up the community there. The chorus suggests that these "freaks" are not gone, but rather their spirits are still present in the area and ready to be invoked by those who know how. The first verse describes the process of invoking these ghosts, noting that it involves a certain ruggedness and self-denial (i.e. not eating meat) as well as a willingness to experience hallucinations and signs of a spiritual nature.


The second verse is more autobiographical, with Wynn looking back on his own experiences in Topanga Canyon. His references to 1972 and Thunderbird wine suggest a certain nostalgia for that era and its excesses, while the mention of scars and holes in his mind suggests that those excesses came with a cost. The verse also mentions "heroes down the street" - this could refer to popular musicians or other artists who lived in the area at the time, or to more personal role models for Wynn. The final verse seems to address a younger person who is seeking thrills and adventure in a way that echoes Wynn's own experiences. He encourages them to join him and his fellow "freaks" on their journeys, but also acknowledges that there may be limits to how far they can push themselves.


Line by Line Meaning

We're gonna raise up the ghosts of the Topanga Canyon freaks
We will evoke the spirits of the unconventional inhabitants of Topanga Canyon.


Getting stronger from the heat and burnt from the meat that we didn't eat last week
We are becoming more robust from the difficult environment, and our hunger left unsatisfied.


You want hallucinations and signs? Go and have mine. We've got a lot of work to do
If you desire mystical experiences or omens, be my guest, but we have important tasks.


Sometime around 9 as the moon begins to shine, we're gonna come looking for you
Around 9 o'clock at night, under the moonlight, we will search for you.


Gonna take you back to '72, that's what I'm gonna do in a tequila-soaked backseat.
I will take you to the year 1972, while we drink tequila in a backseat.


Gonna die a little each day and make our own way to the heroes down the street
We will endure hardships every day and travel our unique path to the people we admire.


Got scars and designs and holes in my mind and the cameras begin to roll
I have physical and mental wounds, tattoos, and vivid memories that the cameras are capturing.


We're gonna save up time, build up our minds and then we're gonna save your soul.
We will invest time, cultivate our mental faculties, and subsequently redeem your spirit.


got a side-door entry to the 21st Century for the Topanga Canyon freaks
We have a secret passageway to modern times available for the peculiar inhabitants of Topanga Canyon.


Gonna take a little ramble on a midnight gamble that it all won't go to the meek
We will take a spontaneous trip at midnight to gamble that the world will not succumb to timidity.


We'll take it by land, roll the taco stand and wait until the guns are drawn
We will capture the territory by force, take down the food stand, and wait until the weapons are brandished.


Turn on the charm, defuse the alarm and move on
We will use our charisma to disarm any alarms and proceed ahead.


It's 2001 but before we're done we're gonna take it back to '69
Although it is the year 2001, we aim to revisit the feeling of the year 1969 before concluding our endeavors.


The streets are clean but the money's lean and we got a lot of Thunderbird wine
The roads are tidy, but finances are lacking, and we possess plenty of low-cost alcoholic drinks.


We'll wait outside of your drive, look for signs of life and then we'll drive away
We will wait near your residence, search for indicators of activity, and then depart in a car.


We don't fuss but from the looks of us you'll know we're ready to play.
We do not squabble, but from our appearance, you can tell that we are prepared to have fun.


Your mom was 17 when it started to get mean by Mulholland Drive
Your mother was only 17 years old when the circumstances at Mulholland Drive became hostile.


Now you're 22 and there's not much you wouldn't do to feel more alive
At 22 years old, you would do almost anything to experience a sense of vitality.


We got the faded old photos and nowhere to go but we drive until we drop
We have old, blurry pictures, and nowhere specific to be, so we will drive until exhaustion.


We just push the line an inch at a time until we're forced to stop
We gradually challenge the limit until we are inevitably halted.




Contributed by Charlotte J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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