Blind
The Bottle Rockets Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He couldn't catch the girls who'd catches his eye
The ones that turned to him they never turned him on
They all seemed so plain they all seemed so wrong
Well theres two young lovers there the best of friends
Got everything in common except the color of their skin
They hate to think about it but they cant ignore
If everyone was blind would we be surprised
At who become important in our lives
Our own two eyes can be our own worst enemy
If we all where blind I wonder what we see
There the American Idol in that limousine
She's got the sold out shows the clothes the body so young and lean
Well she's the total package except for just one thing
She ain't got much talent no she can barely sing
Repeat Chorus 2X
The Bottle Rockets's song Blind is a contemplative and introspective piece that delves into the issue of biases and prejudice based on external appearances. The song emphasizes that attraction and judgment are inherently flawed and superficial as they are largely based on sight. The lyrics describe a lonely guy who is unable to find the right girl as he is always swayed by physical appearances. However, the song also highlights the positive aspect of being blind. If everyone was blind, they would not be influenced by appearances, and the most important and valuable characteristics of a person would become more apparent.
The second verse of the song touches on the issue of racial discrimination. The lyrics describe two young lovers who have everything in common except for the color of their skin. The girl's family is not comfortable with their relationship, and although they reluctantly let him in, they still make him feel unwelcome. The idea of being blind is used metaphorically to illustrate that if people weren't able to see race or skin color, they would be free from the prejudices and biases that can sometimes come with it.
The song concludes by questioning what people would see if they were blind. The lyrics describe a famous female singer who has all the external, desirable attributes, except for talent or the ability to sing. The song leaves the listener wondering about the importance of external appearances versus intrinsic qualities and encourages them to question the limitations of their own perceptions.
Line by Line Meaning
There was a lonely guy he always wondered why
This man is unhappy because he cannot understand why he cannot find companionship.
He couldn't catch the girls who'd catch his eye
Despite his efforts to find love, he has been unsuccessful.
The ones that turned to him they never turned him on
The women who showed interest in him did not appeal to him.
They all seemed so plain they all seemed so wrong
He finds the women he meets uninteresting and unattractive.
Well theres two young lovers there the best of friends
These two people are romantically involved and share a strong friendship.
Got everything in common except the color of their skin
Their racial difference is the only thing that sets them apart from each other.
They hate to think about it but they can't ignore
Although they do not want to focus on their differences, they cannot avoid the reality of them.
Her family lets him in but leaves the welcome at the door
Her family tolerates him but does not fully accept him as one of their own.
If everyone was blind would we be surprised
If people were unable to see physical differences, would we be shocked about who we are drawn to?
At who become important in our lives
Blindness would force us to ignore external appearances and focus on other factors, such as personality.
Our own two eyes can be our own worst enemy
Our vision can create biases that prevent us from seeing people as they truly are.
If we all where blind I wonder what we see
If we were unable to see, our perception of the world would change in unpredictable ways.
There's the American Idol in that limousine
A celebrity, the American Idol, is being described in a luxurious vehicle.
She's got the sold out shows the clothes the body so young and lean
The American Idol has sold out performances and attractive physical features.
Well she's the total package except for just one thing
Despite her other appealing qualities, the American Idol lacks one important talent.
She ain't got much talent, no she can barely sing
The American Idol is not a talented singer, despite her success.
Repeat Chorus 2X
The chorus is repeated twice, emphasizing its message that blindness is a powerful force that changes our perceptions of others.
Contributed by Aaron T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.