This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
If I say I don't need anyone
I can say these things to you
'Cause I can turn on anyone, just like I've turned on you
I've got a tongue like a razor
A sweet switchblade knife
And I can do you favors but then you'll do whatever I like
Here I am
And you're a rocket queen
I might be a little young but honey I ain't naive
Here I am and you're a rocket queen, oh yeah
I might be too much
But honey you're a bit obscene
I've seen everything imaginable
Pass before these eyes
I've had everything that's tangible
Honey you'd be surprised
I'm a sexual innuendo
In this burned out paradise
If you turn me on to anything
You better turn me on tonight
Here I am
And you're a rocket queen
I might be a little young but honey I ain't naive
Here I am and you're a rocket queen, oh yeah
I might be too much
But honey you're a bit obscene
Here I am
And you're a rocket queen
I might be a little young but honey I ain't naive
Here I am and you're a rocket queen, oh yeah
I might be too much
But honey you're a bit obscene
I see you standin'
Standin' on your own
It's such a lonely place for you
For you to be
If you need a shoulder
Or if you need a friend
I'll be here standing
Until the bitter end
No one needs the sorrow
No one needs the pain
I hate to see you
Walking out there
Out in the rain
So don't chastise me
Or think I, I mean you harm
Of those that take you leave you strung out
Much too far
Baby, yeah
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, baby, yeah
Don't ever leave me
Say you'll always be there
All I ever wanted
Was for you
To know that I care
I can say these things to you
'Cause I can turn on anyone, just like I've turned on you
I've got a tongue like a razor
A sweet switchblade knife
And I can do you favors but then you'll do whatever I like
Here I am
And you're a rocket queen
I might be a little young but honey I ain't naive
Here I am and you're a rocket queen, oh yeah
I might be too much
But honey you're a bit obscene
I've seen everything imaginable
Pass before these eyes
I've had everything that's tangible
Honey you'd be surprised
I'm a sexual innuendo
In this burned out paradise
If you turn me on to anything
You better turn me on tonight
Here I am
And you're a rocket queen
I might be a little young but honey I ain't naive
Here I am and you're a rocket queen, oh yeah
I might be too much
But honey you're a bit obscene
Here I am
And you're a rocket queen
I might be a little young but honey I ain't naive
Here I am and you're a rocket queen, oh yeah
I might be too much
But honey you're a bit obscene
I see you standin'
Standin' on your own
It's such a lonely place for you
For you to be
If you need a shoulder
Or if you need a friend
I'll be here standing
Until the bitter end
No one needs the sorrow
No one needs the pain
I hate to see you
Walking out there
Out in the rain
So don't chastise me
Or think I, I mean you harm
Of those that take you leave you strung out
Much too far
Baby, yeah
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
Oh, oh, oh, oh
Oh, oh, oh, oh, baby, yeah
Don't ever leave me
Say you'll always be there
All I ever wanted
Was for you
To know that I care
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Fan illegally records Axl on tape Axl Fights him but security gaurds get him away from the fan WELL, THANKS TO THE LAME-ASS SECURITY I'M GOING HOME!!!