Well, in my opinion this song is about being a young & maybe a little naive &/or introverted girl and finding yourself loving a man who is at first very charming, carefree & outgoing, and seems at first to be without limits, as in
"There was a time
you opened up every doorway
you didn't mind if everything
wasn't your way"
then that man starts to gradually become more introverted & shows their more possessive/obsessive side to you as the relationship progresses, even while they keep up the appearance of being carefree & outgoing to everyone else,
"Don't pull away
that goes against what you told me
I look in your eyes
I realize what you've sold me
is love in a vacuum"
so you confront them about the way they're acting and of course they deny it,
"I think you've changed
but you insist that
that's not true"
quite possibly they are an addict of some sort, my guess would be cocaine, &/or showing very obsessive behavior towards you (early on in the video for this song we see the man hanging a picture up, it is a very large portrait of Aimee & it is prominently displayed in his/their apartment for the duration of the song), thus their "love in a vacuum",
"You look so strange, so distant
that you're hardly you
Now I can see
how you have been acting different
You say it's me
but I know
that it isn't
it's love in a vacuum"
but still you are in love with them and don't want to leave them and you know that they are truly in love with you and they don't want you to leave them either, maybe they are convinced you can save them from themself, maybe they are so broken that the possibility of an overdose &/or suicide attempt is very real and you want to get through to them that their behavior not only dangerous but it is also just pissing you off and if they don't wise up they run the risk of loosing you, as in the lines
"You will be lonely
if you leave me alone", so you want to save them but can't get through to them due to the addiction &/or emotional problems they have,
"Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
love in a vacuum
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
You will be lonely
if you leave me alone
You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough"
you want them to understand that the love they are giving you is not enough when it is filtered through the vacuum of their drug addiction &/or emotional impairment,
"You will be lonely
you'll be the only one who feels this way
it's just not enough
and just wait
you will be lonely
Love in a vacuum
Love in a vacuum
and that's not enough
Love in a vacuum".
'Love In A Vacuum' for me is a hauntingly truthful acute argument on the loneliness of obsession and almost inevitable loss of love that follows people who are broken in some way or another; the obsessives, the coke heads, the drunks, addicts or the just-plain-old emotionally broken; a razor sharp, lyrically driven, deceptively poppy, yet ultimately-depressing-in-the-best-way song.
Quintessential Aimee Mann.
Way, way, way, we way back in the days the year, 1980
Had to get a job, had to make some money-ney
Picked up a pen and a pad
Dropped reality never thinking that I would live to see the day I'd rock my own CD
We used to do the dance we called obie-obie
Now S.T.P. 1993, so Hollywood get out my way
My mom's words seems like yesterday
Love Jesus, don't forget to pray
She must have gone with the boss D.J. right?
And feelin though, skinny coming with the nine millimetres
'Cause he who has the money has the authority
And respect to the man with the Uzi
The eight oh eight kick is on my hit list
And this beat's cooking like an Ital Dish
It wasn't hard for me to do, it was so easy
Because to me loops loops tight go naturally
Mom's words seem like yesterday
Now in '94 we got an S.T.P.
A half pack of smokes, and oh yes, and Sammy
A fifteen pack of Old Milwaukee
A dalmatian and a girlfriend
But I ain't got no money-ne-ne-ne
The eight oh eight is within my reach
Sublime beats are comin' straight from long beach
If you think that Hollywood
Didn't get what he deserved
Call eight oh eight kit to get served
Had to get a job, had to make some money-ney
Picked up a pen and a pad
Dropped reality never thinking that I would live to see the day I'd rock my own CD
We used to do the dance we called obie-obie
Now S.T.P. 1993, so Hollywood get out my way
My mom's words seems like yesterday
Love Jesus, don't forget to pray
She must have gone with the boss D.J. right?
And feelin though, skinny coming with the nine millimetres
'Cause he who has the money has the authority
And respect to the man with the Uzi
The eight oh eight kick is on my hit list
And this beat's cooking like an Ital Dish
It wasn't hard for me to do, it was so easy
Because to me loops loops tight go naturally
Mom's words seem like yesterday
Now in '94 we got an S.T.P.
