The band released their self-titled first album in March 1995 via PopLlama Records. After they garnered massive acclaim, Columbia Records quickly signed them. The album peaked at number six on the Billboard 200 and has shipped over three million copies. The RIAA has certified it as triple platinum. Songs "Peaches", "Kitty", "Lump", and "Dune Buggy" received major airplay.
Their 1996 follow-up album, "II", did not reach the same acclaim, though it reached the top forty on the Billboard 2000. Single "Mach 5" also garnered some airplay. The band then fell of the radar for many listeners, dropped by their major label. However, their albums of the new millennium, 'Freaked Out and Small' followed by 'Love Everybody' and 'These Are the Good Times People' (released in 2000, 2004, and 2008, respectively), picked up positive critical reviews, such as from the All Music Guide. Although their touring schedule became more sporadic into the 00s and 10s, they continue to perform and satisfy audiences with their off-beat humor and catchy hooks.
Mobile Home
The Presidents of the United States of America Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I dig a living room in the sand.
Poke a toe through a hole in the floor.
(Floor!)
And ramble on some more.
(Ramble on!)
Mobile home... My mobile home.
My mobile home.
I hang around till its time to blow.
I take easy, small, and slow.
(Slow!)
Shed away to lighten my load.
(Lighten the load!)
Mobile home... My mobile home.
My mobile home.
Mobile home... Go!
In the road.
To some highway Pebble Beach,
Alabama's just out of reach.
Louissiana, temp swamp.
(Swamp!)
Montana on a mountain top.
(On a mountain top!)
Mobile home... My mobile home.
My mobile home.
Mobile home... My mobile home.
I got mobile home.
Mobile home... My mobile home.
The lyrics to “Mobile Home” by The Presidents of the United States of America, showcase a person who has embraced a mobile lifestyle and lives in a camper. They showcase the comfort and convenience of being able to move around as the lyrics describe the things and places they see on the road. They mention a tiny turtle in a can which is symbolic of how small and self-sufficient they are, they don’t need a large space to live in; a living room dug in the sand which depicts how they can make their home anywhere; and a toe poked through a hole in the floor, a reference to the kind of living conditions they don’t mind enduring.
The lyrics also mention living a life that is easy, small, and slow. They take their time and shed away things that weigh them down. They have no need for material things and the lyrics mention Pebble Beach, Alabama, Louisiana, Montana, etc. as places they can go where they are not tied down, trapped or stuck. It’s all about living a life with the freedom to move without being in chains. The song is overall a nostalgic take on a simpler and freer kind of life with a mobile home that lets them go wherever they may please.
Line by Line Meaning
A tiny turtle in a can.
Starting small and humble, like a turtle in a can.
I dig a living room in the sand.
Making the best of what's available, creating a place to call home in unconventional ways.
Poke a toe through a hole in the floor.
Taking risks and exploring new possibilities, even if it means stepping outside of comfort zones.
(Floor!)
And ramble on some more.
Continuing on the journey, regardless of how difficult or uncertain it may seem.
(Ramble on!)
Mobile home... My mobile home.
Embracing the unconventional lifestyle and making a home out of wherever the journey takes you.
I take easy, small, and slow.
Living life at one's own pace, without being rushed or pressured by societal norms.
I hang around till its time to blow.
Making the most of every moment and not rushing to move on to the next thing.
I take easy, small, and slow.
Reiterating the importance of living life at one's own pace.
(Slow!)
Shed away to lighten my load.
Letting go of unnecessary baggage and focusing on what's truly important.
(Lighten the load!)
Mobile home... My mobile home.
Repeating the theme of embracing the unconventional lifestyle and making the best of any situation.
Mobile home... Go!
Encouraging others to embrace the lifestyle and go wherever the road may take them.
In the road.
On the road, ready for whatever comes next.
To some highway Pebble Beach,
Venturing off the beaten path and exploring new, exciting locations.
Alabama's just out of reach.
Being free to explore the world, without being held back by geographical constraints.
Louisiana, temp swamp.
More adventurous journeys, to places that might not be the most comfortable or conventional.
(Swamp!)
Montana on a mountain top.
Experiencing some of life's most breathtaking moments, in some of its most unconventional locations.
(On a mountain top!)
Mobile home... My mobile home.
Repeating the theme yet again, emphasizing the joy and fulfillment that comes with embracing the nomadic lifestyle.
My mobile home.
Reiterating the singer's love and appreciation for their unconventional lifestyle.
Mobile home... My mobile home.
One final repetition of the song's themes, driving home the importance of living life on one's own terms and embracing the journey.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER WELDON BALLEW, DAVID MICHAEL DEDERER, JASON S FINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind