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.
Stranger
The Presidents of the United States of America Lyrics
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Me, little kitty
Sat across with a velvet jacket
Wild orange hair and dark, dark eyes
I gawked like a twelve-year-old - smitten
Carla the stripper,
Straight from L.A.
You seem cool for a naked chick in a booth
In other words,
Put some clothes on and call me
I saw you
It was incredible
Slim, relax,
Fine wine at the (QFC)
On a snowy Saturday night
Black pearls and I swear you were drinkin' beer
You were the redhead behind the counter there
I'm the one who fell off his chair there
You had your dry-cleaning and I think you're dreaming
I saw you
It was incredible
Mumbled these words at you
Unintelligible
My, my, my, my
My, my, my, my, my, my, my
My, my, my, my
My, my, yea hey-hey
Hey who had what time is it?
The song "Stranger" by The Presidents of the United States of America tells the story of three chance encounters with three different women. The first encounter is with Carla, a stripper in Los Angeles. The singer is taken aback by her appearance and demeanor, but still finds her interesting and cool. He invites her to be friends, but asks her to put some clothes on first. The second encounter is with a woman at a grocery store, who the singer is infatuated with. He stumbles over his words and can't even form a coherent sentence around her. Finally, the song ends with a random, nonsensical question about the time.
Line by Line Meaning
You, Lynard Skinnard-hat and
You, with the Lynard Skinnard hat and
Me, little kitty
I, like a small animal
Sat across with a velvet jacket
We sat opposite each other, I wearing a velvet jacket
Wild orange hair and dark, dark eyes
You had vividly colored hair and very dark eyes
I gawked like a twelve-year-old - smitten
I stared intensely, feeling infatuated like a preteen
Carla the stripper,
The woman's name was Carla and she worked as a stripper
Straight from L.A.
She came directly from Los Angeles
You seem cool for a naked chick in a booth
You appear to be an interesting person despite working as a nude performer in a booth
Let's be pals some day
We should become friends at some point
In other words,
To put it differently,
Put some clothes on and call me
Please get dressed and contact me
I saw you
I saw you
It was incredible
It was amazing
Slim, relax,
Take it easy, Slim
Fine wine at the (QFC)
We were enjoying good wine at the Quality Food Center
On a snowy Saturday night
It was a snowy Saturday evening
Black pearls and I swear you were drinkin' beer
You were wearing black pearls and I think you were drinking beer
You were the redhead behind the counter there
You were the redheaded person working behind the counter
I'm the one who fell off his chair there
I was the one who fell out of my seat
You had your dry-cleaning and I think you're dreaming
You had your dry cleaning and I believe you were lost in thought
Mumbled these words at you
Spoke these words indistinctly to you
Unintelligible
Unable to be understood
My, my, my, my
Oh my
My, my, my, my, my, my, my
Oh my goodness
My, my, my, my
Oh my
My, my, yea hey-hey
Oh my, yeah hey hey
Hey who had what time is it?
Hey, does anyone know what time it is?
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRIS BALLEW, DAVID MICHAEL DEDERER, JASON S. FINN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind