Box Elder
The Wedding Present Lyrics


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Wasn't the question you asked me
It wasn't the answer I gave
That made me feel like I was on a train
Was a distant voice
Made me make the choice
That I had to get right out of this town

I've got a lot of things to do
A lot of places to go
I've got a lot of good things coming my way
And I'm afraid to say that you're not one of them

Last time I was here
You were out on the couch
Pressed into a little electric 2
It was the way that you smiled
Made me know at once
That I had to get right out of this town

I've decide to make a stand
And I'm not gonna take your hand




I'm taking the next bus outta here
I'm gonna head for Box Elder, M.O.

Overall Meaning

The Wedding Present's song "Box Elder" is a narrative about a person who is feeling trapped within their current situation and is searching for a way out. The song starts with the lines "Wasn't the question you asked me / It wasn't the answer I gave / That made me feel like I was on a train." These initial lines set the tone for the song, which is one of unease and a search for escape. The singer feels as though they have been put on a certain trajectory, one that they did not necessarily choose for themselves.


The singer then hears a distant voice that makes them realize they need to leave their town. The voice is compelling and helps the singer make a decision. They feel as though they have "got a lot of good things coming" their way, but that the person they are singing to is not one of them. The singer has come to the realization that they need to move on with their life and that the person they are addressing cannot be a part of their future.


The song then moves to the present moment, where the singer is saying goodbye to the person they are leaving. They have made a decision to "make a stand" and not take the person's hand. They are "taking the next bus outta here" and they are "gonna head for Box Elder, M.O." Box Elder is a small town in Missouri, and the singer seems to be seeking solace there, away from the person they are leaving behind.


Overall, "Box Elder" is a song that captures the feeling of being trapped and the search for a way out. The singer is realizing that they need to leave their past behind and start anew. The song's narrative is straightforward, but its emotional and thematic content is rich and relatable.


Line by Line Meaning

Wasn't the question you asked me
You didn't ask me the real question


It wasn't the answer I gave
My answer was not true


That made me feel like I was on a train
I felt trapped


Was a distant voice
It was a voice from far away


Made me make the choice
It helped me decide


That I had to get right out of this town
I had to leave this place


I've got a lot of things to do
I have many plans


A lot of places to go
I have many destinations


I've got a lot of good things coming my way
Many good things will happen to me


And I'm afraid to say that you're not one of them
You are not part of those good things


Last time I was here
The last time I was around


You were out on the couch
You were lying on the sofa


Pressed into a little electric 2
Squished in a small electric guitar


It was the way that you smiled
Your smile was the reason


Made me know at once
I realized quickly


That I had to get right out of this town
I had to leave this place


I've decided to make a stand
I have decided to take action


And I'm not gonna take your hand
I will not accept your help


I'm taking the next bus outta here
I'll leave on the next bus


I'm gonna head for Box Elder, M.O.
I will go to Box Elder, Missouri




Contributed by Blake B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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