I knew a boy, he came from the sea
He was the only boy who ever knew the truth about me

I'm overwhelmed and undersexed
Oh baby what did you expect?
I'm over rod and so disgraced
And too ashamed to show my face

And they're coming to take me away
What I want I will never have
I'm on the Pacific Coast Highway
With your gun in my hands

I knew a boy, he left me so ravaged
Do you even know the extent of the damage?
My dirty lips, oh secrets dies
In between the sheets and the promises that kept me from your eyes

I'm bloody and so darling bow
I don't know what to do with my hands now
I surrender, I give in
I'll kick down your door if you don't let me in
And I lost myself completely
I look to you my shooting star
I'm on the Pacific Coast Highway
My God how did you fall so far?

Your whole world is in my hands
Your whole wide world is in my hands
Your whole world is in my hands
Your whole wide world is in my hands

I'm out there dying for you, baby
And I got your blood on my hands

Your whole world is in my hands
Your whole wide world is in my hands
Your whole world is in my hands
Your whole wide world is in my hands

And you know I'm drowning
And you know I'm drowning
And you know I'm drowning
And you know I'm drowning
And you know I'm drowning


Lyrics submitted by deadweather

Pacific Coast Highway Lyrics as written by Courtney M. Love William Patrick Corgan

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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Pacific Coast Highway song meanings
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10 Comments

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  • +1
    My Interpretation

    I totally agree that this song is about Kurt and her imagination. I think when she says "With your gun in my hands" she's dreaming about avoiding what happened to him.

    Vivirodryon March 09, 2012   Link
  • +1
    My Interpretation

    The idea of this being a kind of Adele-esque song about killing your ex crossed my mind, but then I thought: does Courtney REALLY need that message in her repertoire of songs? No. I don't think killing someone is what this song is about, but there is a definite hint of responsibility for someone's death; Kurt's. This is one of my favorite Hole songs of all time, and I'm sure it's about the scars left behind from the death of Kurt. This was written during a time of serious rehabilitation, loneliness, and drug addiction for Courtney. From the lyrics I get that "they're coming to take me away now", the people taking her to rehab, and I imagine she's driving away from it on the Pacific Coast Highway with a gun, maybe running away from her problems. She is confused and looking to "you my northern star", not knowing what to do, and thinking of killing herself. By the end of the song she says, "You better live". What I got from the song was kind of eerie; Courtney Love driving down the same Highway with the same gun Kurt had in the same way he had when running away from all his problems, he even specifically ran away from the hospital. And now 10 or so years later Courtney struggling with the same things he did, and doing the same thing he did. It also seems as if the the chorus is talking about a flashback to when Courtney was rushing to find Kurt, to save his life, and it being in vain. "Miles and miles of regret." She feels as if she is the only way of saving him: "Your whole world is in my hand" and this is tinged in a strong feeling of her feeling guilty for not saving him when he was drowning. Overall its about Courtney being lost and "drowning" the same way Kurt had later on, remembering Kurt and learning from the mistake he made; not ending it but living on, even if she still feels the pain way later on in her life.

    0au5t1non August 03, 2015   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I was reading the lyrics carefully and I think she's saying she killed the guy because she couldn't have him the way she wanted. I mean, she was with him but not full time, not for love, so she killed him.

    "I'm on the pacific coast highway With your gun in my hand Your whole world is in my hands"

    she had his gun in her hands and took the control of the relationship, like she always wanted and needed to do

    "I'm too ashamed to show my face And their coming to take me away now"

    The police is coming to take her away

    In the ending lines, you can see how she regrets and misses the guy.

    I don't think Courtney killed anyone but I guess she's trying to show the feeling of wanting to have the control of a relationship and have somebody with you all the time, but then you can't have it and can't also leave the situation or stop suffering, so you just wish you could kill that person. I mean

    "what i want i will never have" so

    or maybe i'm just trippin'

    meucucomfritason May 30, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I seriously, seriously doubt that this song is about killing anyone. If anything, it's a telling song about how people (men obviously) have affected her life in one way or another. Yes, this song has serious Kurt undertones, but most of her 'ocean heavy' songs do. This is a perfect accompaniment to Boys on The Radio and Malibu - both of which are also heavy with the Kurt undertones. If it's anything, it's introspective and telling of the past shames she's endured. 'What I want I will never have' is a running theme in all of her music, she's never satisfied. If you go far back enough in interviews, it's a theme in the name Hole itself.

    deadweatheron June 23, 2010   Link
  • 0
    My Interpretation

    Kurt undertones. I like that. :D

    For my part, I'd say the song is about how he was someone she loved, but he left. All he really left was the gun. The last thing he touched. "Miles and miles of regret" sounds like all the the things she wished she had done or said. This song reeks of remorse and the bereaved.

    PolyphonicPrayeron November 19, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I Totally think that this song is for Kurt, kinda sad and deep meaning but great song. Hole still Rocks.

    LuckyLighton January 28, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I agree that this song is for Kurt. At one of her shows (SXSW Spin show maybe), she called it the anti Malibu or something like that.

    DivineMuseon July 13, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    The song is about Kurt. It's about her regrets with him. He did damage her career and start it.

    NotStorageon July 14, 2012   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I think this is about Kurt.

    "I knew a boy, he came from the sea"

    Kurt was a pisces, a water sign.

    emmy103803on November 05, 2013   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    This lyric post is missing at least 3 verses from the song. Several lines are completely incorrect. Other lines are just completely omitted.

    Did whoever posted this even listen to the song?

    shan114873on July 10, 2021   Link

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