Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks

Ramp of Death

3 Meanings

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Ramp of Death Lyrics

Before we were on our way
Up the ramp of death
I can say that you moved me
In many rich directions, good and bad
A mall on a weekday
The null experience
Piece it together, it showers you with oceans of the past--and there's no time to breathe
Get back
And start avoiding me,
or stop avoiding me.

If you're minus please listen
Don't abuse the trust
Take all of your engines
And concentrate on giving good advice
The scars are the raindrops
The presence in the pores of a grapefruit rhind
Will cause you to regress
And fall into a rhythym you can't hack--
until it's time to leave
Get back
And start avoiding me

In a flash
There is no time to be
Get back
And stop avoiding me
Or start avoiding me

Submitted by

quonset On Mar 15, 2006

Cold Son

Jenny and the Ess-Dog

Post-Paint Boy

Jo-Jo's Jacket

Senator

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When in doubt, ask the crowd

Not sure what they’re singing in that fuzzy bridge? Drop a question in the comments and let the music nerds swarm. Someone always knows.

Quonset

Submitter

2006-03-15 08:18:58

3 Meanings

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by DevastatorJr.

20y ago

This song really grew on me over time. I think the Ramp of Death is the big plunge into adult life you take with your friends, you know, in your late teens and early twenties, embarking on whatever course of adventure you decide to go on. He's thinking back on those times, when you're up there poised on the edge, there's no time to breathe! Now it's a mall on a weekday, null, dull, old friends avoid each other. But it's not as sad as all that. It reminds of of a line by Auden --

Put the car away; when life fails What's the good of going to Wales?

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by orphan_yachts

19y ago

good call. I can agree for now.

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by thevariable

10y ago

i always thought the lines "the presence in the pores of the grapefruit rind...will cause you to regress...and fall into a rhythm you can't hack..." is referring to depression or anxiety...peeps on those meds are restricted from consuming grapefruit and could get very sick...just an adjunct thought to the rest of the subject matter...

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