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Sequestered in Memphis Lyrics
It started when we were dancing.
It got heavy when we got to the bathroom.
We didn't go back to her place, we went to some place where she cat sits. (?)
She said, "I know I look tired, but every thing's fried here in Memphis."
Now they want to know exactly which bathroom.
Dude, does it make any difference? It can't be important.
Yeah, sure I'll tell my story again...
In bar light she looked alright.
In daylight she looked desperate.
That's alright, I was desperate too.
I'm getting pretty sick of this interview.
Subpoenaed in Texas.
Sequestered in Memphis.
I think she drove a new Mustang.
I guess it might be a rental.
I remember she had satellite radio.
I guess she seemed a bit nervous, do you think I'm that stupid?
Oh what the hell, I'll tell the story again.
In bar light she looked alright.
In daylight she looked desperate.
That's alright, I was desperate too.
I'm getting pretty sick of this interview.
Subpoenaed in Texas.
Sequestered in Memphis.
I went there on business.
It got heavy when we got to the bathroom.
We didn't go back to her place, we went to some place where she cat sits. (?)
She said, "I know I look tired, but every thing's fried here in Memphis."
Now they want to know exactly which bathroom.
Dude, does it make any difference? It can't be important.
Yeah, sure I'll tell my story again...
In daylight she looked desperate.
That's alright, I was desperate too.
I'm getting pretty sick of this interview.
Sequestered in Memphis.
I guess it might be a rental.
I remember she had satellite radio.
I guess she seemed a bit nervous, do you think I'm that stupid?
Oh what the hell, I'll tell the story again.
In daylight she looked desperate.
That's alright, I was desperate too.
I'm getting pretty sick of this interview.
Sequestered in Memphis.
Song Info
Submitted by
alcoholandirony On May 20, 2008
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Hey, the chorus isn't "Arrested in Texas, extradited to Memphis." You get subpoenad and sequestered when you're a WITNESS. He had a casual romp with a woman in whom the authorities have a keen interest. Also it's not an interview when you're the suspect, it's an interrogation. And his boredom and fatigue are part and parcel with his innocence. He's telling them it cant be important, it can't make any difference. It's the prerogative of a witness who's been subpoena'd and sequestered to ridicule the cops inquiries. It's a familiar comic tale of a guy who has a little fun only to find out it causes way more problems than pleasure. More funny if you think of the singer as married. He goes to Memphis on business, then has to explain to his wife in Texas why he's been subpoenad and flown back to Memphis to testify or whatever.
@tpksummers yea like that . always liked this song kinda groked something was going on andi think u nailed it ....reminds me of some cat explaining a story to his fellow musicians on a road trip and we/they all laugh and go thats a facking song..for me best songs come from convos ,stories , i know r.e.m. used to just open books and grab passages out of em ... thanks for your understanding of the words..as zappa said "it's just words "
@tpksummers yea like that . always liked this song kinda groked something was going on andi think u nailed it ....reminds me of some cat explaining a story to his fellow musicians on a road trip and we/they all laugh and go thats a facking song..for me best songs come from convos ,stories , i know r.e.m. used to just open books and grab passages out of em ... thanks for your understanding of the words..as zappa said "it's just words "
Yep, cat sits (line 3). It's baby-sitting but, for a cat. It's an opportunity to hang in a house or apt that isn't your own. There are lots of reasons for not wanting to go back to your own place w/a guy you pick-up in a bar. Not that I would really know about stuff like that.
ha! Good one.
ha! Good one.
elementar,
In the case of this song, fried is referring to being burnt out or tired. The girl is just justifying why she looks so haggard.
everything about this song is awesome
alcoholandirony already said what it's about. The Hold Steady don't really have a need for a website like this in a sense. the songs are all somewhat explicit. whereas other lyricists like to throw in different lines that can be taken a number of ways, craig just describes a scene or situation. whereas most songwriters aim toward a traditionally pretentious version of poetry, craig, in a style similar bukowski melds poetry and prose accompanied by head bopping melodies. it's cinematic in it's scope and quick characterization. we know these people. they might be based on the guy next to you at the bar.
People don't seem to agree why he had to go back to Memphis. Either ...
Probably one of the first two, because those explain why he gets interviewed.
Also I don't understand this line:
"I know I look tired, but everything's fried here in Memphis."
Why would fried foods make someone look tired?
I think it was a mentality reference. The town is 'fried'. Actually, I found the energy in Memphis to be enigmatic. Loved the place. But the girl sounds like she's got some problems.
I think it was a mentality reference. The town is 'fried'. Actually, I found the energy in Memphis to be enigmatic. Loved the place. But the girl sounds like she's got some problems.
Fried foods make you tired. You go eat KFC for breakfast and see how energetic you are.
Fried foods make you tired. You go eat KFC for breakfast and see how energetic you are.
It sounds to me like he is being questioned for a serious felony, like murder (or rape, but I think murder).
He admits to having sex with her. (DNA evidence) The cops what to know "exactly what bathroom". (possible crime scene site) He has to keep repeating his story. (to see if he changes his story) He's getting pretty sick of this interview. (interrogations are long, drawn-out ordeals) He describes her car, a Mustang, might be a rental, satellite radio. (all details the cops would want to know, cross reference, and enter into evidence/use to eliminate the suspect.)
He is innocent, the song is too cheery for him to have killed her....
I just figured this out right now. I've always loved this song, but didn't understand. Kind of strange...
Good observation. I don't know how we missed that. Relooking this I don't think he hurt her - 'I guess she seemed a bit nervous, do you think I'm that stupid'...sounds like they were asking him what he thought about this girl's demeanor - she was on the run or something? Maybe why she didn't have her own place, looked fried...maybe she did something to the owner's of the apartement they went to?
Good observation. I don't know how we missed that. Relooking this I don't think he hurt her - 'I guess she seemed a bit nervous, do you think I'm that stupid'...sounds like they were asking him what he thought about this girl's demeanor - she was on the run or something? Maybe why she didn't have her own place, looked fried...maybe she did something to the owner's of the apartement they went to?
I just picked up on that as well.
I just picked up on that as well.
The chick could be nervous about the car, because she stole it. Also, the place where she cat sits could have just been some place she broke into.
The chick could be nervous about the car, because she stole it. Also, the place where she cat sits could have just been some place she broke into.
I need to sit down with the lyrics to ALL of the THS songs to figure out the Holly/Hoodrat/Hallelujah story, with Charlemagne and Gideon. Does THIS song fit into that story arc? Are the cops asking about Holly? And is it Charlemagne, or Gideon, or somebody else who is being interviewed in this song?
I need to sit down with the lyrics to ALL of the THS songs to figure out the Holly/Hoodrat/Hallelujah story, with Charlemagne and Gideon. Does THIS song fit into that story arc? Are the cops asking about Holly? And is it Charlemagne, or Gideon, or somebody else who is being interviewed in this song?
Fun song. It's about a guy that gets involved with a girl who ends up being a criminal and is being questioned by the police. The verses are a little lacking, but hopefully Craig makes up for it with other songs. Not a bad song.
It is indeed "cat sits" FYI.
This song renews my faith in music. I live in the styx of Kentucky where they arrest you for looking cross-eyed. I'm completely and utterly serious when I say that in my past life (after first moving here in 92) was arrested in the following years no less than 20 times. And for the most minor of infractions. Oh the pain. Now I can laugh (almost). This song is entirely relatable. Good fun.