Gasoline
The Dead Weather Lyrics


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To be afraid is a luxury
So cool your engines for me
I don't want a sweetheart
I want a machine

I love you the most, I do
When you're so close to me
I can smell the gasoline

To be soft is too easy, huh
Don't get soft on me
I don't want a sweetheart, sweetheart
I want a machine

I love you the most, I do
When you're so close to me
I can smell the gasoline

To be afraid is a luxury
So cool your engines for me
I don't want a sweetheart
I want a machine

I love you the most, I do
When you're so close to me
I can smell the gasoline

What you whispered should be screamed
Screamed at the top of your lungs
Any sense you had in the morning
Is gone when the day is done

I love you the most, I do




When you're so close to me
I can smell the gasoline

Overall Meaning

The Dead Weather’s song "Gasoline" is a rock song with powerful lyrics that convey a message about the singer’s preference for machines over human emotions. The lyrics imply that being afraid or soft is a luxury, and it is better to cool one's engines instead. The singer does not want a sweetheart, but rather a machine. The love that the singer feels is not for a person but the machine that runs on gasoline.


The lyrics suggest a deeper meaning, that machines offer a certain kind of comfort that people cannot. Machines are predictable and reliable, unlike human emotions that can be messy and unpredictable. The singer tells their lover not to get soft and suggests that being soft is too easy. The depiction of the lover as a machine, and the emphasis on gasoline, suggest a mechanical and industrial tone to the song. The final lines suggest that the truth that people might hide during the day becomes revealed at the end of the day. The message of the song is strong, advocating for a kind of practical and tangible love that machines offer, as opposed to the human emotions that can be unpredictable.



Line by Line Meaning

To be afraid is a luxury
It is a privilege to be scared in certain situations, but you should not be afraid of what lies ahead.


So cool your engines for me
Please calm down and relax for me, take a break and rest your mind.


I don't want a sweetheart
I am not looking for a romantic partner who is sweet and kind-hearted.


I want a machine
I prefer a partner who is cold and unfeeling like a machine, rather than someone who is too emotional.


I love you the most, I do
Out of all the things in this world, I love you the most intensely and truly.


When you're so close to me
When you are physically near me.


I can smell the gasoline
I can detect the scent of gasoline, which may symbolize danger, excitement, or risk-taking behavior.


To be soft is too easy, huh
Being vulnerable and gentle is often seen as a weakness, so it is better to be tough and unemotional.


Don't get soft on me
Please do not become too gentle or affectionate towards me, as I prefer someone who is more aloof.


I don't want a sweetheart, sweetheart
I do not desire a partner who is kind, affectionate, and loyal, despite the term of endearment used.


What you whispered should be screamed
The truth or confession that you whispered should be shouted out loud for everyone to hear, rather than kept secret.


Screamed at the top of your lungs
Shout as loud as you can, using all your strength and energy.


Any sense you had in the morning
Any clarity or rationality that you had in the beginning of the day.


Is gone when the day is done
Has disappeared or faded away by the end of the day.




Lyrics © DOMINO PUBLISHING COMPANY, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JACK LAWRENCE, JACK WHITE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

Ken Vail

I really love this record. Short, to the point, raw, songs run together, really inspired, fun, they didn't spend years making a record...other bands can learn from their approach!

Vlad2808

Incredible song!!!!!!!! I just can't wait for that awesome album... LP and CD ordered! Fuckin great JW guitar solo...

Mance Broome II

first 10 senconds, already love it!! jack never does us wrong!!

Marti Wooden Thigh

I Love the smoke....Most importantly I love this song!!! Keep Rockin'.

seurat2

The addition of the smoke coming from Alison's mouth is awesome. I love her unconditionally.

J Lansdale

Awesome song. Really raw like good groove rock should be.

M S

i saw them in STL last night, SOOOOO GOOD! loved it :D

velocet1976

GOOD GOD.....this sounds freakin' awesome....and i thought BIGELF brought back prog rock big time....!!!!

tfunknationtown

This is the best song on this CD hands down

Krzysztof Sienkiewicz

This guitar solo is very much like one of the Raconteurs' solos. I need to find out which one :) Anyway, I've already ordered this album and can't wait for the delivery! Right in the middle of my exams :D

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