Alpha Beta Parking Lot

Cake

standing in the alpha beta parking lot
watching the sun set
i'll never forget
watching all the reds and oranges slip away
letting go of yet another dirty day


breathing in the fumes from so many idling cars
right beneath the sign w/ the dusty yellow stars
watching the sun go down


standing in the alpha beta parking lot
watching you leave me
not quite believing


standing in the alpha beta parking lot
watching the sun set
i'll never forget
breathing in the fumes from so many idling cars
right beneath the sign w/ the dusty yellow stars
watching the sun go down


Lyrics submitted by Ice

Alpha Beta Parking Lot song meanings
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15 Comments

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  • +1
    General CommentFirst, observe: groceteria.net/alphabeta/

    hopefully the history lesson ^^^^^^ will enrich this song for all who are too young to remember (or not geographically fortunate enough to be familiar with) the grocery store "Alpha Beta" or as it was later called "Skags Alpha Beta". This is definitely one of the most sureal break up locations I've heard used in a song, which makes a lot of "CAKE" sense.
    hifrankon December 16, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI really like this song. It's relaxing and it paints a great image. I like the line about breathing in fumes.
    Wrapidon June 21, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI love how it seems like he remembers everything so vividly...it's as if the whole thing were so surreal to him that he memorized every detail of the place, even though it's something as everyday as a grocery store (thanks, hifrank =D) parking lot.

    Muchos awesome-os.
    Immortal113on December 30, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentSome people can get so caught up with their own opinions that that fail to recognize truth. Thanks hifrank.
    bmrhyeon March 10, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General CommentThis is a great song with cool lyrics. People remember wierd details about traumatic events - like people remembering where they were, the weather, and all kinds of other details when they heard Kennedy was killed or the planes hit the twin towers on 9/11/2001. He remembers it was the supermarket parking lot and the fumes from cars.
    descendenton February 27, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentWell, you have to think about this. Of course he remembers. He says in the song, "I'll never forget."

    This implies that it is something imprinted on his mind that will go to the grave with him.

    Kudos to hifrank, thx for the lesson. Decendent, you hit the nail on the head.

    I listened to nothing but this song for a week after my first ever breakup, just over a year ago.
    Malkavianon April 01, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentA friend of mine once asked me if I thought the whole song was an illusion to "Brave New World", with the whole Alpha and Beta reference, and the colors fading could be that drug they all take wearing off.

    But then again, I don;t know. I always thought it was about a lost relationship, so...
    thenaturalblueson September 21, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI love the way Cake paints a picture with their lyrics.
    the_big_empanadaon September 14, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI like Frank's input that the alpha beta was a known grocery star that, well, died in the 70s, or whenever it was. More or less the same metaphor as the 'sun setting': the relationships coming to an end.

    I also believe that alpha beta subtly implies the concept of control/power. Indeed, many of cakes songs are about leaders/followers, the real go-getters, and the loser-havenots. My interpretation of this facet of the alpha-beta reference is that, yes, the girl ran away with someone new, and in John mcCrea's mind, someone better, more successful than he.
    it_is_thaton January 14, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI just have to laugh at how wrong code6productions is, even if he wrote his comment four years ago.
    savethemooseson September 30, 2008   Link

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