(1) The Hippos were a th… Read Full Bio ↴There is more than one band with this name.
(1) The Hippos were a third wave ska-punk band from Southern California. Unlike other typical bands of the genre, The Hippos employed heavy use of a Moog synthesizer.
The Hippos’s first full album release was Forget the World, released in 1996. Interestingly, many of the songs on Forget The World were written when Ariel Rechstaid, the band’s primary songwriter, was only 15 years old. This album employed traditional ska-punk songwriting, including upbeat tempos and heavy brass instrumentation. Additionally, various percussion instruments were used, such as bongos and wood blocks. The next album was Heads Are Gonna Roll, released in 1999. A transitional album, a balance of horns and synthesizers is found on this album. Commercially, this album was the band’s most successful; it is the only album to be fully produced by a large record label and thus is assumedly the most circulated and heard of the three albums.
The Hippos, a self titled final release, was released in 2003 after the band’s break-up. This album completed the gradual transition from traditional ska-punk to the unique, orginal synthpop sound exhibited here. Ties to the ska-punk scene from which they began had been all but completely severed. In fact, only one track from this album uses horns at all, an essential element of ska. Much of the Hippos’s fanbase was initially reluctant at such a different sound, but for the most part, this reluctance gave way to admiration. To many fans, the Hippos’s final album was their best written and most enjoyable, despite its limited commercial success.
(2) The Hippos are a blues band from Sydney, Australia. They enjoyed modest chart success with Dark Age in 1988, from the album Hippocracy.
Asleep at the Wheel
The Hippos Lyrics
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What am I doing behind the wheel?
The lights have all blurred into a row.
How long I'll be up, I just don't know.
I'm falling asleep, asleep at the wheel,
this feels like a dream but this is real.
I've got a lot on my mind, I've been driving all night.
You can bet I'll be driving when out comes the light.
I've been "On the road" longer than Jack Kerouac.
(Chorus)
The Hippos's song Asleep at the Wheel depicts the struggles of a tired and exhausted driver who is struggling to stay awake and stay focused while driving through the night. The lyrics convey the sense of danger and uncertainty that comes with driving in such a condition. The song begins with the singer questioning why he is behind the wheel at such an ungodly hour and gradually moves into an introspection about the state of his mind.
The line "The lights have all blurred into a row" is a metaphor for the disorientation and confusion that comes with sleep deprivation. The singer is struggling to keep his eyes open and is finding it increasingly difficult to differentiate between the different lights and lanes on the road. The line "This feels like a dream but this is real" is another metaphor that suggests that the situation is becoming surreal for the singer.
The chorus depicts the constant struggle that the singer is facing to stay awake and alert. The repetition of "I'm falling asleep, asleep at the wheel" reinforces the idea that the singer is in a dangerous and precarious position. The final line "I've been "On the road" longer than Jack Kerouac" is a reference to the famous American writer who was known for his extensive travels and writings about the road. Overall, the song conveys a sense of urgency and danger and highlights the importance of being vigilant while driving.
Line by Line Meaning
It's two in the morning, I'm tired as hell.
I'm extremely exhausted and it's very late at night.
What am I doing behind the wheel?
I'm questioning why I'm still driving.
The lights have all blurred into a row.
I'm having trouble distinguishing individual lights from one another because of my fatigue.
How long I'll be up, I just don't know.
I have no idea how much longer I'll be awake.
I'm falling asleep, asleep at the wheel,
I'm struggling to stay awake while driving.
this feels like a dream but this is real.
I'm so tired that my current state feels surreal, but it's actually happening.
I've got a lot on my mind, I've been driving all night.
I have a lot on my mind and I've been driving for a long time.
You can bet I'll be driving when out comes the light.
I'll still be driving when the sun rises in the morning.
I've been on the road so long that I'm gonna crack,
I've been on the road for so long that I'm close to breaking down.
I've been "On the road" longer than Jack Kerouac.
I've been driving for an extended period of time, much like the author Jack Kerouac wrote about in his famous novel.
(Chorus)
Refrain of the song.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JAMES M. FRANKS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind