Speed Demon
The Dwarves Lyrics

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Los Angeles, city of eternal night
The dream of a girl thirteen
Swirling cherry vanilla
What this jungle be
Down is the skirt of a juvenile dream queen
Hot like an asphalt 7-11
Or maybe a suffragette
The hips sink ?

The orb ?
The face dripping Clearasil and cum
But by ?
I knew I'd seen that face before
She raced
Quite like a speed demon yeah
Off into the night
She went
Quite like a speed demon
But she ain't never coming back

She was a speed demon yeah
Talk about speed, baby

Overall Meaning

The Dwarves’s song “Speed Demon” tells a story of a young girl who has a rebellious spirit that flows into every facet of her life in Los Angeles. The opening lines “Los Angeles, city of eternal night / The dream of a girl thirteen” set the scene of a city that never sleeps and a girl who is a dreamer. It is clear from the lyrics that this young girl has a magnetism about her, that despite her young age, she exudes sexual energy that is amplified by the swirling cherry vanilla scent surrounding her. The lyrics “Down is the skirt of a juvenile dream queen / Hot like an asphalt 7-11 / Or maybe a suffragette” paint a picture of a young girl embracing her sexuality and her power, much like suffragettes embraced their power in the 20th century.

However, it is not long before the lyrics take a darker turn. The unclear references of “The hips sink? The orb?” foreshadow what is to come, as the girl’s face is described as “dripping Clearasil and cum.” The use of the word cum is both graphic and disturbing, setting the stage for the singer's eventual demise. The lines “She raced / Quite like a speed demon yeah / Off into the night / She went / Quite like a speed demon / But she ain't never coming back” are haunting, as it becomes clear that the girl was living life too fast and too recklessly, too young. The song ends with the lyrics “Talk about speed, baby”, which may be a mantra of caution against living life too fast or an ironic nod to the themes of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Los Angeles, city of eternal night
Los Angeles, a city that never sleeps and is shrouded in darkness.

The dream of a girl thirteen
Representing the youthful dreams and fantasies of a teenage girl.

Swirling cherry vanilla
A sensory description of an attractive woman's movement or perfume.

What this jungle be
Expressing confusion and possibly danger in a wild environment or situation.

Down is the skirt of a juvenile dream queen
Observing the appearance of a young, innocent girl with a promising future.

Hot like an asphalt 7-11
Comparing the heat of the moment to that of a convenience store's parking lot in hot weather.

Or maybe a suffragette
Possibly alluding to the women's rights movement and the passion and determination of women fighting for equality.

The hips sink ?
An incomplete phrase may suggest the artist's desire or attraction to the woman's movements.

The orb ?
Another incomplete phrase, but could refer to the shape or color of the woman's eyes.

The face dripping Clearasil and cum
A vulgar and graphic description of the woman's complexion and sexual encounters, possibly reinforcing society's objectification of women's appearances and experiences.

But by ?
A phrase that could indicate the singer's disorientation or confusion.

I knew I'd seen that face before
The artist recognizes and remembers the woman's face, perhaps from a past encounter or a celebrity they've seen in the media.

She raced
The woman moves hurriedly, possibly indicating a sense of urgency or danger.

Quite like a speed demon yeah
The woman moves with great speed and recklessness, possibly endangering herself and others.

Off into the night
The woman disappears into the darkness, leaving the singer and others behind.

She went
A simple and concise statement reaffirming the woman's departure and speed.

But she ain't never coming back
A pessimistic and final statement, indicating the woman's disappearance and lack of return.

She was a speed demon yeah
A repetition of the earlier phrase, emphasizing the woman's reckless and dangerous movements.

Talk about speed, baby
A concluding statement, possibly urging or encouraging others to discuss or reflect on the woman's movements and their own experiences.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

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