Overpass
The Lonelyhearts Lyrics


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My heart and your windows, opaque and broken
Hello to your folks and welcome to Oakland
Your Dad sold that coke and was sold up the river
I say I get it, you say it's different
My parents are livid, yours went ballistic
The local cabs won't pick me up in your district
You say you'll miss it, I'm more realistic
You say it's forever, I know the statistics

You were on fire when you walked away
You were on fire when you walked away
You were on fire when you walked away

Your friends call me cracker, I hope they're joking
Drunk in the back of my parents' car smoking
Outside the club taking shots in the Taurus
I called you baby, you called me a tourist
This liquor is sordid, I can't take much more of it
Your brother the dealer stares me down as he pours it
It's not that I'm bored of the foothills well sort of
We just need the Lord above to support us

You were on fire when you walked away
You were on fire when you walked away
You were on fire when you walked away

The cops busted you for your brothers' kis and
They would have been lenient if you were European
I hope you believe that the narc wasn't me and
I think it's a crime you weren't tried as a minor
But I wouldn't blame you if the powder was yours
And the Pyrex and firearms under the floorboards
Now I feel horrible, like I was a long shot
Like man is his own God, call in the bomb squad

You were on fire when you walked away
You were on fire when you walked away
You were on fire when you walked away





If I could stay with you I would
Crosstown traffic does no one any good

Overall Meaning

The Lonelyhearts’ “Overpass” lyrics narrate the story of an interracial couple who come from different backgrounds and deal with the societal and familial pressure of their relationship. The song’s opening line “My heart and your windows, opaque and broken” sets the tone for a relationship that is clouded and damaged, indicating there are obstacles to overcome. The couple is introduced as if they are in a long-distance relationship. The female character's father was a drug dealer, which is why the male character tells her, “Your Dad sold that coke and was sold up the river.” The line “My parents are livid, yours went ballistic” portrays families that do not approve of this relationship, perhaps due to race or social class differences. Additionally, the male character feels out of place in the female character's area, where the “local cabs won't pick me up in your district.”


As the song unfolds, the male protagonist acknowledges the challenges that their relationship faces. He points out that the female character has a very optimistic outlook on life, whereas he is more cynical, as evidenced in the lines, “You say it's forever, I know the statistics.” The song's chorus reinforces the notion that the two are drifting apart, and the female character is on fire when she walks away.


The second verse of the song underscores the male character's insecurity in the relationship, which comes to the forefront when her friends call him a “cracker” and when he is introduced as a “tourist.” His discomfort with her world is palpable, and the situation is made worse when he is confronted by her brother, who is a drug dealer. The male character feels as if he is always in danger as he drinks and smokes in the backseat of his parents' car.


The song's final verse addresses the female character's legal troubles, and the male character’s feelings of guilt about the situation. The line “Like man is his own God, call in the bomb squad” can be seen as a metaphor for the explosive nature of their relationship. The last line, “Crosstown traffic does no one any good,” suggests that perhaps it is time to move on.


Line by Line Meaning

My heart and your windows, opaque and broken
Our emotions are obscured and damaged, much like the windows in your home.


Hello to your folks and welcome to Oakland
I greet your family and acquaint myself with the city you live in.


Your Dad sold that coke and was sold up the river
Your father was caught selling cocaine and went to jail.


I say I get it, you say it's different
I try to understand your situation, but you believe it's unique to you.


My parents are livid, yours went ballistic
My parents are angry, but yours reacted even more strongly.


The local cabs won't pick me up in your district
The taxi drivers in your neighborhood refuse to give me a ride.


You say you'll miss it, I'm more realistic
You believe you'll miss this place, but I am more aware of the practicalities of our situation.


You say it's forever, I know the statistics
You claim our love will last forever, but I understand the odds of that happening are low.


You were on fire when you walked away
When you left, you were passionate and intense in your emotions.


Your friends call me cracker, I hope they're joking
Your friends refer to me as a derogatory term, but I hope it's just teasing.


Drunk in the back of my parents' car smoking
We were intoxicated and smoking in the back seat of my parents' car.


Outside the club taking shots in the Taurus
We were outside a nightclub, drinking shots and getting drunk in a Ford Taurus car.


I called you baby, you called me a tourist
I affectionately referred to you as 'baby', but you dismissed me as a tourist or outsider.


This liquor is sordid, I can't take much more of it
The alcohol we're consuming is unpleasant, and I can't tolerate much more of it.


Your brother the dealer stares me down as he pours it
Your brother, who deals drugs, intimidates me while pouring the drinks.


It's not that I'm bored of the foothills well sort of
I'm not exactly tired of the laidback lifestyle in the foothills, but I'm beginning to feel that way.


We just need the Lord above to support us
We need divine help to sustain our relationship.


The cops busted you for your brothers' kis and
The police arrested you for your involvement in your brother's drug activities.


They would have been lenient if you were European
The authorities would have been more forgiving if you were of European descent.


I hope you believe that the narc wasn't me and
I hope you trust that I wasn't the informant who reported you to the police.


I think it's a crime you weren't tried as a minor
I believe it's unfair that you were tried as an adult rather than a minor.


But I wouldn't blame you if the powder was yours
If the drugs found were actually yours, I wouldn't hold it against you.


And the Pyrex and firearms under the floorboards
The police discovered Pyrex glassware and weapons hidden beneath the floorboards of your home.


Now I feel horrible, like I was a long shot
I currently experience guilt and regret, feeling like I never had a chance with you.


Like man is his own God, call in the bomb squad
Our situation is out of control, as if man is his own maker and only a bomb squad can rectify the situation.


If I could stay with you I would
Given the chance, I would choose to remain with you.


Crosstown traffic does no one any good
Navigating through the city's traffic is not beneficial for anyone.




Contributed by Jack P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Kevin Howell

Beautiful and powerful

Brian Larsen

Isn't it just?