Violent Femmes is an alternative rock band, formed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin,… Read Full Bio ↴Violent Femmes is an alternative rock band, formed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States in 1980. The band originally consisted of Gordon Gano (vocals, guitar), Brian Ritchie (bass), and Victor DeLorenzo (drums), with Guy Hoffman replacing DeLorenzo following his departure starting in 1993 and up until his return in 2002. The band split in early 2009, their last recording being a cover of the Gnarls Barkley song "Crazy", a response to Gnarls Barkley's cover of the Femmes song "Gone Daddy Gone" released the previous year. In January 2013, it was announced that the Violent Femmes would be reuniting and performing at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April. They performed there, the Bottlerock Napa Valley in May and Milwaukee's Summerfest in June. The band is also on the bill for Riot Fest, which will take place in Chicago in September.
Drummer Victor DeLorenzo said that he would be open to recording new material with the Violent Femmes, but on July 15, 2013, it was announced that Dresden Dolls drummer Brian Viglione would be replacing DeLorenzo as the band's drummer. In a statement, DeLorenzo said "It's always hard to write a eulogy for a lost loved one. In this case, I sadly lament the loss of a dream and an ideal that was once Violent Femmes." Viglione is credited as the drummer on the 2016 release We Can Do Anything but would later be replaced by John Sparrow, who had played in the Violent Femmes backing band previously.

Their music is an innovative combination of American folk music and punk rock. The lyrics mix common adolescent themes like yearning for love, sex and affection with explorations of sin, death, and the hope of salvation. Their songs often express both a lyrical and musical sense of humor. Critics often attribute the Violent Femmes as laying the groundwork of dynamicism for the 90s grunge movement.

In its early days, the band frequently played coffee houses and street corners. They were discovered by James Honeyman-Scott (of The Pretenders) on August 23, 1981, when the band was busking on a street corner in front of the Oriental Theatre, the Milwaukee venue that The Pretenders would be playing later that night. Chrissie Hynde invited them to play a brief acoustic set after the opening act. The band signed to Slash Records and recorded their eponymous debut in July 1982.

The group quickly gained a small cult following after the release of their self-titled album that never burgeoned into widespread popularity, although a few songs from this album did get some recognition ("Add It Up", "Blister in the Sun" and "Gone Daddy Gone"). The debut album Violent Femmes went platinum ten years after its release, and "Blister in the Sun" has become an alternative rock radio staple.

Gimme The Car
Violent Femmes Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Come on dad gimme the car tonight

Come on dad gimme the car tonight

I got this girl I wanna....

Come on dad gimme the car

Come on dad gimme the car tonight

I tell'ya what I'm gonna do

I'm gonna pick her up

I'm gonna get her drunk

i'm gonna make her cry

I'm gonna get her high

I'm gonna make her laugh

I'm gonna make her...shh

woman, woman, woman

she gotta knows she's it

cause I'm gonna touch her

all over her body

gonna touch her

all over her body

gonna touch her

all over her body

gonna touch her

all over her body

and she can touch me

all over my body

she can touch me

all over my body

she can touch me

all over my body

she can touch me

all over my body

time goes by I can feel myself growing old

burning inside makin' this boy turn out cold

What's wrong, What's right

I don't care when I hate my life

What's wrong, What's right

why'know people don't care when they hate their life

but how can I explain personal pain

how can I explain personal pain

how can I explain my voice is in vain

how can I explain the deep down

driving, driving, driving,

weredriving, weredriving, weredriving

hey dad speaking of driving

come on dad gimme the car tonight

so much he don't understand

just might never make it to a man

Come on dad gimme the car

I ain't no runt

come on girl gimme your...

cause I ain't had much to live for

I ain't had much to live for

why'know I ain't had much to live for

why'know I ain't had much to live for

Overall Meaning

The song "Gimme The Car" by the Violent Femmes is about a rebellious teenager who wants to borrow his father's car to go out with a girl. The lyrics reveal that he wants to take her out, get her drunk, high and make her cry. The song also talks about the confusion and pain that the singer feels as he navigates his way through life. The lyrics, "What's wrong, What's right, I don't care when I hate my life" express the lack of direction and uncertainty that the singer feels, which is a common experience for many teenagers. The idea of touching the girl all over her body is a representation of the singer's desire to have complete control over the situation, while also showing his naivete and lack of understanding of consent.

The song also touches on themes of growing up and facing the world. The lyrics "time goes by I can feel myself growing old, burning inside makin' this boy turn out cold" are a realization that life is moving too fast and the singer feels he is not ready to face the responsibilities that come with being an adult. This feeling of uncertainty and confusion is what makes the song relatable to many young people.

