We was a-d-d-d-drivin' d-downtown L.A.,
About a-midnight hour
And it almost b-b-blew my mind,
I got caught in a coloured shower.
All those lights were t-t-twinkling on Sunset,
I saw a sign in the sky
It said, "T-t-t-trip a t-trip, I trip, trip,"
I couldn't keep up up if I tried.
Ah, we stepped down to reality company
To get some instant sleep
And the driver turned, I said, "Welcome back"
He smiled and he said, "Beep beep".

What goes on ? Chick-a-chick.
What goes on ? I really wanna know.
What goes on all around me,
What goes on ? I really wanna know.

When in should come-a my dream woman,
She got sequins in her hair,
Like she stepped out off of a Fellini film,
She sat in a white straw chair
But I thought I'd take a second look
Just to see what I could see
And my scene had popped out like a bubble does,
There was nobody there but me.
I said, "Girl, you drank a lot of drink-me,
But you ain't in a Wonderland
You know I might-a be there to greet you, child,
When your trippin' ship touches sand."

What goes on ? Chick-a-chick.
What goes on ? I really wanna know.
What goes on ? Chick-a-chick.
What goes on ? I really wanna know.

A silver goblet of wine is-a to be
Held in a bejewelled glove
The knights they test the tournament,
The falcons they fly above.
And the queen will a drink of the dew tonight
But the jester she cries alone,
Because Merlin he spoke of an instant spell
To make the devil's white knights moan
And-a all in all, the seagull said,
"As I look to where I've been,
The whole wide human race
Is a-takin' far too much Methedrine".

What goes on ? Chick-a-chick.
What goes on ? I really wanna know.
What goes on ? So near
What goes on ? I really wanna know.
Yeah well, come on.

We sat in a velvet jewel case
With sparkles everywhere,
And Julian he sat on a diamond ring
And-a talked of the days gone by.
We spoke of a common kaleidoscope
And the pros and the cons of Zen
And he spoke and-a said for a piece of cake
He really did have a yen.
Bobby Dylan he sat "the Mad Hatter",
A broken hour glass in his hand,
And-a Joannie sat in a white lace
Looking cool with a black lace fan.

What goes on ? Chick-a-chick.
What goes on ? I really wanna know.
What goes on ? Yes please tell me.
What goes on ? I really wanna know


Lyrics submitted by Schrei, edited by Purrsival

The Trip song meanings
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2 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    Unless the message is deeply hidden, I'd promptly conclude that this song is about a drug trip.

    Yes, that's right. Drugs, that barely referenced subject in music.

    ThomYorkeGuyGarvey92on November 04, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    Definitely about a psychedelic trip!

    CurrentGenerationBlueson August 29, 2019   Link

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