Say you wanna get in
And then you wanna get out
When you get the money
To buy yourself a castle
How will you wear your leisure
Zipper back and front
On the fence together
Weekends in leather

Flip to the right
Slip back to the left
For handshakes at the ranch
Small talk at the crossroads
Rubbing up to the ladder
Sucking on every rung
Coming up forever and hanging on

That's entertainment
Cameras roll
Can you face the pavement
For a happy dog and pony show
Everybody loves you baby
Do you miss me
I miss you

Buy this car to drive to work
Drive to work to pay for this car


Lyrics submitted by public, edited by pooped

Handshakes Lyrics as written by James Shaw Emily Haines

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management

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Handshakes song meanings
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15 Comments

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  • +6
    General Comment
    I'm surprised no one really jumped on the meaning here. It's social/professional ladder climbing, sitting on the fence to please everyone and make it ahead, get promoted by acting like a fool by sucking up and being a yes man and not stepping on anyone's toes. And after you've sacrificed your identity and dignity like that, there's no way out.
    Bryia_026on October 29, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    You missed a line. It's: Everybody loves you, baby. Of course they do. Do you miss me? I miss you.
    proposalson January 21, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Oops, and at the end you forgot something, also. "You say you wanna get in, and you wanna get out. But you won't. Cause it's a trap."
    proposalson January 21, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    *when the cameras roll
    megsbeeon February 12, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Its about wishing something else was there but the endless monotony of the last two lines, and about creating your own path so there don't need to be any handshakes. The 1st verse is the after, the second is trying to suck up to your boss, the 3rd is working hard to get your pay to feed the family that loves you.
    PECOAEon March 12, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Funny, in the rough version of this song, It's... "Everybody loves you baby, of course they do. But they're ugly and soon you'll be too."
    yyy_ytuon April 28, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Buy this car to drive to work Drive to work to pay for this car I love that lyric... so true, so true.
    myusernameisthison August 17, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Driiive to woOoOORK.... they're so fucking off beat ooooh GASP ooooooooooooh DRIVE TO WOOOORK I do this stuck in traffic. Not those words exactly (buy this car to drive to work drive to work to pay for this car) but you KNOW I was thinking it. My sister and I. The oohing and the breathing and temporary insanity. Uh huh. Nail on head (coffin) handshakes at the ranch. ha ha.
    apresmoiledelugeon November 21, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    This song perfectly shows the career-ish way of life (kinda crosses path with "Patriarch On A Vespa",imo). I hear so much irony in this song and it feels so good =D They nailed it very well.
    ah.yes.please.on November 04, 2008   Link
  • 0
    Song Meaning
    I think this song is about someone who works really hard to get something then just ditches it when something better turns up (Say you wanna get in, and then you wanna get out, when you get the money to buy yourself a castle).
    lolajane98on September 14, 2010   Link

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