Overall, "Gimme The Car" is a song that captures the confusion, excitement, and rebellion of adolescence in a raw and honest way.

Line by Line Meaning

Come on dad gimme the car tonight
Requesting his father's car for tonight

I got this girl I wanna....
He has a girl he wants to see

Come on dad gimme the car
Requesting his father's car

I tell'ya what I'm gonna do
Talking about his plans for the night

I'm gonna pick her up
Going to pick up the girl he mentioned earlier

I'm gonna get her drunk
Going to make the girl he's seeing drink alcohol

i'm gonna make her cry
Going to make her emotional

I'm gonna get her high
Going to make her consume drugs

I'm gonna make her laugh
Going to make her happy and laughing

I'm gonna make her...shh
Implying that he's going to be intimate with her

woman, woman, woman
He's talking about the girl he's seeing

she gotta knows she's it
Saying that the girl knows how important she is to him

cause I'm gonna touch her
Suggesting that he's going to be physically intimate with her

all over her body
Going to touch her in various areas of her body

and she can touch me
Saying that the girl can be intimate with him as well

time goes by I can feel myself growing old
Reflecting on the passing of time and feeling older

burning inside makin' this boy turn out cold
Feeling emotional and detached

What's wrong, What's right
Asking what the difference is between right and wrong

I don't care when I hate my life
Doesn't care about anything when he's unhappy with his life

why'know people don't care when they hate their life
Saying that others feel the same way when they're unhappy

how can I explain personal pain
Reflecting on how he can explain his personal struggles

how can I explain my voice is in vain
Questioning the purpose of his voice and what he says

how can I explain the deep down
Searching for ways to communicate his innermost feelings

driving, driving, driving,
Repeating the action of driving

weredriving, weredriving, weredriving
Repeating the action of driving

hey dad speaking of driving
Bringing up the topic of driving again with his father

so much he don't understand
Feeling like his father doesn't understand him

just might never make it to a man
Feeling like he might not become a 'man' in his father's eyes

I ain't no runt
Asserting that he's not a weak person

come on girl gimme your...
Asking the girl to give him something

cause I ain't had much to live for
Explaining that he doesn't have much in life

why'know I ain't had much to live for
Repeating that he doesn't have much in life

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: GORDON JAMES GANO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʟɪʙʀᴏꜱ ᴘɪʀᴀᴛᴇᴀᴅᴏꜱ ꜱ.ᴀ ᴅᴇ ᴄᴠ

5y↑7

Come on dad gimme the car tonight

Come on dad gimme the car tonight

I got this girl I wanna....

Come on dad gimme the car

Come on dad gimme the car tonight

I tell'ya what I'm gonna do

I'm gonna pick her up

I'm gonna get her drunk

i'm gonna make her cry

I'm gonna get her high

I'm gonna make her laugh

I'm gonna make her...shh

woman, woman, woman

she gotta knows she's it

cause I'm gonna touch her

all over her body

gonna touch her

all over her body

gonna touch her

all over her body

gonna touch her

all over her body

and she can touch me

all over my body

she can touch me

all over my body

she can touch me

all over my body

she can touch me

all over my body

time goes by I can feel myself growing old

burning inside makin' this boy turn out cold

What's wrong, What's right

I don't care when I hate my life

What's wrong, What's right

why'know people don't care when they hate their life

but how can I explain personal pain

how can I explain personal pain

how can I explain my voice is in vain

how can I explain the deep down

driving, driving, driving,

weredriving, weredriving, weredriving

hey dad speaking of driving

come on dad gimme the car tonight

so much he don't understand

just might never make it to a man

Come on dad gimme the car

I ain't no runt

come on girl gimme your...

cause I ain't had much to live for

I ain't had much to live for

why'know I ain't had much to live for

why'know I ain't had much to live for..

Dizi LiziD

3y↑2

Lyrics... You can thank me later😉

Come on dad gimme the car tonight
Come on dad gimme the car tonight
I got this girl I wanna....
Come on dad gimme the car
Come on dad gimme the car tonight
I tell'ya what I'm gonna do
I'm gonna pick her up
I'm gonna get her drunk
i'm gonna make her cry
I'm gonna get her high
I'm gonna make her laugh
I'm gonna make her...shh
woman, woman, woman
she gotta knows she's it
cause I'm gonna touch her
all over her body
gonna touch her
all over her body
gonna touch her
all over her body
gonna touch her
all over her body
and she can touch me
all over my body
she can touch me
all over my body
she can touch me
all over my body
she can touch me
all over my body
time goes by I can feel myself growing old
burning inside makin' this boy turn out cold
What's wrong, What's right
I don't care when I hate my life
What's wrong, What's right
why'know people don't care when they hate their life
but how can I explain personal pain
how can I explain personal pain
how can I explain my voice is in vain
how can I explain the deep down
driving, driving, driving,
We're driving, we're driving, we're driving
hey dad speaking of driving
come on dad gimme the car tonight
so much he don't understand
just might never make it to a man
Come on dad gimme the car
I ain't no runt
come on girl gimme your...
cause I ain't had much to live for
I ain't had much to live for
why'know I ain't had much to live for
why'know I ain't had much to live for

All comments from YouTube:

Unlucky Wanderer

5y↑73

This song is criminally underrated

As Asa PhD

This and Color Me Once are my 2 favorite by these lads.

