Cars Hiss by My Window
The Doors Lyrics


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The cars hiss by my window
Like the waves down on the beach
The cars hiss by my window
Like the waves down on the beach
I got this girl beside me, but she's
Out of reach

Headlight through my window
Shinin' on the wall
Headlight through my window
Shinin' on the wall
Can't hear my baby
Though I called and called

Windows started tremblin'
With a sonic boom
Windows started tremblin'
With a sonic boom, boom
A cold girl'll kill you
In a darkened room





Ride
Ride on

Overall Meaning

The Doors' song "Cars Hiss by My Window" is a thought-provoking piece that delves into the struggles of a man who is physically present with a woman he desires but is emotionally distant from him, adding to his pain. He compares the hissing sounds of cars passing by to the waves on a beach. He is bombarded by outside noise but is still isolated from the person sitting beside him. The car rides parallel to the waves crashing on the beach, emphasizing his isolation from his companion. The use of the word "hiss" adds a sense of danger and urgency to his suffering. The second verse has a similar format to the first but now adding the complication of the absence of his lover. The headlights through his window can also be interpreted as an escape, the light taking him away from the darkness of his reality. He calls out to his lover, but the louder the outside world gets, the more inaccessible she becomes.


The chorus of the song ("Ride on") can be interpreted as a call to escape, as the singer seems unable to cope with his situation. In the third verse, the tension rises as the windows of the car start to tremble, and we hear a "sonic boom." This line introduces the idea of danger again, as it represents the potential danger the singer may be facing. The singer ominously warns that "a cold girl will kill you in a darkened room." This foreshadowing adds another layer of tension to the song, as it is unclear whether he is alluding to his present situation or future possibilities. Overall, "Cars Hiss by My Window" is a complex piece of poetry that delves into themes of loneliness, isolation, and danger.


Line by Line Meaning

The cars hiss by my window
The passing cars make a hissing sound, much like the sound of waves on the beach.


Like the waves down on the beach
The sound of the cars reminds the singer of the sound of waves crashing on the shore.


The cars hiss by my window
Again, the hissing sound of the cars passing by is noted by the singer.


Like the waves down on the beach
Once more, the sound of the cars is compared to the sound of ocean waves.


I got this girl beside me, but she's / Out of reach
Although there is a girl beside the artist, they feel that they cannot truly reach her or connect with her.


Headlight through my window / Shinin' on the wall
A car's headlight shines through the window, illuminating the wall.


Headlight through my window / Shinin' on the wall
The singer notes the repetition of the headlight shining through the window.


Can't hear my baby / Though I called and called
Despite the artist trying to reach out to their loved one, they cannot hear or connect with them.


Windows started tremblin' / With a sonic boom
The windows shake and tremble with a sudden, loud sound - possibly from the passing of a jet.


Windows started tremblin' / With a sonic boom, boom
Again, the artist emphasizes the sudden and alarming noise.


A cold girl'll kill you / In a darkened room
Being with someone who is emotionally unavailable can be damaging and isolating, much like being in a dark and cold room that is suffocating.


Ride / Ride on
The artist encourages themselves, and perhaps their audience, to continue on and ride through the difficult and isolating experiences they have been describing.




Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Jim Morrison, John Paul Densmore, Raymond Manzarek, Robert Krieger

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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