Coffin Car
Yoko Ono Lyrics


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Coffin car, she's riding a coffin car
People watching her with tender eyes
Friends whispering in kindly words
Children running, waving hands
Telling each other, how pretty she is

Coffin car, she likes to ride a coffin car
Friends making ways for the first time
People throwing kisses for the first time
Showering flowers, ringing bells
Telling each other, how nice she is

Coffin car, she's riding a coffin car
Wives showing tears for the first time
Husband taking their hats off for the first time
Crushing their handkerchiefs, rubbing their nose
Telling each other, how good she is

Half the world is dead anyway
The other half is asleep and life is killing her
Telling her to join the dead

So ev'ry day, she likes to ride a coffin car




A flower covered coffin car
Pretending she was dead

Overall Meaning

The song Coffin Car by Yoko Ono is a metaphorical representation of the pressure that society puts on individuals, especially women, to conform to certain expectations and social norms. The coffin car symbolizes the idea of being trapped and confined, limited by the societal expectations that are imposed upon us. The imagery of people watching her with tender eyes while she rides the coffin car represents the attitude of society towards those who do not conform, viewing them as objects of pity or curiosity. The children are shown waving hands and thinking how pretty she is, suggesting that society is conditioned to view physical appearance as the most important trait in a person.


The second verse is more celebratory, as the woman on the coffin car is receiving attention and adoration for the first time. It highlights the fact that in society, when a person conforms and fulfills the expectations set for them, they are showered with praise and attention. People throw kisses and flowers, ring bells, and tell each other how nice she is. However, this celebration is built on conformity and the acceptance of societal norms, rather than individuality and authenticity.


The final verse "half the world is dead anyway, the other half is asleep and life is killing her, telling her to join the dead" suggests that conformity is essentially a form of death, and that society is effectively killing individuals by pressuring them to conform to its expectations. Riding on the coffin car is the woman's way of pretending she is dead, a way of highlighting the false promises of conformity and seeking liberation from the constraints of society.


Line by Line Meaning

Coffin car, she's riding a coffin car
She enjoys pretending to ride in a hearse


People watching her with tender eyes
Onlookers observe her with sympathy


Friends whispering in kindly words
Her acquaintances are murmuring words of support


Children running, waving hands
Kids wave excitedly as she rides by


Telling each other, how pretty she is
They comment on her beauty to each other


Friends making ways for the first time
Her friends move out of the way for the first time


People throwing kisses for the first time
People give her kisses for the first time


Showering flowers, ringing bells
Flowers are strewn and bells are rung


Telling each other, how nice she is
Those around her praise her kindness


Wives showing tears for the first time
Women cry for the first time


Husband taking their hats off for the first time
Men remove their hats for the first time


Crushing their handkerchiefs, rubbing their nose
They wipe their tears and noses with hankies


Telling each other, how good she is
Her character is extolled by her loved ones


Half the world is dead anyway
Despite her act, many people are already gone


The other half is asleep and life is killing her
While some are resting in life, living exhausts her


Telling her to join the dead
She's tempted to end her existence


So ev'ry day, she likes to ride a coffin car
She indulges in pretending to ride a hearse constantly


A flower covered coffin car
The hearse is covered in blooms


Pretending she was dead
She takes solace in acting as though she's passed on




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: YOKO ONO

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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