Jacob Hartmann

So fucking good!

Pete & Pete

trav_in_the_box big facts

junker154

5y↑17

Absolutely relatable lyrics paired with an intensity and chaotic instrumentals. How can one not sing along.

Coty Hohanshelt

4y↑18

One of the most underrated bands of all time. My favorite VF song.

Noah Jacobsen Music

5y↑27

Can't believe I listened to this with my parents in the car when I was a kid-- and had no idea what was going on.

Skoot Skoot

Did the same with my dad, good memories

Grace Lori

Noah Jacobsen same lmao

Lou Cat

4y↑1

cool parents

Sense blossom xxx

4y↑1

🤣🤣🤣

Matt Thompson

5y↑10

You had cool parents

pinkypuncher

7y↑34

Oh man the memories with this album... rite of passage!🖒🖒

Wayne Coglianese

10y↑25

Only 12k views? Saw this album played in it's entirety at Riot Fest this year, freakin' awesome.

Michael Parsons

one of my very best friends introduced me to this fantastic album and then died in a car accident at a young age. a few years later they came to our home town of Dunedin New Zealand. I've seen more concerts than I can remember but this one was burned into my mind. AMAZING to see them here. a back to back classic album. one of the best albums ever released. To me every track is a classic.just phenomenal in every way.A gift to everyone that has pain but not depressing but a celebration and a cry of strength and fuck you.I can't listen to it without playing the whole thing

JUAN CARLOS SALCEDA

5y↑5

The best album to the violent femmes!!!!

Cactus Gas

3y↑3

3:29 I love this part sm

Steve Carey

7y↑237

Alright son, I wasn't going to give you the keys but you made a pretty good case. Be back by Monday. And here's some booze and drug money.

Philip J. Fry

2y↑1

@Simon Peter thats how im gonna be

Ricky G.

3y↑1

Dad of the year! Get this man the T-Shirt, Coffee Mug, and Magnet combo pack.

H0ney.Lavender

3y↑1

Thanks, dad!

Simon Peter

3y↑1

Best ducking dad ever

Obsidian Linnux

3y↑1

I love you, dad.

9 More Replies...

Hatuletoh

4y↑23

Kind of like how reggae never really interested me until the first time I heard Bob Marley whilst baked off my ass (and then there was nothing playing in my car but reggae all that summer), I never really understood the Femmes until I spent the better part of a winter in Wisconsin, mostly Milwaukee but also Racine, Oshkosh, Green Bay and Appleton. I was standing in line at a downtown Milwaukee coffee shop where the Femmes might very well have played 20 years earlier, it was about -10° F--so you know, pretty warm for Milwaukee. I looked around at all the pale, dead-eyed people dressed up without any concern for style, only for not freezing to death, and realized that not a single one, male or female, was at all attractive. They all just looked depressed and unhealthy, and they were mostly college kids from Marquette and the Wauwatosa Medical College, so you'd think at least some of them would be young and good-looking; and a couple years earlier I'd hung out in Madison and gone down to Summerfest in Milwaukee, so I knew there were plenty of hot girls in WI. But that was when the sun had been shining and the weather pretty nice, aside from the humidity. That day at the coffee shop was probably around mid'February, it seemed that by then the winter had drained all the life and vitality out of the locals, so that even otherwise attractive people didn't look too good anymore. For some reason at that moment I thought of this song; it occurred to me I was in the place that had literally given birth to the band and their music, and suddenly it all made sense. On the way home I put on the Violent Femmes self-titled first album, listened to it all the way through, then again and again again during the last couple weeks I was out there. It was like hearing it for the first time, and I felt like I understood the music much more profoundly than I ever had before.

Ricky G.

3y↑1

Good read. I've been in the area during that time of year and I'm from the Midwest. That album is a personal favorite. It's near impossible to listen to just one track. I still remember the first time I listened to that album. Good vibes. ✌🏽

Tydus Lynch

5y↑3

This song is so great

Adventures with Eddie

3y↑3

@3:43 Repeats in my head all the time!!!