A half pack of smokes, and oh yes, and Sammy
A fifteen pack of Old Milwaukee
A dalmatian and a girlfriend
But I ain't got no money-ne-ne-ne
The eight oh eight is within my reach
Sublime beats are comin' straight from long beach
If you think that Hollywood
Didn't get what he deserved
Call eight oh eight kit to get served
Lyrics submitted by The Big Andowski
Cisco Kid Lyrics as written by Bradley James Nowell Keith Elam
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is the lyrics from the sublime website, sublimespot.com/sublime/ ok
that's chapter 1, would you like to have chapter 2 you better you son of a bitch, i know the way. here's adventure, here's romance, here's the famous robbin hood of the old west.
cisco, the sheriff, he's getting closer!
this way poncho, vominos. the cisco kid.
way, way, way, we way back in the days the year, 1980. had to get a job, had to make some money-ney picked up a pen and a pad, dropped reality never thinking that i would live to see the day i'd rock my own cd
we used to do the dance we called obie-obie now s.t.p. 1993
so hollywood get out my way my mom's words seems like yesterday "love jesus, don't forget to pray" she most have gone with a boss d.j. right (don't be too sure of that fat one. fat one?) when we were young were skinny-inny coming with the 9mm pumpin' with the uzi
'cuz he who has the money has the authority and respect to the man with the uzi (i'm pritty handy with a six gun myself) the 808 kick is on my hitlist and this beat's cooking like an ital dish
it wasn't hard for me to do, it was so easy because to me loops lip tight dub naturally mom's words seem like yesterday.
what's your name? cisco kid. si, poncho's name is, poncho.
now in '94 we got an s.t.p. a half pack of smokes, and oh yes, and sammy a fifteen pack of old millwalkee a dalmation and a girlfriend, but i ain't got no money-ne-ne-ne
the 808 is within my reach, sublime beats bumpin' straight from long beach. if you think that hollywood didn't get what he deserved, call 808 kit to get served
(scarface) how am i gonna get a scar like that eating pussy, man?
there's always some hombre that can't resist swapin' lead, just to see if their faster with the six gun than cisco is.
they'll only find out cisco is fastet.
well that don't stop 'em from tryin' poncho, like slade here, he fancys himself as fast on the draw as a quarter-horse takin' after a stray.
what's the matter? can't the cisco kid talk for himself? is that how you got your reputation cisco, by havin' your partner build you up?
i make no claim to a reputation senor, and no one has to talk for me.
the cisco kid, heh,. the kid part fits you from the way you act.
i've meet with your kind before. you a foolish hombre if you think he will not fight you.
your making big talk for an hombre who will not fight.
you are wrong slade, i'll fight you any place, any time. if there is a good reason.
well here's a fist full of reasons!
now you two quit that.
just as soon as i finish off this cisco kid.
you are the one that is finished you faggot.
is that a good punch?
alright you two, that's enough, let him alone cisco.
i won't forget this cisco, i'll take this up with you another time.
any time hombre, i'd be glad to accomidate you.
i'll make it soon cisco.
shit up cash, keep your mouth shut.
thats what i mean, cisco, you attract trouble like a fiddler attracts a square dance, you understand why i don't want you staying in this town?
do not worry sheriff
i just found the wrong lyrics to "Don't Push" on there...
This sing is obviously a reflection on how Brad never thought his musical career would ever really go anywhere and he'd just be broke, and now (well, then) that they had made it somewhere..theyre still broke. Simple enought, right?
uhh.. no, badfish64 is right... it IS uzi and italian... THINK before you try to make a smartass remark.
i dont understand why you guys fight over the internet. if someone made a mistake, how about just saying it in a nice way. the point of this site isn't to prove just how immature you all are, its about how the lyrics/songs affects you. not to act like complete assholes to one another
and by the way .. wikipedia.org isn't always right. so if you get your facts on there, you might want to re-check on another site.
DID I MENTION SUBLIMES THE SHIT. NO BAND CAN COME CLOSE
This song is about how Brad never thought him and his band would ever be famous, and he was almost right, as he was mostly famous after he died. When he got semi-famous in '95, it was almost too late, as his drug use was at a peak, and creating his self-titled CD was a struggle, as he often had to go home early from the studio due to his heroin use.
But this song is obviously of a more personal nature, and talks about his STP. This album is a great look into how Sublime lived when they had no money, and they produced this whole album themselves, which is remarkable feat in itself. They were true DIYers, but I think that was mostly by necessity, because they could never get a label to sign them until Date Rape got popular.
First off it's "respect to the man with the UZI" as in I've got an uzi. and second of all it's "this beats cooking like an Italian" I wish I had a fifteen pack of Old Milwaukee
Cisco Kid is also a reference to alcholohlism.
does anyone hear the raleigh part in the beginning? im at this site, and the track listings are messed up. but i think he says "thats chapter 1. would you like to have chapter 2? you better. you son of a bitch. i know the way."
After the announcer voiceover says "The Cisco Kid!", the music melody that starts there and continues through parts of the song is the melody from "When The Music's Over" by the Doors. Great band, great song.
NO but both of you are right about one thing. it IS "this beat's cookin' like an Italian" and it is "respect to the man with the OZ" as in 40 oz. :]