Ben Gibbard – Carolina

"Carolina" as written by and Joanna/burgess Cotten....
Every scream went bleeding through these paper walls
And all the make-up in the world couldn't hide the scars
I leave today, I'm packing light: a suitcase, some toiletries
The rolling hills and willow trees of Carolina wait for me

You never learned, the rules have changed since we were nine
This isn't school, boys don't assault the girls they like

The taste of blood, the claim of love
these two will here on cease to be Sprouting from your fists and tongue 'cause Carolina waits for me

Fields of grain go whipping by from the window seat
I'm drifting in, I'm drifting out catching up on sleep
I couldn't get indentured since the very crest of 17
I left my keys and broken dreams 'cause Carolina waits for me

I will never forgive a single day
Mile markers seem to call my name and say,
"You're safer now through every town, we'll light your way in reflective green" All the way, the entire state of Carolina waits for me



Lyrics submitted by SavesTheNight

Carolina song meanings
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31 Comments

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  • 0
    General Commentand i so love it when mr. gibbard does come to carolina.
    spasticsuperherogirlon April 22, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Commentvery great song.
    fish eat steelon April 30, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Commenti think this song is about someone who he loves so much he is willing to change his whole life for them and they are so amazing that he compares them to the world, and the beauty of the world. there such great imagery here and it makes the meaning i get so much more real and great to me. this guy knows how to write.
    nopoeticon September 19, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthis is definitely a catchy song, riff-wise. I think its rather upbeat melody disguises the fact that this song deals with domestic violence as indicated by the first two verses. This is a song of someone coming home after realizing their 'broken dreams'.
    swertejayon October 16, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentGood folk song. Seems to me, as opposed to nopoetic's opinion, that the song is about getting out of a relationship (the lyrics seem to allude to a female leaving an abusive relationship) and the looking forward to starting fresh in a new place.
    negatyveon October 26, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentWell said negatyve. That's exactly what it's about.
    oh_doctor_doctoron November 06, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General CommentWell said negatyve. That's exactly what it's about.
    oh_doctor_doctoron November 06, 2004   Link
  • 0
    General Commentalso i didn't immediatly realize that ben is writing from the females perspective. though it seems so obvious now.

    This song is amazing and I hope it comes out again, with full instrumentation.
    enjayaon February 04, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Commenthe's movin' to carolina and his girlfriend is terrified and doesn't want him to go. that's kinda happenin' to me. my b/f is actually movin' to carolina soon... and i'm gonna miss him : /
    da_QTchickyon May 03, 2005   Link
  • 0
    General Commentthis is a really, really good song.
    aaron19on July 30, 2005   Link

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