James Rawson

6y↑9

As time Go's bye I can feel myself growing old .

otherside7805

6y↑56

I'd give him the car

Corah Nihlost

5y↑2

I'd cut the brake lines beforehand. In this fantasy I'm your neighbor, not his Dad. :D

pauline9303

11y↑8

the lyrics are awesome xD

Marshall Duncan

5y↑10

Son, these two guys are going to take you to nice padded room.

Tommy Toeboy

5y↑2

funny shit there

Peter Schleußer

4y↑1

Ich liebe es!

The Unconscious

2y↑1

This wasnt released on the original Violent Femmes album... It was a UK single. Violent Femmes was released early 83, & Gimme The Car wasnt recorded until late in 83. GTC was added as a bonus track on later issues of Viloent Femmes, so it can be confusing

Jian

8y↑2

Too good.

kollo duke

4y↑2

CLASSIC !!!

ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏʟɪʙʀᴏꜱ ᴘɪʀᴀᴛᴇᴀᴅᴏꜱ ꜱ.ᴀ ᴅᴇ ᴄᴠ

5y↑7

Robert Taylor

How can I explain personal pain?
My voice is in vain... so just gimme the car tonight.

C Robinson

8y↑9

Gimmie the Godamn car dad!

Mert Uzun

8y↑16

cmon dadd gimme the car tonight I got this girrl

NIVLEM PRODUCTIONS

9y↑24

not released in 1983 on violent femmes. it was a b side(so was ugly) that was later added as a cd bonus track.

Alice Lovell

5y↑1

And What a bonus it was. Rocked my 90s like Los rocked my 80s

Brian Conway

5y↑1

The wrong information is probably the only reason why it's still available to be watched on here.

Big hug

I buyed that album while thinking that song was on it.So now i need to go on youtube to listen to it,shame on me XD

Necro POP

Ugly was the A-Side, Gimme the Car was the B-side. It was a single.

Allison Vernon-Williams

🖤🖤🖤

Siouxie

8y↑52

9 people never did get the car

94 .scorpio

I always took it out had some fun

Alice Lovell

And became Serial Killers

Brandon Gaskin

I'm one of them ):

Randolph L

8y↑9

Oh this song.

Dan Star

3y↑1

Ryan Adam's Gimme Something Good starts out the same.

Bailey Wright

8y↑78

I'm still not giving you the car

alienz are Real

God's obviously on my side, foolz

bowentreify

6y↑3

please, iddnt this song teach you anythying , man?

prudencewichett

Cool

Aymerick

6y↑10

23 fathers didnt give them their cars.

dino chicken nuggets

5y↑1

God...I have been sent here to destroy you... THIS...is the begining of the end...let us prey...

Dizi LiziD

3y↑2

The Badfella

2y↑1

When the lyrics are in the description

1 More Replies...

Simon Peter

My life.

Shiva Dakini

6y↑35

Hey dad, speaking of driving?

Joel Dukes

4y↑1

I ain’t no runt.....

Boni

4y↑1

C'mon dad, gimme the car tonight

Dr.Splarf

5y↑1

I got a Drivetime ad on this song

Hol'up

Jose Muzquiz

Did he ever get the car?

Blah Blah Blah

7y↑1

😂💛

Paul Desfosses

1;41pm 1/31/2018 Montgomery Alabama Wednesday, song previous was johnny, and black girls, perfect songs for the chappelel family , sinc3e their involved with the church also...

Agony Mouse

5y↑2

Come on Daaad, I AIN'T NO RUNT!

yuhgft p

Come girrl..

Richard James

I think she likes me, Mr Curtis

Kelly W.

4y↑2

This Rules..

Morgan Perry

FUCK yeah FUCK yeah

Billy Zender

Yeah yeah yes maps

arades79

11y↑8

i am utterly shocked there isnt a dislike yet, maybe the internet finally realized the stupid shit they get offended by isnt offensive

8 Ball Paul

7y↑3

arades79 lmao check it now

Butch Cassidy

Get a job and buy your own car. That's what I did.
Had my first car at 15. Before I had a licence. Didn't stop me from driving it. Lol
Got laid lots in that 69 wildcat.

Shmizzle Shmazzle

3y↑3

Can I borrow your car?

TheLunaticJimmyJazz

11y↑10

the genre is not alternative rock but folk punk

DJ FIJI DREI TAUSEND

Expert

Chloe Schultz

7y↑6

Rocking folk punk with kung fu grip (and drums!)

RCC

except there are drums

dante blackfeather

11y↑1

I only typed the first one. 2nd and 3rd were not me. Oh god.

SeamuswBiggerArmalite

7y↑5

wtf

dante blackfeather

11y↑3

First

dante blackfeather

11y↑1

second

dante blackfeather

11y↑1

third

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